HIBERNIAN saw off Celtic’s challenge to retain the SWPL Cup with a 4-1 win at Broadwood.
The Edinburgh club have now won the last three domestic finals and stand-in captain Rachel Small, who scored the fourth goal, admitted they have their eyes on the treble.
“We said at the start of the season we wanted to do that,” the midfielder said. “We’re trailing Glasgow City by a point in the league but that will be our next priority. To get one trophy gives us confidence going forward.”
Celtic had plenty of possession in the first half despite being 2-1 behind at the interval, but a goal straight after the resumption floored them.
“We were excellent in the first half but the goal just after half-time really deflated us,” manager David Haley said. “The scoreline doesn’t reflect the way the game went.”
Both sides made a high-tempo start and each found the net in the opening six minutes. Hibs took the lead with a fine goal. Siobhan Hunter fed Kirsty Smith and the left back cut in before crashing a powerful 20-yard shot past Megan Cunningham. The lead was short-lived as Ruesha Littlejohn took advantage of a Hibs defensive error and slipped the ball past Jenna Fife from twelve yards.
Katey Turner twice came close to putting Hibs back in front. Hunter was again the provider for the first, this time from a training ground free kick, and Turner’s shot from the edge of the box went into the side netting. The forward then shot across the goal from the other side as Hibs pressed to regain the advantage.
That came after 34 minutes. Rachel McLauchlan sent a low ball into the Celtic box from the right, Chelsea Cornet touched it on, and Lucy Graham supplied the finish.
Again Celtic came straight back into it, and Hibs right-back Cailin Michie blocked a netbound Natalie Ross shot just in front of the line. Emma Brownlie hit the post with a flick just before half time, and the killer third Hibs goal arrived a minute after play restarted.
A mistake by Darcy McFarlane allowed Abi Harrison to send the ball across the face of the goal and McLauchlan scored from close in. The sting went out of the game until Small scored with a deflected shot 13 minutes from the end following a scramble in the Celtic box.
Substitute Amy Gallacher almost got Hibs another but she sent an inviting ball from Harrison over.
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