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Hibs on the rise

Rangers 0 Hibernian 3

With women's football on a festive break south of the border, the Scottish Women's Premier League took centre stage on the Sunday before Christmas.

Although internationally things have not gone well, the domestic club game is thriving, not least because of the excellent free to air weekly coverage of a live game by BBC Alba.

 

With leaders Glasgow City and fifth placed Celtic winning earlier, the onus was on second placed Rangers and fourth placed Hibernian to follow suit. It was the Edinburgh club who did so in emphatic style with a fully deserved 3-0 away win over the Glasgow club at the Broadwood Stadium.

 

Hibs had already drawn a fourth minute save by Victoria Esson before taking the lead with a superb goal on seven minutes. Stacey Papadopoulos curled an early pass behind the Rangers defence for Kathleen McGovern to fire a first time rocket beyond Esson.

 

The excellent Australian Papadopoulos nearly added a second after being sent clear but her right foot effort struck the inside of the post on 23 minutes.

 

Hibs keeper Erin Clachers saved well from Kirsty Howat on 37 minutes and was to make another crucial contribution after the break shortly before the decisive second goal, saving well from Lizzie Arnot.

 

Loose defensive work by Rangers saw McGovern pounce with a stunning 30-yarder on 78 minutes and substitute Rosie Livingstone rounded off the scoring shortly after for a fully deserved away win.

 

A second three-goal defeat in a row following 15 unbeaten for Rangers, after their loss to leaders Glasgow City the previous week, left them five points behind their city rivals with Celtic closing up with games in hand. But the real story should be a superb all-round display from the visitors who, along with arch rivals Hearts, will want to break up the Glasgow domination of the SWPL in 2025.

Rangers: Victoria Esson, Nicola Docherty, Leah Eddie, Kathryn Hill, Jodi McLeary, Lizzie Arnot, Kirsty MacLean, Charlie Devlin, Chelsea Cornet, Kirsty Howat, Rio Hardy. Subs: Eilidh Austin, Jenna Fife, Brogan Hay, Camille Lafaix, Mia McAulay, Tessel Middag, Laura Rafferty, Jane Ross, Katie Wilkinson.

Hibernian: Erin Clachers, Stacey Papadopoulos, Siobhan Hunter, Poppy Lawson, Lauren Doran-Barr, Michaela McAlonie, Ciara Grant, Kirsten Reilly, Tegan Bowie, Kathleen McGovern, Eilidh Adams. Subs: Rachael Boyle, Mya Christie, Abbie Ferguson, Shannon Leishman, Rosie Livingstone, Kirsty Morrison, Noa Schumacher, Linzi Taylor.  

Match report by Patrick Higgins