Hibernian Ladies 19 Kilmarnock Ladies 1

Last updated : 29 April 2012 By Ed_Scottishfitba

While St Mirren were beating Hibs in the SPL today, the distaff version of the Easter Road club were winning 19-1 over Kilmarnock Ladies in Broxburn. The game was played with a stiff and freezing to the bone wind which favoured the visitors in the first half. However, it did not take long for Hibs to show why they are second in the Scottish Women's Premier League. The first half ended 10-1 to the home side and the score accurately reflected the balance of play. Killie struggled to get out of their own half with Samantha McManus scoring what turned out to be their only goal when she lobbed Shannon Lyne who had misjudged the effect of the wind on the ball when she was further that required from her line. That hiccup aside, Hibs controlled the game from start to finish and unlike their male counterparts, did not take their foot off the gas when they had the wind at their backs in the second half. A further nine goals were racked up which pleased manager Willie Kirk. One thing that did not make him smile was a first half injury to Kirsty Smith. Her head was in the wrong place when an elbow crashed into her and she was taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw. 

Kirsty Smith broken jaw
 
Looking at the performance overall, Kirk said: "The performance was more pleasing than the actual result. We stressed this to the girls before and at half-time that the resultswas not that really important as long as we won. We tried to maintain the level of performance over the ninety minutes which I though we did. The goals were well spread out (among the team) with at least two hat-tricks perhaps three. Kilmarnock seemed to struggle with the wind today but I think we wanted to play the ball on the deck which meant our game was not affected either way. It was good that we adapted very well to the conditions. We normally play to defend and win the ball high up the park and we have been working hard over the last few months on pressing teams and being really positive high up the pitch. Against a team who struggled to get out of their own half all the hard work paid off."

Willie Kirk
 
Hibs only defeat so far this season has been against WSPL Champions Glasgow City. Kirk does not think this will affect Hibs' challenge for the league title in the long term. He went on: "I will be disappointed if we are not there or there abouts (at the end of the season). certainly last week's result was a sore one to take but it is only three points. City will have a tough game today (against Celtic) so from our point of view it would be good if it were a draw and they both dropped points. I would hope that in the second half of the season we would be in a position to really put some pressure on them."