Thompsons Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup

Thursday 30^th. November 2006 – Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld

 EDINBURGH LADIES TRIUMPH OVER CITY RIVALS HIBERNIAN

On a wild, windy rain soaked evening Edinburgh Ladies triumphed over capital rivals and favourites Hibernian Ladies 4-1 in their delayed encounter in the SWPL Cup Final. The game was in doubt right up to the kick off with constant rain starting to pool on the playing surface but eventually it eased just enough for Mathilde Pearce to give the go ahead for what proved to be an eventful evening.

The game was only seconds underway when Edinburgh took the lead through striker Diana Barry who drilled her shot across Debbie McDonald in the Hibernian goal and into the far corner of the net. This roused Hibernian into some sustained pressure which was repelled by a defiant Edinburgh defence until halfway through the first half when Hibernian equalised courtesy of Suzanne Grant who had the simplest of tasks knocking the ball home after some good approach work by Kim Little.

Edinburgh regained the lead just before the half time break when young midfielder Molly McKean calmly chipped the ball over her marker and sent in a right foot shot which clattered of the left hand upright before hitting the back of the net.

Half Time :- Edinburgh Ladies 2 …….. Hibernian Ladies 1

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first with Edinburgh grabbing a very early goal with a perfect strike from forward Debbie McWhinnie. Hibernian battled hard throughout and pressurised in long spells but the Edinburgh rearguard stood up to the task with player of the match goalkeeper Lorna Brownlie in outstanding form pulling off several excellent saves. The push forward left Hibernian exposed at the rear and Diana Barry took full advantage of this slipping the ball past the advancing Hibernian keeper for her second goal of the night.

The midfield battle settled into a fairly evenly matched contest with both teams dangerous in attack and this contributed to make the game very entertaining but at the final whistle it was Edinburgh’s night as they left with a well deserved victory.

Final Score :- Edinburgh Ladies 4 …….. Hibernian Ladies 1

VIEW FULL PHOTO REPORT HERE

 

Link to THE PINK article - Saturday 2nd. December 2006

 

Link to EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS article - Saturday 9th. December 2006

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Hibernian Ladies Web Site Report - League Cup Final

The conditions at Broadwood Stadium were far from ideal, as both sides took to the field in the howling wind and rain. Hibernian kept the same starting line as they had used last Sunday when they defeated Aberdeen away by four goals to two. Referee Mathilde Pearce deeming the pitch playable despite water lying on the surface of the pitch.

It was to be the worst possible start for Hibernian as Edinburgh grabbed an opening goal in the first minute of the match, Diana Barry taking advantage of a simple ball over the top to get in behind the defence and drill her shot across Debbie McDonald in the Hibs goal and into the far corner of the net. The goal stunned Hibs and they were clearly rattled, taking a good few minutes before they regained their composure and created chances of their own from Suzanne Grant and Kim Little.

Eventually Hibernian managed to take control in the midfield and after some sustained pressure on the Edinburgh defence they grabbed a deserved equaliser after twenty five minutes. A good move down the right saw Kim Little break forward and cross to the back post where Suzanne Grant was lurking and she had the simple task of knocking the ball past Lorna Brownlie in the Edinburgh goal for her fifth goal of the season.

Hibernian continued to put pressure of the Edinburgh defence but time and again the Edinburgh goalkeeper Lorna Brownlie thwarted them pulling off fine stops from the efforts of Kim Little, Suzanne Grant and Kirsty McBride. It is often said you have to take your chances when you are on top in games and with Hibs missing so many clear cut chances Edinburgh were always in the game.

On the stroke of half time Edinburgh scored against the run of play. A poor clearance from Hibs fell to the feet of Edinburgh midfielder Molly McLean who chipped the ball over her marker before she struck and unstoppable shot past McDonald to put her side ahead at the half time break.

It was a bitter blow for Hibs to lose the goal on the stroke of half time having battled back from the loss of an early goal, deservedly equalising before dominating the game and passing up a number of opportunities.

