After losing against Aberdeen last weekend, Hibernian Women played host to Gartcairn women in the fourth round of the Scottish Women’s Cup.
The match saw Jenna Penman make her first start for Hibs after signing from Aberdeen.
Hibs made an excellent start to the game as Amy Gallacher sent a curling effort just over the bar within the opening 30 seconds. Following this effort, Hibs kept up the pressure as they looked to break the deadlock.
The hosts were rewarded for their efforts in the 4th minute after Kirsty Morrison was brought down inside the box and Hibs were awarded a penalty. Gallacher stepped up and expertly slotted away the spot-kick to give Hibs an early lead.
After opening the score, Hibs kept applying the pressure on Gartcairn and were able to double their lead in the 8th minute thanks to a spectacular bicycle kick from Colette Cavanagh. The incredible innovation from Cavanagh meant that Hibs had a 2-0 within the opening 10 minutes.
Despite taking a 2-0 lead, the hosts did not take their foot off the gas as Shannon McGregor scored Hibs’ third in the 17th minute. After some great work down the wing, Morrison was able to get to the byline and cut the ball back to McGregor who was waiting on the edge of the box to place the ball into the bottom corner.
The goals kept coming for Hibs and they grabbed their fourth of the match through Gallacher in the 24th minute. Cavanagh was played in down the left and laid it in a plate for Gallacher to place beyond the Gartcairn keeper from inside the box and get her brace.
Hibs got their fifth of the match in the 31st minute thanks to another strike from Cavanagh who latched onto a bobbling ball inside the box and fired it beyond the keeper and into the net to get her brace.
Just a few moments later, Cavanagh turned from scorer into provider as she played a ball to the back post where it was met by Gallacher who finished expertly to grab her hat-trick. The two goals in quick succession meant Hibs had a 6-0 lead shortly after the 30-minute mark.
Ellis Notley tried her luck with an effort from outside the box in the 41st minute but was denied by an excellent save from the Gartcairn keeper who was able to palm the ball onto the post.
Hibs kept up a great intensity and desire throughout the opening 45 minutes and went into the interval with a deserved 6-0 lead.
It only took six minutes after the restart for Hibs to grab another goal and extend their lead to 7-0. The ball was played over the top to Morrison who found herself in space just inside and struck the ball into the top corner.
The goals did not stop for Hibs as they got their eighth in the 59th minute. Gallacher found herself out on the right and swung the ball towards the back post where it was met by Michaela McAlonie whose diving header flew into the back of the net.
Having only been on the pitch for a few minutes, substitute Rosie Livingston played a great cut back into the box that was met by McAlonie who finished past the keeper to get her brace and Hibs’ ninth in the 66th minute.
Moments later, it was 10-0 to Hibs. The ball was played into substitute Toni Malone who fired a shot from the right into the goal. The keeper got a hand to the strike but could not keep the ball out of the net. This was a special moment for Malone as it was her first competitive goal for Hibs.
After injuring her ankle against Hearts last December, Eilidh Adams made her first appearance of 2022 as she came off the bench in the 81st minute
McAlonie completed her hat-trick with a screamer in the 89th minute from outside the box. The midfielder found herself in space and struck the ball into the top corner with her left foot from 25 yards out to extend Hibs’ lead to 11-0.
Leah Eddie made it 12-0 in the 90th minute after her free kick from deep went all the way into the net beyond the keeper.
This proved to be one of the final actions of the match as the referee blew the whistle shortly after.
