Her 30 minute, 1st half hat-trick was a truly awe-inspiring performance and will no doubt do wonders to the morale of the squad going forward.
With injuries sustained to Ava Kuyken and Liana Hinds last week, they were kept out of the match-day squad. Dean Gibson opted to bring in Shannon Leishman and Kirsty Morrison as their replacements.
Also missing was Nor Mustafa due to suspension. Crystal Thomas returned to the starting XI as a consequence.
The American also scored a hat-trick the last time both teams met in the league, in only her second appearance for Hibernian.
Shannon McGregor retained the captains armband, as Joelle Murray started on the bench.
The first real chance of the game fell to Hibs on 7 minutes. Crystal Thomas was sent through on goal, and despite having the opportunity to take on the defence, she sent a looping ball over the top to Kirsty Morrison. Her strike went wide of the post however and out for a goal kick.
Moments later Crystal Thomas is sent clear through on goal after a fantastic bit of footwork. Dancing past her two closest defenders, she can’t quite keep her composure and her effort goes wide.
Not left to rue her miss, she gets her goal moments later, on 18 minutes. After Eilidh Adams has a shot saved low by the ‘keepers legs, the rebound falls to Thomas outside of the box. With Rhind still recovering from the save, Thomas drills it into the bottom of the net.
Hibs start to ramp up the pressure further. A cross in from the right nearly connects with Thomas’ head, but a misjudged collision with the goalkeeper means the both of them fall to the ground. The dangerous looking ball goes out of play meanwhile.
Continuing to pile on the pressure, Crystal Thomas gets her second of the game after 31 minutes. Another fantastic run by the American means that she is in a perfect position outside the box to take a shot. Despite the Accies best attempts to create pressure, her low strike evades everyone and nestles into the bottom corner.
Her hat-trick is secured a minute later. Sent one on one versus the goalkeeper by fellow striker Eilidh Adams, Thomas feints to the right, the goalkeeper is left stranded, and she taps home into an empty net. Quite fantastic stuff.
That effort ended the first half action, as Hibs dominated every area of the pitch.
With the second half restart, Hibs were still very much on the front foot. A handball in the box was spotted by the referee, and awarded a spot kick. Eilidh Adams despatched the penalty into the bottom corner.
Goal number 5 came on 72 minutes. Some nice passing play by Thomas and substitute Freda are difficult for the Hamilton defence to contain. Finding herself on the edge of the area, Freda plays a killer pass to Livingstone, who herself tees up MacGregor to shoot. The captain then fired it into the roof of the net with the side foot shot.
Clearly that effort inspired her team to continue the rout. Freda was next on the scoresheet, getting a quick-fire double…
The buildup to her first, on 80 minutes started with Haaland regaining possession in her box. Within a couple of passing moves, the ball was flicked on to the Cypriot who outpaced and outfought her marker. With the opposition goalkeeper rushing out of her box, Freda composed as ever, took it round Rhind, and passed into an empty net.
Her second of the game came a mere 3 minutes after. A low ball into the box failed to be cleared by the Hamilton defence, and with Freda sensing the opportunity once more, she takes possession, swivels round, and rolls the ball into the bottom corner.
The final goal came in the final minute. Lucy Parry crosses in from the right, and substitute Livingstone heads towards goal. The goalkeeper gets a hand to it, but fortunately the ball rebounds off the post and strays in.
The referee ended proceedings a minute later, ending the dominant performance brought by the Hibs team.
This result now means the girls are into the quarter final of the Sky Sports Cup. The draw for that match is made on Tuesday.
An international break means Hibs will have a weeks worth of rest before facing Rangers in their next match on October 16th.
Image: Ian Steele Photography
