25 February 2007 Hutchison Vale v Hibs Girls - Match Report

Hibs U17 Girls travelled to South Queensferry to meet Hutchie Vale u17 Girls, the team at the top of the SWF Central South East League table.

After 12 hours of rain the pitch at South Queensferry Leisure Centre, where the game was scheduled to be played, it was completely unplayable with surface water all over the pitch. With the game in doubt it was agreed to play the match on the nearby South Queensferry High School football pitch, where the pitch, although extremely heavy underfoot, was playable.

The match kicked off with Hibs Girls very keen to make sure that they continued their good form in 2007 and make up for the defeat last week at Falkirk. Hutchie Vale Girls were also very confident that they would continue their good results and had every reason to think so as they are currently sitting at the top of the league.

However, it was Hibs Girls who started the game the stronger with the Hibs midfield getting on the ball and providing Lisa Yarwood and Emma Gray with good possession. Emma Gray on the Hibs wide left was asking questions of the Hutchie Vale defence and Laura Smith was also lively and finding space on the Hibs right. Louise Whyte , Mariel Kaney and Jinky were all prominent in the Hibs midfield and were all getting on the ball and making Hutchie Vale work hard in what was a very close and competitive match.

Hutchie Vale were also prominent and attempting to stamp some authority on the match and were getting some decent possession on the wide right and left sides of midfield where, at times, Natalie McLeod and Danni Diey were being left exposed when the Hibs wide midfielders were not matching the runs of their counterparts and leaving their fullback collegues to mark two players which was starting to put Hibs under pressure.

With the game fairly evenly balanced, Hutchie Vale played a through ball from midfield and caught the Hibs central defence square with their central stiker running in on the through ball and scoring under Laura Connolly with Claire Mooney no more than a foot away from blocking the shot as the little striker connected. Coral Cassidy in the Hibs central defence pulled up soon after this with a hamstring injury and was replaced with Megan Turnbull.

Jinky, who was working really well with Mariel Kaney and making the Hutchie Vale midfield work really hard to gain any possession, committed herself into a tackle and twisted her ankle in the process. Although to her great credit she tried to continue, the injury proved too severe and she had to be replaced with Eliana Fernandez. Eliana moved to wide right midfield with Louise Whyte moving into central midfield to replace Jinky.

Eliana was finding both the pace of the game and the power of the Hutchie Vale team difficult to come to terms with but stuck in and did her best. With these enforced changes in the team, Hutchie Vale were becoming more prominent , especially on their wide left and from a corner from the left they scored what was, from a Hibs defensive perspective, was a soft goal as she was allowed to go past a couple of Hibs defenders unchallenged to score at the far post, when the ball could and should have been cleared long before this.

Hibs Girls, after matching Hutchie Vale in every department throughout the first half, now found themselves 2 goals down and chasing a game because of two lapses, and it has to be said that, from a Hibs perspective, both goals were easily avoidable. However, Hutchie Vale are not top of the league because they don’t take their chances, quite the reverse, give them a chance and they are able to convert it into all important goals.

The first half ended Hutchie Vale 2 – Hibs Girls 0.

After 5 minutes of the second half, Lyndsay Ann Reid was introduced into the wide right midfield for Eliana in order to provide more cover to Natalie McLeod at right back who was having a fantastic game for Hibs Girls. After 10 minutes of the second half, Emma Gray was injured for a final time after taking some heavy challenges during the game and Eliana moved to the wide left midfield position.

The game remained extremely even and Hibs Girls were giving as good as they got all over the pitch. After some excellent play, Hibs were awarded a corner on the Hibs right. From the resultant corner kick which was taken by the very skilful Danni Diey, the almost perfect delivery into the Hutchie Vale six yard box was just asking to be struck home but Lisa Yarwood and Laura Smith, who had both taken up excellent position in the box, failed to score from 3 yards with the goal at their mercy.

Soon afterwards, again after some excellent inter - passing involving Mariel Kaney and Eliana Fernandez in midfield , the ball was squared to Laura Smith who found herself in space 12 yards out with only the goalkeeper to beat and the Hutchie defence neutralised by Eliana’s pass, but her shot wasn’t strong enough to beat the Hutchie Vale goalkeeper and another chance was gone.

Hutchie Vale continued to work hard and, after some strong play were awarded a corner kick on the Hibs right. From the very good delivery into the Hibs box, the Huchie Vale central defender rose unchallenged, although Eliana did match her run, and powered a strong header into the Hibs net from inside the six yard box to make it 3 – 0.

Hibs Girls continued to battle to try to get something out of this game and following a bye kick taken by one of the Huchie Vale defenders was returned immediately into the Hutchie Vale box by the Hibs midfield. As the Hutchie Vale defender tried to clear the danger, Laura Smith closed her down and the Hutchie Vale defender played the ball directly to Laura under the pressure that Laura had created. Laura found herself in front of goal with the goal at her mercy but could not manage to finish.

The game finished 3 – 0 to Hutchie Vale.

Natalie McLeod was the outstanding player on the pitch with Mariel Kaney a close second. There were also strong Hibs performances from Lisa Yarwood, Claire Mooney and Megan Turnbull. Danni Diey continues to develop as an excellent left back and if she can improve her fitness, who knows what is possible for Danni. Laura Smith was very unlucky today not to score as was Lisa Yarwood but continue to work hard and believe in yourselves and the goals will come. Louise Whyte and Emma Gray worked hard throughout and Lyndsay Ann Reid worked tirelessly when introduced in the second half, linking the play well on the right and giving Natalie McLeod excellent support defensively. Eliana Fernandez, when moved to the left side of midfield and after acclimatising herself to the pace of the game was extremely effective and made a good contribution to the game.

Hutchie Vale are a team who have been together for some time now and are strong in all departments. They were formidable opponents today and we wish them well for the rest of the season.

Hibs Girls continue to improve but need to believe in themselves more and when they do , they will definitely have a say in who finishes where in the League.