Hibs Women 6 Spartans 0
Hibernian Women opened the new year with a terrific 6-0 victory against cross-city neighbours Spartans at Meadowbank Stadium.
Hibs found their shooting boots within the first quarter, racing into a 3-0 lead within 20 minutes thanks to goals from Eilidh Adams, Michaela McAlonie & Ciara Grant. Kirsten Reilly and Kirsty Morrison each netted either side of a second Adams strike to make for a comfortable win.
Ahead of the first match of 2025, Grant Scott made two changes to the team who secured a fantastic 3-0 away victory against Rangers in December. Club captain Rachael Boyle and winger Morrison returned to the Starting XI in place of Stacey Papadopoulos and Kathleen McGovern.
Lia Tweedie, returning from a short-term loan spell at Queens Park, was named on the bench for Hibs, while Ellis Notley also returned to the matchday squad following a three-month spell on the sidelines due to injury.
On an inspired run of form that has seen Hibs go undefeated in eight league matches, the positive frame of mind continued into the team’s first league match of the year.
Adams was hauled down in the area inside three minutes during first attack of the match and the referee swiftly awarded the spot kick.
Our number nine expertly dispatched from 12 yards to start the match with cool finesse, and continue her great personal goalscoring form.
McAlonie continued the perfect start to the match on 10 minutes. A move ignited by Lauren Doran-Barr’s intuitive throw-in, the midfielder controlled the ball, jinked inside from the right flank and struck a perfect floated effort into the top corner of the net.
Clearly entering the new year with a swagger, Hibs were three goals to the good within 20 minutes.
A defence-splitting pass from deep by Poppy Lawson was met by a clever inverted run from Doran-Barr. Keen to stay in the action, the wing-back’s low cross to Grant was struck with precision - allowing the midfielder to roll the ball into the back of the net.
Continuing to unleash pacey attacks, Spartans were lucky not to find themselves further behind. A couple of close-range efforts from Tegan Bowie and Adams were blocked on the line, before a solid save by Spartans keeper Alicia Yates kept out McAlonie on the rebound.
A fourth would soon come as Kirsten Reilly found the net from range. The midfielder unleashed a howitzer strike from well out that took a deflection and forced the ball beyond a wrong-footed Yates.
The goal frenzy did not stop there, however. Morrison’s excellent flick-and-pass in an acute position found Adams inside the six-yard box, who poked home for her second goal of the match on 37 minutes.
A few half-chances crafted came to naught before the break, bringing an end to a terrific half which saw Hibernian lead 5-0.
Centre-backs Lawson and Siobhan Hunter ensured the pressure was maintained - at the right end of the pitch - with a ferocious free-kick and header, respectively, from the pair keeping the momentum firmly with the home side following the restart.
Determined to get her break after a lengthy spell out in the first half of the season, Kirsty Morrison scored her first goal of the season. The attacker slid in low to deliver from McAlonie’s lay-off, arrowing the ball past Yates via a powerful swift motion.
With action and exciting spells of play dwindling after that goal, Hibs left Meadowbank with a convincing victory to kick-off 2025 in a positive manner.