Half Time: Edinburgh Ladies 2 Hibernian Ladies 1

For the second half Hibernian brought on Stacey Cook in defence and moved Julie Ferguson over to the right hand side but it was Edinburgh who scored another early goal, just as they had done in the first half. Hibernian failed to clear away a corner kick and the ball fell to former Hibee Debbie McWhinnie who fired the ball past the unsighted McDonald.

Despite the set back Hibs continued to press forward and enjoyed long spells of dominating possession but they found no way past the Edinburgh goalkeeper who was inspiring from, single handily repelling the strikes of Grant, Burns, Little and McBride who all went close with out scoring.

Whilst Hibs were having a barren night in front of goal the same could not be said of Edinburgh who were clinical with their attacks and they grabbed a fourth goal With Hibernian pushing forward desperately looking for a way back into to the game they were caught out badly in defence as a long ball up the pitch deflected off Captain Suzy Robertson and fell into the path of Diana Barry who made no mistake slipping the ball past the advancing McDonald for her second goal of the night.

The game was now beyond Hibernian and they looked a defeated side although they did have the ball in the Edinburgh net with five minutes remaining, Kim Little scoring but she was adjudged to be off side. A harsh decision as the ball came to her via a defender but never the less the goal was chalked off.

At full time the Edinburgh players rejoiced after pulling off a huge victory as they became the first side to defeat Hibernian this season. The result was very harsh on Hibernian who were by far the better team on the night however Edinburgh took their chances and because of this they will feel they deserved to take home the silverware.

Full Time: Edinburgh Ladies 4 Hibernian Ladies 1

Hibernian Ladies: Debbie McDonald, Shelley Grant, Suzy Robertson, Frankie Brown, Louise Young, Joelle Murray, Kirsty McBride, Julie Ferguson, Mandy Burns, Kim Little, Suzanne Grant. Subs: Ashleigh McCallum, Stacey Cook, Allison Donnelly, Laura Kennedy, Marlene Pearson.

After the game Shelley Grant admitted her disappointment to have lost out on the trophy saying; “It was really bad performance from Hibs but we now have to move on and play for the league and Scottish Cup. Whilst the weather was the worst conditions I have ever played in we cannot use this as an excuse because it was the same for both teams. It’s hard to take because we played poorly and their Goalie kept them in it as we could have been 4-0 up at half time.”

Shelley added; “The management were just devastated but told us to keep our heads up as we still had a lot to play for. My own performance was poor but it did improve as the game went on. We can just move on now and start concentrating on winning the Scottish Women’s Premier League and being successful in the Scottish Cup.”

Shelley’s team mate Julie Ferguson also added; “ All in all this was very frustrating night for us as we did not play that badly and created more chances that Edinburgh but the difference was their young goalkeeper who was in inspiring form. She was outstanding all night. We are frustrated by the chances we didn’t take and the poor goals we conceded. The score line is not a true reflections of the game.”

”These things happen in football and we have got to deal with it as we have bigger games just around the corner and have to keep our league form going. It would have been great to win our first piece of silverware but we didn’t and we are still going for two other trophies, we have to be positive.” Julie added.

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WOMEN'S SOCCER SCENE article - Friday 8th. December 2006

Women's Football News - A dream come true - Karina
 
Edinburgh Ladies captain Karina Murray is hopeful that last week's stunning 4-1 victory over Hibernian in the Scottish Women's Premier League Cup Final will start an era of success for her club.
 
Edinburgh lifted their first major trophy as a result of the win and Karina, who has been with the club for nine years, told Women's Soccer Scene that it came from a good all round team performance. "It was terrific, like a dream come true," she said. "Every single player on the park wanted it on the night and everyone played well, especially our 17-year-old goalkeeper Lorna Brownlie who made a number of outstanding saves and was Player of the Match.
 
"Hibs are a very good team but we performed better on the night. We were excited at half time when we led 2-1 but our manager Carson Ralton kept our feet on ground and made sure we were ready for the second half, and we got our reward."
 
