Hibs Women 1 Celtic 0

Hibs Women claimed their last victory of the pre-split league campaign as they recorded a crucial 1-0 win over defending champions Celtic.

The pre-match mood was buoyant given recent results; with Eilidh Adams elevating that feeling to cloud nine with a fantastic header in the first half, rewarding Hibs with their first league triumph over the Glasgow club in recent seasons.

Chasing the pack as we near the split, Grant Scott made two changes to the side that beat Montrose before the international break.

Tegan Bowie, playing her part in every single match this season, started in place of Kirsty Morrison, as Stacey Papadopoulos was also promoted from the bench in place of captain Rachael Boyle.

In search of their eighth straight victory in a run which had seen them go undefeated in 13 games, Hibs started securely. Neither side had anything close to a clear-cut opportunity in the opening minutes.

Ciara Grant’s inswinging free-kick wasn’t caught by any Hibs heads, while Michaela McAlonie’s enticing cross from the opposite side was narrowly missed by Rosie Livingstone’s flick on.

Hibs ensured their bulldozing momentum wasn’t stopped against the defending champions, with a dazing run by Tegan Bowie culminating in the winger delivering a fantastic cross to a darting Adams.

Fresh from the excitement of turning out for Scotland, the clinical forward delivered an exquisite bullet header off the underside off the bar. The thumping effort gave a collapsing Kelsey Daugherty no chance, allowing the number 9 to celebrate gleefully in front the busy Meadowbank crowd.

Kirsten Reilly was unlucky not to double the Hibs lead after thirty minutes. Aiming a long-range free-kick strike directly at goal, her howitzer effort was well held by the Celtic goalkeeper.

Daughtery needed to stand her ground again moments later; holding firm against Papadopoulos’ formidable shot. The full-back made a trademark dizzying run at goal following brilliantly passing play from Adams and McAlonie.

Desperate to find a way back into the match, the away side were gifted a glaring opportunity.

Keeper Clachers' mistimed interception on the edge of the area gave Celtic a brilliant opportunity for Maria McAneny to equalise. A cross was delivered from the right, but the Celtic attacker failed to direct her effort towards the open goal.

Our number one made up for her error immediately as she desperately dived to deny Lucy Ashford-Clifford's near post effort.

Celtic focused play down the right flank come the second half restart, with successive drives forward extinguished by Papadopoulos and Reilly.

After providing an assist, Bowie looking to get in on the scoring act and nearly registered her sixth goal of the season. Provided a brilliant pass by Grant, the winger saw herself bearing down towards goal before firing just over from outside the area. 

Sensing an urgency from the away side, Erin Clachers held firm after Saoirse Noonan’s point-blank effort before play was called back. Noonan was awarded a yellow card for a blatant handball while attempting to equalise.

After signing on loan on Friday, Caley Gibb made her Hibs debut after 87 minutes. Brought on to shore up the right flank in the latter stage of the match, she provided a much-needed impetus to see the match out.

After seven minutes of agonising stoppage time passed, Hibs saw the game out in heroic fashion to head into the split in second-place and level on points with first-place Glasgow City. 

Next up: Glasgow City, away.