Hibs vs Hearts women: match report as inspired Jambos comeback avenges cup defeat at Easter Road
The Jambos ended Hibs’ eight game unbeaten run with a victory under the lights in Leith.
Hearts defeated Hibs 3-1 in the SWPL Premiership to leapfrog their Edinburgh rivals in the table.
A header from Hibs skipper, Ellis Notley gave the hosts the lead on the stroke of half time before Carly Johns tapped in for an equaliser. In what was a game of two halves, the visitors then took the lead when Bayley Hutchison netted from a corner. Johns scored her second of the game in the 71st minute to seal the victory.
Hibs emerged 3-2 victors last week in the Sky Sports Cup and carried that momentum forward in the early stages in front of 4,000 fans at Easter Road. In the very first minute it was a heart in mouth moment for Jambos defender Elizabeth Waldie when her short backpass was intercepted by Tiree Burchill, who tried to play it across to Kathleen McGovern for a tap-in, however her cross was blocked.
While the hosts were playing better football than their Edinburgh rivals, they weren’t able to create any meaningful chances in the early stages. McGovern’s long-range free kick which was hit straight at Rachael Johnstone was the closest they came to scoring in the opening half hour.
On the stroke of half time disaster struck for Grant Scott’s side as McGovern went down holding her hamstring. The injury meant that Hibs would be without their top goalscorer for the second 45, as she was replaced by Kirsty Morrison.
Moments later, the Leith side finally broke the deadlock after a sustained period of pressure. An overhead cross from Siobhan Hunter found the head of Notley, whose looping effort left Johnstone helpless in the Hearts goal. The Hibees captain gave her side a deserved lead going into the break.
Eva Olid’s half time team talk must’ve been an inspiring one as Hearts came out a completely different team. A Caley Gibb missed tackle led to the Jambos’ first real chance of the game when Jessica Husband capitalised and played the ball across to Bayley Hutchison, who’s edge of the box effort was blocked by Hunter.
The visitors equalised when a low cross from Hutchison was guided goal bound by Carly Johns, in what was a smart close range, left-footed finish. Three minutes later, the provider got on the scoresheet herself when she got on the end of a Waldie corner, in what was a well worked Hearts routine. As the match sprung into life, Hibs should’ve drawn level when Burchill was put through on goal by Morrison but Johnstone once again was equal to her shot.
Johns then made it a brace when she put the visitors 3-1 ahead. Captain Eilidh Shore played a smart ball through to Georgia Timms on the left hand side. After some tricky footwork from the Hearts winger, her shot was blocked by Scarlett Herron, but fortunately for the Gorgie side, the ball landed at the feet of Johns, who slotted it past Schumacher.
As Abbie Hendry blew the full time whistle, Grant Scott will be wondering where it all went wrong for his side after a dominant first half display. As for Hearts, they now sit second in the table, six points behind league leaders Glasgow City.