For Karina, it marked a wonderful moment for her to lead the team to a major success. "As captain, it's massive for me - especially in our first season under new management and I felt we were destined to win it," she smiles. "I so wanted to lift the trophy - in the time leading up to the game and particularly when we were ahead on the night."
 
Karina puts a lot of Edinburgh's success down to the new management team, headed by Carson Ralson. "We struggled in the league last season but the new management has brought passion and commitment to the team," she says. "We are now training twice a week and it is much better, it is more tactical and there is more organisation. A lot of the players are in their first season of women's football and it is a big jump but they have done it really well.
 
"Debbie Mc Whinnie is a fantastic player who could easily play for Scotland and is a great signing, and Diana Barry returned to us this year after a season at Glasgow City. When Debbie and Diana joined us, I knew we had a chance of doing well this season as we had been short of goalscorers, now we are getting goals from all over the pitch."
 
The two strikers netted three of the goals between them but the strike of the night came from youngster Molly McKean. "What a goal," enthused Karina. "Molly flicked the ball over a player's head and volleyed it in off a post. She showed great composure - it's probably the goal of the season."
 
Now Karina is determined that Edinburgh can build on their success and land trophies on a more regular basis. "After getting a taste of winning something, you want more of it," she says. "Your expectations get higher and other teams will be recognising us now, especially after beating Hibs.
 
"We can get amongst the top two in the league and still have matches against them to come. We've proved we can beat the best and have the first trophy of the season, and we will going all out to try and win the other two."

VIEW FULL PHOTO REPORT HERE

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NEWCOMERS EDINBURGH OVERCOME HIBS - SWF COMMENT

Edinburgh have lifted the first silverware of the season - and now their sights are firmly set on the Treble. Two goals from Diana Barry and one each from Molly McKean and Debbie McWhinnie earned a sensational 4-1 Premier League Cup Final victory over Hibs at Broadwood last Thursday.

“It was a fantastic performance, from the whole team, the whole squad, even those girls on the bench,” says Edinburgh boss Carson Ralton.

Ralton also singled out Scotland Under 19 goalkeeper Lorna Brownlie for special praise.

“It was a big ask for a 17-year-old keeper,” he says. “But she handled that responsibility well and produced a fantastic performance.”

Third-placed Edinburgh now face Arsenal North Today (sun) in the Thompsons Solicitors Premier League and Ralton is determined his brave young side will stay on track.

“This will be another tough one,” he says. “Arsenal have had some good results and excellent performances, so we need to stay focused.

“We’ve dropped games to Hibs and Newburgh already this season, but if we can maintain this form, then I believe we can be in with a shout
for both the League and Scottish Cup.”

VIEW FULL PHOTO REPORT HERE

EDINBURGH FACE TOUGHEST WEEK OF SEASON - Saturday 25th. November

Edinburgh face their toughest week of the season - but Carson Ralton believes his young side are capable of overcoming their nerves to upset the big two. After travelling to Glasgow City in the Thompsons Solicitors Premier League tomorrow (Sun), the third place challengers meet league leaders Hibs in the rearranged Premier League Cup Final at Broadwood on Thursday night. 

“Glasgow City are unbeaten and haven’t lost a goal at home all season,” says Edinburgh boss Carson Ralton. We know this is going to be hard. We’ve faced a few tests already this season and coped well. But this one will show us just exactly where we are."

“I know we’re capable of doing well at Glasgow but it is all down to how the girls respond on the day.
A good performance would set us up well for Thursday, when we need to do it all again.
We’ve got a lot of respect for Hibs and they’re a good team. But we enjoy playing against good teams.
There are bound to be some nerves but it should be a great game.
We’re the underdogs for this Cup Final, probably rightly so. But the favourites don’t always win.”

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E.L.F.C. Press release - 9 th. November 2006

The Thompson Solicitors Premier League Cup Final promises to be an intriguing contest between Edinburgh’s senior teams Edinburgh Ladies and Hibernian Ladies.

