Match Report

Scottish Cup : 

St Johnstone   1   Hibs   9 

Perth, Saturday 06 March 2004 Kick off 11:30

 Scottish Cup 1st round

Hibs Girls: Louise Kedslie, Kayley Ralton (capt), Nuala Deans, Tammi Kerr, Laura Buchanan, Tricia McLaughlin,  Laurna Robertson, Lisa-Marie Boyd, Claire Weir, Wendy Toon, Cheryl Edgar, Lyndsay Hunter, Lorna Higgins, Ali McCaig.

Scorers Cheryl Edgar (2) Lindsey Hunter (2) Tricia McLaughlin (3) Claire Weir (1) Wendy Toon (1) 

Hibs Girls travelled to Perth to play St Johnstone in this Scottish Cup first round tie. Having disposed of Paisley Saints in the prelim round Hibs were looking to progress to the last 8. These two teams have never played against each other and Hibs did not know much about their opponents before today's game. Hibs went immediately on the attack and with only 3 minutes on the clock Cheryl Edgar headed home from a Trisha McLaughlin cross. Then Hibs lost their shooting boots with Cheryl Edgar, Trisha McLaughlin and Claire Weir all guilty of missing several very good chances. Kayley Ralton then flashed a header just over from a corner before Cheryl Edgar converted goal number 2 with a right foot volley on 18 minutes. Further chances went a begging before the referee blew for half-time. Hibs should have been a mile ahead at this stage but a mixture of poor finishing and gallant defending by the St Johnstone girls kept the score down to 2-0. In the second half St Johnstone resumed with their tails up while Hibs seemed to switch off and were duly punished 7 minutes into the half when St Johnstone's busy little striker hit an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner of the Hibs net to peg the score back to 2-1. This certainly gave Hibs a wake up call. St Johnstone could see themselves getting back into the game and switched from a back four to a back three and how Hibs made them pay for that decision as time and time again they worked the ball from back to front carving open the St Johnstone rearguard. Lindsey Hunter showed excellent composure while scoring goals number 3 and 4 before Lorna Higgins struck a penalty inches wide. Trisha McLaughlin terrorised St Johnstone down the right flank while chipping in with a hat-trick either side of a Claire Weir strike before Wendy Toon slid in at the back post to make the final score 9-1 in favour of Hibs. Hibs were far to strong for this St Johnstone team who should however be commended for battling valiantly to the end. Hibs would like to thank their hosts for their hospitality throughout.