IN what was a fantastic advertisement for women's football, Hibs did everything they could to end Glasgow City's stranglehold on the domestic game, but just fell short at Ainslie Park last night. An equaliser near the end of normal time and the winner in the extra period ensured City would win a record twelfth successive trophy when they retained the League Cup.
City, with captain Leanne Ross on the bench, were hardly seen in an opening 30 minutes during which the proverbial visitor from Mars would have assumed that the triple treble winners were wearing the green strips.
Hibs had two great chances to take the lead even before striker Heather Richards put them ahead with a stunning goal midway through the half. Chris Roberts' side seized the initiative and a through ball left Lucy Graham with the option of lobbing City goalkeeper Lee Alexander inside the box - but she failed to hit the target.
The outstanding Lizzie Arnot was causing stand-in City skipper Emma Black problems down the left but it was her corner from the other side which seemed to have given Hibs the lead. Abi Harrison, one of four winter recruits from Celtic in the side, fired in a powerful header which came off the underside of City bar and out to safety.
Richards, another former Celtic players, conjured her goal out of nowhere in the 26th minute. Or more precisely from just inside the City half as she spotted Alexander off her line and sent a long shot sailing accurately over the keeper's head and into the net.
If that was a splendid individualistic effort, Hibs nearly doubled the lead with a fine passing move three minutes later. Lucy Graham, Richards and Arnot swapped passes before the latter forced Alexander to make a crucial low one handed save to keep the score at one.
City finally started to show why they have dominated Scottish women's football in the last 15 minutes of the half, but although the otherwise impressive Jenna Fife spilled a corner, the Hibs defence retained their composure to hold out for half time.
Jo Love, with a 25 yard free kick which hit the bar, nearly levelled five minutes after the restart and as City continued to apply the pressure Graham cleared a Hayley Lauder shot to safety from just in front of the line.
Love, with a deflected shot, was again close and City's pressure finally paid off in the 77th minute. Nicky Docherty sent in a low free kick with Montgomery, returning to her former Spartans home ground, getting the touch which beat Fife.
Whereas Hibs' creative players had stolen the show in the opening 30 minutes, it was central defenders Joelle Murray and Siobhan Hunter, along with holding midfielder
Lisa Robertson, who held the green line firm to send the game into extra time. The introduction of Ross in the second half made a big difference to City and it was from her free kick three minutes into extra time that allowed Susan Fairlie to score at the far post. Even so, Graham and Kirsty Smith came agonisingly close to forcing penalites at the end of a pulsating game.
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