Edinburgh Ladies, the leagues newcomers this season, will be all out to turn the tables on their city rivals who won an early season league encounter between the two sides.

Hibernian captain Suzy Robertson and ELFC skipper Karina Murray both have a hand on the League Cup until Saturday when it's final destination will be decided at Broadwood.

Hibernian are currently the undefeated league leaders and will start the game as deserved favourites to lift the first silverware of the season. They will, however, have to overcome a confident young Edinburgh side who are determined to make their mark in their first season of premier football together.

Carson Ralton, ELFC coach, believes that his team will respond to the challenge of the big occasion. “We have the greatest respect for Hibernian and their achievements but we are confident that if we play to our full potential it will be a close contest. We are looking forward to a match between two sides who play their football going forward which should result in an exciting game for spectators”.

Both teams have called for their local community to support them in the final.
Tickets for the final are available on the day, with a £3.00 admission for adults and £1.00 for children.

 

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Mathilde Peace has been named as referee  for the S.W.P.L. Cup Final.

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First trophy up for grabs :-

The first piece of silverware in the Scottish Women’s game in Scotland is up for grabs this Saturday when Hibernian face Edinburgh at Broadwood Stadium in the final of the Premier League Cup. The official Hibernian website caught up with influential midfielder Julie Ferguson to discuss the big game.

Hibernian have their sights firmly on the domestic treble this season and that starts with Saturday's final, with Julie telling us that preparations have been going well: “Yes things are going well, we will be training hard this week working on tactical stuff for the final. Our recent performances in the league have been good and we have built a good confidence in the team. The team spirit has been high and we will be taking that into Saturday’s game.”

 Edinburgh are having a good season and will prove difficult opponents Hibernian this weekend: “Its a final so its always going to be a tough game, both teams will be out to win and I expect an open and tough battle. I think it will be a good game for neutrals.” There is an added spice to the final, as if one was needed, because of the ex-Hibernian links in the Edinburgh team. “I think a lot of people will concentrate on those factors but we aren’t thinking about that. We are going out on Saturday to try and win the cup as far as we are concerned losing Debbie [McWhinnie] and Shelley [Faughnan] is in the past. We have moved on from it all and won’t dwell on it.”

Hibernian have now won their last nine games since they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in August, scoring an amazing 47 goals in the process whilst conceding only two. Julie commented: “The season has went well so far, probably better than we had hoped considering the amount of players we lost at the end of the last season. We have been consistent in our form and that is testament to the hard work of the coaching staff and the players. There have been exceptional individual performances, but most importantly the team performances have been great, we’ve had a couple of poor performances where we have dropped our standards yet we have come through those games undefeated and those games are a reminder that we have to work very hard if we are to win silverware this season.”

There are several changes in the Hibs side from last season to this however this has not caused any problems for the club. Julie said: “We may have lost good players but the core of last seasons team has always been there, Mandy Burns, Louise Young, Kirsty McBride, Frankie Brown, Suzy Robertson, Joelle Murray, Laura Kennedy and Karen MacKenzie have all performed well this season and their form has been just as important as the form of new signings Kim Little, Natalie Ross, Ashleigh McCallum, Shelley and Suzanne Grant, Alison Donnelly and Marlene Pearson. We also lost our goalkeeper for three months due to injury but Debbie McDonald has come in and to her credit performed extremely well.

"I think having so many changes effected our European Campaign, we had new players come in and we lost Stacey Cook and Tracey Burns to long term injury so it was difficult to gel together in that short period. However since then we have just went from strength to strength. We are playing different and we have more of a passing game now. We have so many attacking options, not only from strikers and midfielders, but now the full backs are becoming an attacking force. Everyone is more involved in the play and that is a big difference from last season.”

Hibernian lost a lot of experience from their squad over the summer and brought in youngsters looking to make their way in the game: “The new girls have been fantastic and the mixture of experience and youth has been great for the team and given everyone at the club at huge lift. The young girls have come in and are playing as if they have been part of the team for years. The team is really together just now, you wouldn’t think that there had been so many changes in the summer.

