For the second time in just over a week Hibernian Ladies managed to score double figures in match as they clinically disposed of Hutchison Vale on Wednesday evening in Musselburgh. Hibs made one change from last weekends thumping of Bishopbriggs in the Scottish Cup, Shelley Grant coming into the side at right back with Laura Kennedy dropping to the bench where Natalie Ross, who was returning from long-term injury and had not played since last September joined her.

Hibernian kicked the game off shooting with a slight breeze behind them and they were to produce a whirlwind start from which Hutchison Vale were not to recover. Within the first minute Hibs took the lead when Kirsty McBride showed bravery in a crowded midfield to head the ball past the static Vale defence and found the run of Suzanne Grant, the striker needing no second invitations producing a fine finish placing the ball into the top left hand corner of the net and giving the goalkeeper no chance. A simple ball over the top was to cause Hutchison Vale problems all night as the pace of the Hibs forward line were to give the home defenders a torrid time.

Two minutes later a swift move forward from Hibs saw Joelle Murray play in Kim Little on the right hand side, the Hibees top scorer was too wide to shoot for goal herself so, she cut the ball back for Suzanne Grant only for a Vale defender to get their first but in her desperation to clear her lines, she only succeeded in turn the ball into the back of her own net. Hibernian were on top of their game and Hutchison Vale were struggling to get the ball out of their own half. Further chances fell to Joelle Murray, who had a header from a McBride corner cleared off the line and then a shot from Julie Ferguson from the edge of the box was saved well by the Vale goalkeeper, who tipped it over her bar for a corner kick.

Soon after a ball forward from defence by Stacey Cook, was controlled instantly on the chest by Joelle Murray, who then played a delicious ball over the top for Suzanne Grant to run onto. With only the goalkeeper to beat and from ten yards she screwed her shot slightly and the ball went inches wide, much to the relief of the Vale defence who at times were chasing shadows as the gulf in class showed. Then a simple ball over the top from Suzy Robertson looked to have been over hit as the Vale goalkeeper got to the ball first before Suzanne Grant only for the ball to slip under her and provide the Hibs striker with the simplest goal she will have scored in a long time, knocking the ball into the empty net from six yards.

The game was beyond Vale after only ten minutes but they were nearly gifted passage back into this encounter as goalkeeper Debbie McDonald was caught out in possession outside her penalty box but the Vale striker lacked composure shooting wide from a good position. Hibernian were using the pitch to its fullest and stretching Vale all over the pitch. A long ball from Suzy Robertson once again resulted in Suzanne Grant evading the offside trap, despite being forced wide the striker opted to shoot for goal from a difficult angle, hitting the side netting and not noticing Kim Little free in the middle for what would have been a simple tap in.

Five minutes later it was 4-0 when Shelley Grant found Joelle Murray making a run on the right, the midfielder held off the defender before smashing a shot off the right hand post with the goalkeeper beaten, Suzanne Grant was in the right place to knock the resulting rebound into the net from only a couple of yards as the goals continued to rain down on poor Vale. Seconds after the restart Suzanne Grant stole possession from the Vale defence who failed to clear their lines before calmly rounding the goalkeeper and rolling the ball into the empty net for her fourth goal of the evening.

Julie Ferguson was then involved in a nasty clash of heads with a Vale defender and both girls required treatment before they could continue. With the game over as a contest and with Hibernian unable to keep up such a high tempo the game then began to enter a lull before a defence splitting pass from Joelle Murray left Suzanne Grant once again with only the goalkeeper to beat, this time attempting to lob the out rushing goalie but finding her effort just too high and it went over the bar. On the stroke of half time Hibernian almost gifted a goal to their opponents when goalkeeper Debbie McDonald was short with a throw out that went straight to a Vale striker but she recovered well to save low at her near post.

Half Time: Hibernian Ladies 5 Hutchison Vale 0

After a quick turnaround at the break, Hibernian returned in determined fashion and almost immediately they were awarded a corner kick from which Kim Little headed just over but seconds later the youngster was celebrating as she coolly slotted the ball past the despairing dive of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net for her 30th goal of the season, capping of a fine week after she was given her first full International cap.

Three minutes later Kim Little saw her shot turned around the post by an excellent diving save from the Vale goalkeeper before the forward show excellent close control on the right wing before firing a low cross across the face of goal with Suzanne Grant inches away from turning it in. The best goal of the evening came on the hour when Mandy Burns volleyed home a Suzanne Grant cross, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Cook was fouled as she broke forward to give Hibernian a free kick in a dangerous position, from which McBride crossed the ball into a packed penalty area only for everyone to miss the ball including the goalkeeper leaving Julie Ferguson with an open goal however the midfielder was off balance and scooped her shot over the bar. A minute later and Kim Little showed fine footwork in the Vale penalty box dancing round two defenders before finding her shot blocked at point blank range by the goalkeeper but she gathered the rebound and cut the ball back to Mandy Burns who slotted a low shot into the far corner for her second goal of the game.

It was Mandy’s last involvement of the game as Louise Young soon replaced her before a Robertson ball down the right found Suzanne Grant and the striker cut the ball back to the on rushing Julie Ferguson but she found her first time shot blocked. Goal number nine was a fine team effort when Suzanne Grant on the right wing cut the ball back to Kim Little who lofted a fantastic cross to the back post that was met on the run by Kirsty McBride who powered a header into the back of the net from close range. It was McBride’s first headed goal in her career!

For the final ten minutes Hibs replaced Frankie Brown and Shelley Grant with Laura Kennedy and Natalie Ross but it was Vale who almost scored next when Debbie McDonald raced from her line to clear the ball only to miss it allowing the striker in behind her but fortunately for Hibs Louise Young had read the situation perfectly and got back to clear. Natalie Ross capped her come back off and completed the scoring six minutes from time when she evaded the Vale defence before placing the ball into the bottom corner of the net to take the score into double figures.

In the final moments Hibernian had further chances through Kim Little, Suzanne Grant and Laura Kennedy who looked to have scored only for a deflection to send the ball inches wide of goal. This Sunday Hibernian Ladies face Arsenal North in the Amicus Scottish Cup in Glasgow, the game kicking off at 11am and many of the girls will be at Hampden to show their support to the men’s team later on in the afternoon.

Full Time: Hibernian Ladies 10 Hutchison Vale 0

Hibernian Ladies: Debbie McDonald, Suzy Robertson, Stacey Cook, Shelley Grant, Frankie Brown, Joelle Murray, Mandy Burns, Julie Ferguson, Kirsty McBride, Kim Little, Suzanne Grant. Subs: Laura Kennedy, Louise Young, Natalie Ross.

Referee: Mathilde Peace.

Richard Payne