Spartans 0 Hibs Women 4

A dominant display across 90 minutes saw Hibernian walk away with all three points after putting four past Spartans at Ainslie Park.

Eilidh Adams netted an early brace inside 10 minutes, before Michaela McAlonie fired in the Hibees’ third not long before half-time. 

Adams would slot home coolly from the penalty spot for the second time on the day to seal her hat-trick in the second half. 

The pace of the game would decrease after Hibs extended their lead beyond reach, with the hosts defending their box bravely until the final whistle blew. 

Grant Scott made three changes to the Hibernian side that comfortably defeated Montrose last weekend at Meadowbank. 

Kirsten Reilly made her 50th appearance for the Club in place of Linzi Taylor, who dropped to the bench alongside striker Kathleen McGovern - who was replaced in the starting XI by Adams.

The third and final change saw Poppy Lawson come in to captain the side, as fellow vice-captain Ellis Notley missed out entirely. 

Young attacker Rosie Livingstone and Club captain Rachael Boyle kept their spots in the dugout following their much-anticipated, and impressive, returns from lengthy spells out on the sidelines last Sunday.

The travelling Hibees faithful mustered up a fantastic noise inside Ainslie Park to spur the girls on from the first whistle - with the support paying off inside seven minutes.

Lauren Doran-Barr was felled inside the Spartans penalty area and referee Lewis Hogarth wasted no time in pointing to the spot.

In-form Adams stepped up and confidently dispatched from 12 yards, beating Spartans keeper Alicia Yates to the right-bottom corner of her goal with a perfectly placed effort. 

Adams had netted three in two substitute appearances heading into this capital city clash and was well on her way to grabbing a second hat-trick in less than four weeks when she notched her second in the ninth minute. 

Excellent work on the left flank from Tegan Bowie culminated in the winger firing a low cross towards the penalty spot. Kirsty Morrison was unable to direct the ball goal-ward, but Adams was at hand to slam home her second of the afternoon. 

While Morrison and McAlonie would both be denied by brave blocks in quick succession, Stacey Papadopoulos was thwarted twice by Yates. A downward header and a low shot from the Aussie were each held by the Spartans number one.

Adams almost produced a first half hat-trick. Yates saved well from a close-range strike from Eilidh, before the centre-forward fired over from the edge of the area under heavy pressure from Kate Fraser moments later.

A third goal would deservedly come for Hibs five minutes before the interval through McAlonie. Unselfish passes from Morrison and Adams teed up our number eight inside the box - allowing Micky to thrash the ball home emphatically.

The home team brought full-back Tegan Browning off the bench at the break and it would be the youngster who kept Adams waiting a little while longer for her elusive hat-trick. The Hibs number nine’s sweet volley on 47 minutes looked destined to find the net, but was blocked by the Spartans substitute.

Doran-Barr placed a close-range shot wide before a rushed volley from Ciara Grant failed to threaten Yates in goal as Hibs piled on the pressure. Spartans soon folded to a Hibernian fourth after Adams was tripped in the hosts’ penalty area.

Making it 14 goals in 11 games to start off the season, Adams sent Yates the wrong way from the spot to extend the Hibees’ lead to four on 57 minutes and earn her second hat-trick of the campaign.

Morrison was unfortunate to be rebuffed for a second time by a last-ditch block after the attacker seeked to convert following exceptional movement and a fittingly superb pick out by Bowie on the left wing. 

It would be Morrison and Bowie’s last act on the pitch as they, as well as hat-trick hero Adams, would be replaced by Abbie Ferguson, Kathleen McGovern and Mya Christie on 65 minutes.

Ferguson would be booked not long after - Hibs’ second of the game after Grant was cautioned in the first 45 - for a cynical foul, though Spartans could not capitalise via the subsequent free-kick. A tame effort from range was held by Erin Clachers.

Boyle and Livingstone were soon introduced by Scott as time wound down. Both had chances, with the captain’s volleyed effort halted by an outstretched Yates and a stoppage-time header from Rosie bobbling wide.