Rangers 0 Hibs Women 3

Hibs secured a fantastic 3-0 victory against Rangers at Broadwood Stadium in our final match of the calendar year.

Talisman Kathleen McGovern opened the scoring after five minutes with a neat finish, before firing home with a brilliant curling effort in the second-half. Substitute Rosie Livingstone came on and immediately scored a quick-fire third to seal a memorable, end of year league win.

Grant Scott made four changes to the Hibernian side that defeated Motherwell last weekend. Erin Clachers was reinstated inbetween the sticks, while Siobhan Hunter, Poppy Lawson and Stacey Papadopoulos returned in defence.

Sharing the spoils in our last encounter with the Gers, Hibs looked to break on the counter from the off.

Aided by the wind, McGovern’s inch-perfect pass fell to Tegan Bowie in a brilliant position. Letting fly, the winger’s effort was stopped by a smothering save from goalkeeper Victoria Esson very early on.

Capitalising brilliantly on another loose ball, Hibs took the lead on five minutes. Kathryn Hill let Papadopoulos’ lofted cross ball run behind her - anticipating an Esson collection, which never came. This allowed McGovern to pounce at the front post, dispatching over Esson’s head to open the scoring.

Hibs would control the ball well in the opening stages - despite the wind promising to disrupt some neat passing. Esson would soon brilliantly leap to turn a Kirsten Reilly free-kick, bound for the top corner, behind as the Hibees continued to prod for openings and push forward.

Launching the ball forward and break necking towards goal once again. Papadopoulos’ beat the goalkeeper with her low finessed shot, but her effort rebounded agonisingly off the post by the slenderest of margins.

The hosts seriously struggled to craft chances, with our number one barely disturbed throughout the first 45. Kirsty Howat would soon threaten when she unleashed a ferocious strike at a ready-and-waiting Clachers to see the final action of the half.

After a very slow, stop-start beginning to the second half, Hibs were unlucky not to capitalise on a stramash inside the penalty area on the hour mark. A coming together saw the ball flail around, with Reilly unable to make a decent connection. McGovern was similarly unlucky not to reach Bowie’s low cross moments later.

Continuing to plaster the Rangers goal, Adams blazing shot was deflected wide by former Hibee defender Leah Eddie. Freshly brought on to replace Michaela McAlonie, Linzi Taylor very nearly breached the net, but took one touch to many while bearing down on goal.

Just when they game might have turned on its head, Hibs snatched a valuable, terrific second goal. McGovern, furious after missing a brilliant opportunity only seconds before, received the ball rapidly from the subsequent Rangers goal kick after some lax passing from the hosts.

McGovern turned on the swivel and, from long-range, fired a magnificent curling effort directly into the top corner - giving Esson no chance.

With less than ten minutes remaining, the travelling fans had good reason to celebrate again. Brought on less than a minute earlier, Livingstone rifled home past Esson on 84 minutes after latching onto a through ball in behind the home side’s backline to seal a brilliant result in our final match of the year.