Motherwell 0 Hibs Women 3
Sunshine on Lanarkshire shone over Hibs Women’s rebound from last weekend’s cup final disappointment, as the girls strolled to a 3-0 win over Motherwell.
Rosie Livingstone grabbed the opening goal in the first half, before quick-fire strikes from Michaela McAlonie and Kirsty Morrison made sure of the result midway through the second 45.
Grant Scott made three changes heading into the match, doubling up on efforts to bounce back from last Saturday’s loss while attempting to reclaim our spot at the top of the SWPL table before the upcoming international break.
Having all played in every game so far this season; Siobhan Hunter, Tegan Bowie and Eilidh Adams each dropped to the bench. They were replaced by Ellis Notley, Rosie Livingstone and Abbie Ferguson, respectively.
Kicking things off, Livingstone was given free rein to test ‘Well goalkeeper Emily Mutch with a trivela inside the opening minutes. Kathleen McGovern also attempted to break-through, attempting to latch onto through balls from either flank before seeing her first shot - a lob from outside the area - loop just over the bar.
With little action in the opening half-hour, our number 10 was keen to change the script. Finding herself with acres of space after a hefty clearance from Notley, McGovern’s run towards goal ended abruptly with a firm piledriver from range. Her grounded strike agonisingly cannoned off the base of the post.
The positive start provided a great basis to extend our unbeaten league run to 16 consecutive games, as McAlonie’s breezing potshot looked to trouble Mutch before Livingstone fired the Hibees into the lead.
As has been the case throughout the season, Ciara Grant’s threatening dead ball delivery caused chaos in the opposition mixer. A stramash ensued following the midfielder’s cross and, with Motherwell unable to clear, Livingstone fired well into the bottom corner through a sea of bodies with the last kick of the half.
The second half felt very much like a touch of deja-vu, as Hibs remained on top despite creating little in the way of clear-cut chances. Despite this, the hosts battled ferociously all across the park and continued to ask questions of the alert Hibs backline. McAlonie and substitute Kirsty Morrison both extinguished that narrative come 70 minutes, however.
Excellent, progressive linked play between Ferguson and McAlonie set up a prophetic run forward for the latter, who, after receiving the ball from the flank, curled in Hibs’ second of the afternoon directly into the bottom corner.
In the immediate aftermath of our second goal, Morrison was introduced. A few minutes later, she grabbed her fourth goal of the campaign, guiding the ball delicately beyond Mutch from a one-on-one situation to see Motherwell out of sight.
With the result now all but secured, the travelling fans were in high spirits as 15-year-old Jessica Ramsey made her senior professional debut for the Club.
Motherwell thought they grabbed a lifeline back with in stoppage-time, but the assistant referee flagged for offside. Trying again shortly before the final whistle, Hibs keeper Erin Clachers pulled off a great save to deny Eilidh Austin. The fine stop kept the host’s goal tally to zero, and saw us claim our ninth clean sheet across our last 10 league games.
The Hibees, now 16 unbeaten in the league heading into the Edinburgh Derby in a fortnight, remain top of the SWPL heading into the international break.