There was late heartache for Hibernian Ladies in their opening fixture of the new season when they were knocked out of the Premier League Cup by holders Glasgow City. The match was a replay of last year's final and was the toughest possible fixture for the girls to open their new campaign.

New Hibernian coach Willie Kirk handed debuts to close season recruits Debbie McWhinnie and Emma McCulley, whilst another new signing, Jenna Ross, had to sit out after carrying forward a suspension from last year. The Edinburgh side went into the game full of confidence after defeating Rangers comfortably in their final pre-season encounter - but they knew they would have to defend for long spells against a Glasgow City side that have dominated the women's game in Scotland in recent years.

Despite a difficult playing surface, both teams attempted to play a passing game from the start but it was Glasgow City that dominated the early proceedings. The home side hit the crossbar after only 3 minutes when Sue Lappin headed against the upright as the Hibernian goal barely survived the early onslaught. Hibernian's first opportunity of the match arrived on 28 minutes when Laura Kennedy showed good reactions to stab the ball towards goal from a corner kick only for the ball to be cleared from just in front of the line by a Glasgow City defender. Hibernian goalkeeper Shannon Lynn was in good form for the visitors and even when she was beaten there was no breakthrough for last season's champions.

Glasgow City couldn't believe their bad luck when first Jane Ross headed against the woodwork from a cross from Leanne Ross before Eilish McSorley had an effort cleared off the line. The Hibernian rearguard were defending resolutely with Frankie Brown and Rebecca Zoltie impressing just in front of their back four. The final opportunity of the first half fell to Hibernian when Suzy Robertson went agonisingly close to hooking the ball into the Glasgow City net from a corner kick.

The second half started off in similar fashion to the first, with the Glasgow team dominating the early proceedings and hitting the woodwork whilst Hibernian's best chance of success came on the counter-attack. Hibernian coach Kirk brought on Claire Emslie and Lisa Robertson and the introduction of the youngsters gave the Edinburgh side renewed belief they could snatch victory, but with the game on a knife's edge Glasgow City were awarded a controversial spot kick.

City's Jane Ross broke through the heart of the Hibernian defence and when Suzy Robertson challenged her for the ball the referee adjudged there to have been a tug on the forward and pointed to the spot. The sense of injustice the Hibernian players felt was intensified when Leeanne Ross made no mistake from twelve yards to put her side into the lead. Hibernian pushed hard for a late equaliser, penning Glasgow City back without creating too many clear cut chances. With only a couple of minutes left Glasgow City sealed the victory when Katharina Linder beat the offside trap and cracked home a stunning 20-yard drive past the despairing Shannon Lynn to kill of Hibernian's hopes.

After the match coach Willie Kirk told Hibernian TV: "That was a very tough test for our first game of the new campaign, but we wouldn't have wished for anything else. City are a formidable side and have raised the bar for all teams in Scotland but it is up to us, and the other clubs, to raise our own standards and I believe that we are doing that. There is currently a gap between us just now, but we are closing it and by the time we play them in the league in two months time, I would like to see that gap having closed even further.

"I was very pleased with our performance and we showed a fantastic work ethic and looked like 'a team' in the way that we worked for each other. We will work on one or two things before our opening league game next week away to Boroughmuir, but I am more than happy with the progress that we are making and what I am seeing in training each week.

"There were excellent performances all over the park from the girls but I felt that 16-year-old Rebecca Zoltie was a real influence in the middle of the park and 15-year-old Claire Emslie gave us a spark when coming on for the final half hour. Debbie McWhinnie can be pleased with her debut and looked a danger at times, but our captain Rhonda Jones was absolutely immense at the heart of our defence."

Hibernian Ladies are away to Boroughmuir Thistle this Sunday in their opening fixture of the new Scottish Women's Premier League season. The game kicks off at 12:30pm at Meggetland Sports Complex, Edinburgh.

(Pics: Lorraine Hill, glasgowcityladiesfc.co.uk)

Report: Richard Payne