Newburgh v Hibernian - Premier League Cup Semi Final - Sunday 22nd. October 2006

Final for the Ladies

Hibernian Ladies will face Edinburgh Ladies in the Final of the Premier League Cup next month, following the clubs win over Newburgh on Sunday. The girls produced a professional performance to book their Final place with a convincing 4-0 victory at Stonehouse.

Hibs made three changes to the side that hammered Arsenal North two weeks ago with Jenna McCandlish, Marlene Pearson and Karen MacKenzie dropping out for Debbie McDonald, Kirsty McBride and Shelley Grant. McDonald started her first game since signing for the club in the summer as McCandlish recovers from a hip operation. Recent signings Shelley and Suzanne Grant also made their competitive debuts for Hibernian.

 From the kick off Hibernian took the game to their opponents, playing the ball around the park with confidence and purpose and it was not long before the girls in green and white had the ball in the back of the net but to their frustration Ferguson had been ruled offside and the goal chalked off.

Soon after Hibs went close, this time Little broke free from the defence and rounded the goalkeeper only to see her shot go narrowly wide but she refused to let her head drop and put her side in front five minutes later. A ball over the top saw Little again out pace the defence and went round the goalkeeper, this time she made no mistake stroking the ball into the empty net.

The loss of the goal seemed to spur Newburgh on and they forced Hibs on the back foot as they tried to get back into the game but they could not get past a rigid Hibernian rear guard. On the rare occasion they did, they found McDonald in inspiring form.

Hibs taking a deserved lead into the half time break on the balance of play but it was a fragile one. Being a goal down meant Newburgh had to open up and come at Hibs if they were to get back onto level terms. That seemed to suit Hibs who are very effective on the counter attack and have the skill and experience to hurt any team.

Half Time: Newburgh 0 Hibernian Ladies 1

The second half started the same way as the first had with Hibs looking for a quick goal. In the opening minutes of the half both Little and Kennedy went close for Hibs but it was not all one way, at the other end Newburgh forward Erika Duncan, beat the offside trap and went one-on-one with goalkeeper McDonald only for the ball to go wide much to the relief of the Hibs defence.

Midway through the half with the game flowing form end to end Hibs finally got their second goal. A good move on the right found Burns in space, she sent over a cross that found the head of Little and although appeared to have the ball it squirmed from her grasp and over the line. Little scoring her fourteenth goal in her last six games.

Newburgh to their credit tried in vain to fight back as they took the game to Hibernian who seemed content to sit deep and defend their lead. Luck was on Hibernian’s side and during a fifteen minute period Hibs twice cleared from their own goal line before Newburgh had a goal chalked off for offside.

Hibs then introduced Suzanne Grant from the bench and she was to become very influential in the final outcome of this match. Before she did, Newburgh went close again through Ross but McDonald was up to the task and saved the ball comfortably. They created further chances with Ross and Duncan going close but a goal was to evade them.

Hibernian then went onto score two goals in quick succession to kill the game. A simple ball over the top found substitute Suzanne Grant who motored past the Newburgh defence to score her first goal for the club. Five minutes later she grabbed a second goal for herself and a fourth for her new side. It was almost the exact same situation with a long ball over the top finding Suzanne Grant in behind the Newburgh defence and she slotted home to seal a dream debut.

With the game now beyond them the fight drained from the Newburgh side and Hibs saw the game out comfortably. The score line a touch unfair on Newburgh who had battled well and were unlucky not to have scored. For Hibs, they are into the Final of the competition they won two seasons ago and are desperate for silverware.

Full Time: Newburgh 0 Hibernian Ladies 4

Hibernian Ladies: Debbie McDonald, Shelley Grant, Frankie Brown, Suzy Robertson, Louise Young, Kirsty McBride, Mandy Burns, Julie Ferguson, Joelle Murray, Kim Little, Laura Kennedy. Subs: Suzanne Grant, Karen MacKenzie, Ashleigh McCallum, Ally McDonald

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Newburgh v Hibenian - Premier League Cup Semi Final - Sunday 22nd. October 2006

A very entertaining game was enjoyed at Stonehouse today between Newburgh and Hibs.

At half-time Hibs went in a goal up, maybe just, deserved on the balance of play but Newburgh were by no means out of the game. The game was played in a good spirit and flowed from end to end. Newburgh were starting to cause the Hibs defence problems and Hibs were content to try and catch Newburgh on the break. Midway through the half, just as Newburgh were starting to believe they had a chance they were hit by a second goal from Hibs.

The goalkeeper seemed to have it in her arms when it squirmed out and crossed the line. You could see the relief in the Hibs team, but Newburgh to their credit refused to give up and indeed had the best of the play. Inside a fifteen minute period they were one on one with the Hibs keeper three times, had two chances cleared off the line and a goal chalked off for off-side. However the inevitable happened and Hibs scored again with about ten minutes left to play to give them a safety margin.

They scored a further goal with a couple of minutes left. In the end Hibs deserved their win, mainly for taking their chances but credit must be given to both teams for a very entertaining game.

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Suzanne Grant and Kim Little both scored twice to keep Hibs - just behind Thompsons Solicitors Premier League leaders Glasgow City on goal difference - in with a real chance of this season’s Treble. Hibs manage Iain Johnson was delighted with the win "Very pleased at the result and the team well played together, now back to league business and ensuring we put the points on the table."

Both teams in the final, Hibs and Edinburgh, who play in the Thompson Solicitors Premier League have called for their local community to support them in the final.

Tickets for the final are available on the day, with a £3.00 admission for adults and £1.00 for kids.

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Newburgh v Hibenian - Premier League Cup Semi Final - Sunday 22nd. October 2006

Pre Match Press Comments :-

There’s fighting talk, too, from Newburgh, who face league leaders Hibernian in their semi-final.

“Of course Hibs will be favourites,” says Newburgh boss Alan Palmer. “They’re a hugely successful side that includes several international players. But we’re unbeaten too this season. We’re more organised than before and full of confidence. We’re certainly not there to make up the numbers. We’ve been preparing well and the game can’t come quick enough. So we’ll give it our best shot and hopefully that will be good enough.”