Following Sunday’s hard-fought derby victory in Gorgie, Grant Scott opted to make two changes to his side, bringing in Shannon Leishman and Ellis Notley for Mya Christie and Brooke Nunn. Shannon McGregor captained the side on her centenary appearance for the club.
Unfortunately, there appeared to be no change in the weather in the capital, with kick-off at Meadowbank summoning the same torrential rain that drenched Tynecastle just days ago. A crowd seeking shelter from the downpour were at least treated to a flurry of exciting chances for both sides early on in the first half.
Dons forward Bayley Hutchison was first to have a go at goal after seven minutes, giving Katie Fraine a simple save to deal with. Immediately up the other end, Tegan Bowie headed over from a corner to even out the chances.
Aberdeen had the best of the chances in the following ten minutes, but not before an initial scare when Jorian Baucom took aim from range after barreling through a couple of opposition defenders to give Faye Kirby her first test of the evening.
Those aforementioned good chances came in quick succession, with Francesca Ogilvie stinging Fraine’s fingers with a harsh strike before placing a clear-cut chance wide moments later. Hutchison would then force a big save from Fraine as her rebounded effort hurtled toward goal.
And yet, despite the Dons chances, it was Hibs who took the lead after 22 minutes. Baucom cheekily nutmegged her marker to find Abbie Ferguson on the wing, who instantly gifted the ball back to the forward. Making no mistakes from the one-on-one situation, Baucom slipped the ball past Kirby to open the scoring.
After a wild start to proceedings, little of note happened until Baucom snatched her brace in bizarre circumstances in the 56th minute.
Madison Finnie misplaced her routine backless to Kirby, allowing Baucom to race onto the ball before the desperate ‘keeper could clear the ball to safety and slide home her second of the evening.
Kirby was injured in the process and was, after a short delay for treatment, replaced by substitute goalkeeper Annalisa McCann between the sticks.
The Dons, already losing their first-choice shot-stopper and two goals down, were about to find themselves in more trouble as Finnie soon received her marching orders for hauling down Baucom as she bore down on goal once more.
The ferocious Baucom stepped up to spot to slam her penalty into the bottom-left corner beyond McCann to condemn Aberdeen to defeat with over 20 minutes still to play. Hat-trick, secured.
There was no time to breathe for the despondent visitors, however, as four minutes later it was four for Hibs. Scott’s ruthless side kept surging forward, with a chance quickly breaking for the woman of the moment, Shannon McGregor.
Her terrific lob was sublime and capped off her overall fantastic performance on her 100th game for the Hibees.
A triple and double change included goalscorers Baucom and McGregor making way, with Siobhan Hunter making her return to the park after a long injury lay-off.
But it was another substitute introduction who was to steal the limelight from Shiv, as Brooke Dunn managed to be in the right place at the right time to slam home a rebound parried out into the danger area by McCann.
A simply sensational team performance heightened even further by a terrific first hat-trick in green and white for Baucom, a goal to celebrate on a landmark appearance for McGregor, and the return of Hunter to the playing squad.
