Ladies goal feast continues

Lately Hibernian Ladies have been on something of a goal rush and that continued this week as incredibly they scored double figures for the third successive game. Twice Vale of Clyde have taken a hammering and the hands of the league champions, 17-1 in the Premier League Cup and 11-0 in the SWPL and in between those encounters Hibernian also humiliated Raith Rovers, scoring 10 without reply on their journey to the Kingdom of Fife.

Last Sunday the girls travelled to Dovecot Park in Glenrothes to take on Raith Rovers Ladies in what was expected to be a tough encounter. Clashes between the two teams in recent years have been hard fought and generally closer than the result suggested but on this occasion there was only one side in the game as Hibernian simply blew their opponents away.

Hibernian started in a buoyant mood and created early chances with Kim Little and Suzanne Grant both going close before they eventually made the breakthrough as Shelley Kerr passed to Julie Ferguson and the Scottish Internationalist played a delightful ball in behind the Raith defence for Kim Little, the youngster was calmness personified as she coolly rounded the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the back of the net.

Just 5 minutes later it was 2-0 as Joelle Murray picked out the run of Suzanne Grant who wasted no time in smashing an unstoppable stop past the stranded Rovers goalkeeper. Before long Hibs were three goals in front as Joelle Murray hit a half volley through a ruck of players and into the back of the net from Pauline Hamill's corner kick.

Hibernian were completely dominant with Raith struggling to get out of their own half against relentless Hibernian pressure. Hibs scored a fourth goal when Pauline Hamill received the ball wide left, Scotland's most capped female footballer then drove at her marker before sending an inch perfect pass for Kim Little to slot home her second goal of the game. One more goal was to follow before the half time break as Shelley Kerr's ball over the top saw Suzanne Grant run in behind the Raith defence to make it 5-0.

The second half was to follow in the same manner as the first and soon after the restart Suzanne Grant completed her hat-trick. It was a case of damage limitations as Raith pulled everyone behind the ball and offered nothing to attack but they were to be left helpless once again as Hibs scored. Kirsty McBride played the ball down the line to Kim Little and the youngster's cut back was turned into the net by Natalie Ross.

Kirsty McBride made it 8-0 with an unstoppable shot from distance soon after as the goals continued to flow. Suzanne Grant scored her fourth goal of the game as the match began to wind down before Kim Little completed her hat-trick as well as the scoring.

Hibernian Ladies: Gemma Faye, Julie Ferguson, Shelley Kerr, Stacey Cook, Kirsty McBride, Pauline Hamill, Mandy Burns, Natalie Ross, Joelle Murray, Kim Little, Suzanne Grant. Subs: Laura Kennedy, Frankie Brown.

Richard Payne