Ladies' Gr-Eight Win!!!

Hibernian Ladies swept aside Dunfermline Athletic at the Hibernian Training Centre on Sunday to progress into the third round of the Scottish Cup with an impressive 8-2 victory.

In a one-sided contest, Hibernian dominated their Fife opponents and only a combination of good defending, brave goalkeeping and wasteful finishing prevented the Easter Road side from recording a bigger winning margin.

Top goal scorer Debbie McWhinnie continued her impressive start to the season by netting a hat-trick whilst Hayley Cunningham, Hollie Thomson, Rhonda Jones, Emma McCulley and Laura Kennedy also scored in the heavy win.

Despite not getting her name on the score-sheet, Hibernian midfielder Joelle Murray was instrumental in her side's victory and set up no fewer than four goals for her team-mates.

Willie Kirk's side went into the match without a number of his first team due to Scotland's involvement in the UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Macedonia.

Despite being without a number of key players, Hibernian started impressively and inside the first minute Captain Jones saw her header cleared from the goal-line.

Thomson and Murray both went close before the deadlock was broken on 6 minutes when Cunningham netted from Murray's low cross.

Three goals in as many minutes killed this game as a contest as Hibernian turned up the heat on their Second Division opponents.

Thomson and Jones both found the net from fantastic set piece deliveries from Murray before McCulley capped off a fine display with a terrific solo effort.

It took Dunfermline fully 30 minutes before they tested goalkeeper Lynn and soon after Hibernian scored a fifth when Cunningham's shot was turned onto the post before McWhinnie slotted away the rebound.

A defensive lapse from Hibernian at the start of the second half saw Dunfermline's Lindsey Gassner reduce the deficit.

Cunningham came close to restoring Hibernian's five goal lead only to see her shot come back of the far post before McWhinne netted her second of the afternoon.

Kennedy then scored from close range following further impressive play on the right flank from Murray.

McWhinnie completed her hat-trick on 82 minutes shortly after Murray went close to scoring with a speculative lob.

Three minutes from time and McWhinnie had an effort chalked off for offside following a fantastic chipped pass from Thomson.

But in the final seconds Dunfermline grabbed a second goal and again it was Gassner that delivered the finish, this time with a stunning, dipping shot into the far corner of the net.

Hibernian Ladies: Shannon Lynn, Rhonda Jones, Suzy Robertson, Hollie Thomson, Hayley Cunningham, Debbie McWhinnie, Rebecca Zoltie, Sarah Robertson, Joelle Murray, Emma McCulley.Sub: Frankie Brown.

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