“Of course the young girls will be able to handle this big occasion, although they are young they have played in some very big games already for Hibs, they were all part of the European campaign and they gave outstanding performances. As well as that they have played games at international level, so the big occasion wont phase them they will thrive on it. Kim Little and Natalie Ross have both given performances well beyond their years.”

Earlier this season Edinburgh and Hibernian clashed in the Scottish Women’s Premier League with Hibs coming out on top 4-1, but will that result have any influence on the outcome of the final? “No I don’t think so, the two games are very different. This game is a one off and whoever is hungrier will win the cup, league form goes out the window so the result of our last game will have no baring.”

The final of the Premier League Cup takes place on Saturday at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld with a 2pm kick off and admission prices have been set at £3 for adults and £1 for children.

Richard Payne

 

Link to THE GLASGOW EVENING TIMES article - Thursday 30th. November 2006

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First trophy up for grabs :-  30th. November 2006

In the Summer Natalie Ross made the step up from the Hibs U17 team to the senior squad and she had been enjoying the new challenge until she got injured. Natalie explained: "I had been starting games and was beginning to feel confident since making the step up before I got injured which, ironically came when I was pushed while competing for a 50-50 ball in the Edinburgh Ladies League game earlier in the season. I am hoping to be back before the winter break"

While Natalie will not be involved she expects a tough game for her team-mates against a hard working Edinburgh side. She said: "I expect quite a close game as both teams have a lot of good players and the league game was closer than the score line suggested and was very hard fought. It is a cup final so form goes out the window but none the less we are confident and have been training hard, we are in good form just now playing some great football and scoring lots of goals."

Shelley Grant like Natalie is new to the team having made the switch from rivals Glasgow City recently and she finds herself almost immediately competing in a cup final for her new side: "I have settled in really well. The girls have made me feel very welcome. I knew a lot of them from International games so it has been easier to settle in and also my twin sister Suzanne plays so that also helps me as we have played for the same team since we starting playing football and we lift each other when it is needed."

After joining the club Shelley had to wait a few weeks until she got the all clear to play but she is now fully fit and raring to go on this evening. "I have felt good so far. I did miss a few games at the start so it took a while for me to get my game fitness but I am fully fit now and feel I am doing well. I just try to stay consistent and work as hard as I can every week. I think the season is going really well for us. We have won all of our games so far and we have made it to the Final of the leagues Cup so it is a great start for us. We still have lots of games to play and we have the Scottish Cup to play yet but we have good talented players all through our team and our team spirit is great."

Despite having played many big games in her career including the Scottish Cup Final with Glasgow City Shelley admits to still being nervous: "Preparations are going fine and I am starting to get really nervous as it gets closer. My boyfriend is the Ross County Captain (Don Cowie) and he won the challenge cup recently so he has been trying to give me some advice!" Like Natalie, Shelley expects a tough encounter with Edinburgh: "I'm expecting a really hard physical game. Edinburgh are a good side and are doing well in the league. We will feel slightly more confident after beating them in the league but every game is different and I know both teams will raise their game so I am fully expecting Edinburgh to give us a really hard competitive game."

The match takes place at Broadwood Stadium and has a 7:45pm kick off. Admission prices have been set at £3 for an adult and £1 for children.

 Richard Payne  

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EDINBURGH DERBY FOR PREMIER LEAGUE CUP  ---   30th. November 2006

This seasons top cup game for the Thompson Solicitors Premier league will be played tonight (Thursday) at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Edinburgh LFC will face their toughest week of the season - but Carson Ralton believes his young side are capable of overcoming their nerves and taking the match to Hibernian LFC. The match, which was originally scheduled for 18th November and called of due to severe bad weather conditions.
Over at the Hibs camp, Iain Jonhston Hibs Manager said ‘the team have been preparing well for this match and look forward to meeting Edinburgh Ladies. They have a lot of good young players’
Entry for adults is £3.00, £1.00 for children and concessions.
Should anyone wish to check before travelling that the game is on, please call 07798 892142.