Glasgow City defeat Hibernian
Glasgow City moved 9 points clear at the top of the SWPL and have a game in hand after they defeated Hibernian 3-1 at Petershill in their match sponsored by First Property Maintenance.
With representatives from Fortuna Hjørring, City’s upcoming Champions League opponents in the stand, City started the game strongly and could have been ahead as early as the first minute when Emma Mitchell rattled the post. However despite dominating possession and opportunities in front of goal, it was Hibs who took first blood when Susan Fairlie opened the scoring in the second half. Going a goal behind seemed to give City the spark they needed and they responded immediately through Jo Love, before Jane Ross added a double to give City the win.
Commenting on the victory, City Assistant First Team Coach Donald Jennow said, “We gave a really dominant performance today and kept the ball very well. Maybe we didn’t move the ball quite as well in the first half and at 0-0 the game was always in the balance. Our reaction to Hibs going ahead was excellent but it was disappointing it took their goal to go in before you really saw us step up through the gears. We had some great moves and good goals today and it is another crucial 3 points in the bag.”
City showed their intent right from the first whistle in this match and a great ball from Ruesha Littlejohn to Mitchell down the right saw the City striker cut inside and hit a powerful shot towards goal, only to see if come back off the post and away to safety for Hibernian.
Jo Love was next to try her luck as she hit a half volley over the top after a cross from Nicky Docherty. Love almost scored soon after but saw her goal bound shot cleared off the line with Shannon Lynn beaten in the Hibs net.
On 18 minutes a great ball from Christie Murray released Mitchell and the striker beat 2 defenders before crossing for Jane Ross who had her shot brilliantly blocked by the Hibs defence only 2 yards from goal. On the half hour mark, Hibernian hit their first shot on target as Emma Brownlie fired a shot from distance which was picked well out of the air by Claire Johnstone in the City goals.
Further chances from Mitchell and Littlejohn went wide of target as City increased their pressure on the Hibs goal. Murray had a shot on the half hour mark, held by Lynn and then the Hibs stopper was in action soon after as she raced off her line well to smother the ball as Littlejohn charged through on goal. 
Mitchell hit another good effort inches wide before Lynn saved a low powerful strike from the City striker, gathering at the second attempt.
Just before half time, the crowd believed City were about to take the lead as Littlejohn and Ross linked up well but just as the latter was yards from goal about to pull the trigger, a brilliant last ditch tackle from the Hibernian rearguard kept the scores even at the break.
Half time 0-0
Similar to the opening period, City’s Emma Mitchell rattled the post in the first few moments, but 6 minutes after the restart it was Susan Fairlie who put the visitors ahead as she beat the offside trap to race through with only Johnstone to beat.
Hibernian’s lead latest only seconds as Christie Murray put Jo Love through on goal straight from the re-start and the City and Scotland midfielder fired low into the bottom corner past Lynn.
Some more last gasp defending from Hibs kept the scores even as Mitchell had an effort cleared off the line and Jane Ross shot into the side netting as she drove in from wide.
City were denied a strong shout for a penalty when Jane Ross appeared to be bundled over in the box after a backheel from Littlejohn was played into her 
path.
However, with 15 minutes remaining, City got the lead their play deserved when Jane Ross fired low into the corner. The striker then added another when she headed home a cross from substitute Leanne Ross.
Leanne Crichton almost got a goal against her former side in the closing minutes when she hit a shot from distance off the cross bar.
City’s next match is away to Aberdeen on Sunday 2nd September.
Pictures by Andy Buist. For a full picture round up from the match visit our facebook @Glasgowcity.Fc
26.08.12
