Ladies Win First League Game

Hibernian Ladies made the short trip to Boroughmuir for their first league outing of the season.

Hibernian Ladies opened their league campaign away to Boroughmuir Thistle at Meggetland Sports Complex looking to carry on from last weeks positive display away to Glasgow City in the league cup.
The playing surface was dry and fiery, similar to the previous week.
Two changes were made to the starting eleven, with full backs Emma McCulley and Kirsty McBride being left out and their places being taken by Hayley Cunningham and Lisa Robertson.

The ladies came flying out the traps and it took only 3 minutes to open the scoring.  A free kick delivered expertly by Debbie McWhinnie was met by the head of the rising Hollie Thomson which gave the Boroughmuir keeper no chance.
An onslaught may have been expected after this, but it didn't materialise, and Boroughmuir remained a tight, well organised group and proved difficult to break down. 
A stonewall penalty claim was tuned down for the ladies much to the relief of the Boroughmuir coaching staff after their keeper over-commited herself and upended the dangerous McWhinnie.  The referee waved away the protests and the search for the second goal continued.
Boroughmuir did try and get forward when they could and Shannon Lynn had to look alert on a few occassions to thwart any potential danger, but it was Hibernian who continued to create the better chances with Frankie Brown, Hayley Cunningham, Debbie McWhinnie and Thomson again going near as the half came to a close.

HT 1-0

The second half started at a lower tempo.   Hibernian dominated possession, but they failed to provide the cutting edge to kill the game off with chances for Laura Kennedy and McWhinnie being kept out by Livingstone in the Boroughmuir goal.
A double substitution on the hour mark saw Claire Emslie and debutant Jenna Ross replace Rebecca Zoltie and Cunningham and this provided a much needed spark to the ladies game.  Ross was involved in play staright away, constantly getting on the ball and moving it around the park at a good tempo.  Ten minutes later and internationalist Kirsty McBride replaced Kennedy, and this injected further pace and directness to the play.  Eventually the second goal did come and it was worth the wait.  In the 78th minute Joelle Murray picked up Livingstone's clearance from goal and from 45 yards she took a quick glance up and spectacularly lobbed the goalie and found the unguarded net
A third goal followed in the closing minutes.  McBride showed huge bravery to win a header on the edge of the penalty area, the loose ball broke to McWhinnie and her cross was headed home by Murray for her second goal of the game.

FT 3-0

Kirk commented after the game "the most important thing today was to win the game with it being our first league outing of the season.  It would have been nice to have added a couple of more goals, but it wasn't to be.  Boroughmuir were very well organised, which I expected and that is down to the quality of coaches they have at the club.  We showed a lot of patience, and I thought the players went about their business in a very professional manner indeed.  Once more, our substitutes provided a spark for us just when we needed it and that says a lot about their mentality.  With a large squad this season and the quality we have throughout, no one is guaranteed a game, so it is important that when players are left out the starting eleven, they respond in the correct manner and that is by making an impact when they go on the park.  That's two weeks in a row now that has happened which is very pleasing.
Myself and Yorkie have placed a lot of emphasis so far on teamwork and the early signs are good.  For the second week in a row, we have looked like a team and not just eleven individuals and it is that sort of approach which will dictate if the season is a successful one or not.
Despite the good team performance, I have to single out Joelle Murray.  I asked a few questions of her today and she answered them all.  Possibly unfairly, I questioned her desire and the quality that she could give us in front of the rest of the girls before the game.  She responded with a fantastic display, not only going forward but also doing her bit defensively.  She has so much ability and we have to make sure that we get the best out of her week in, week out.  She did it today, both when playing wide left and laterly through the middle when she scored her two goals.  Her first goal didn't actually surprise me as I know she has that in her locker!
We now have a home game against Kilmarnock before the international break and it is imprtant that we approach this properly and take another three points."

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