Hibs’ wait for title set to continue after defeat

Hibernian will almost certainly have to wait at least another season for their first Scottish title win since 2007 following this loss to Glasgow City at Petershill Park. It was the Edinburgh side’s first defeat of the year, and one that is likely to cost them the treble as well as the SBS SWPL1 prize.

Goals from Kirsty Howat and Leanne Crichton, the second just a minute after Siobhan Hunter had equalised for Hibs, will be good enough to deliver City a record 12th successive title provided they avoid defeat against Spartans on Sunday. Hibs, who are now three points adrift, have to beat Rangers at Ainslie Park and hope their ground-share neighbours do them a massive favour on the other side of the M8.

Head coach Grant Scott admitted: “We’re massively disappointed. We’ve come so far and so close but yet again just been pipped at the last. The result is hard to take and so was the manner in which we lost the second goal so soon after the equaliser. You feel you’ve done all the hard work and then there’s a switch off and City have capitalised from it.”

Incredibly Hibs, who have won their last six cup ties against Scott Booth’s side, have failed to beat them in the league since November 2007. Yesterday’s game represented their best chance, especially as they had beaten City in the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup semi-final the previous Sunday and the Glasgow side then had to travel to Barcelona in midweek for a Champions League last-16 tie.

“You can look back to us losing in the semi and off the back of that being beaten 5-0 away by Barca,” Booth said. “Everyone is doom and gloom, especially as we had to work like we’ve never worked before against a top-class team on Wednesday. To answer Hibs’ goal like we did is a real quality in this team.”