Goalkeeper Fife is Hibs’ hero as Edinburgh side claim SWPL Cup on penalties
Hibernian goalkeeper Jenna Fife saved twice in the penalty shoot- out to help win her side a fourth successive SWPL Cup at the Penny Cars Stadium. She dived t wice to her right to save from Hayley Lauder and Clare Shine, who took the second and t hird Glasgow City kicks.
There were no places for Lee Alexander and Jo Love in the Cit y line - up, both Scotland players being on the bench. Scott Booth has been playing young reserve goalkeeper Erin Clachers in the cup games, while Love has a niggle and wasn’t risked for a start.
Hibs brought in captain Joelle Murray, vice- captain Rachael Small and midfielder Amy Gallacher from the side which had lost 3- 0 to Celtic on Sunday but could have found themselves a goal down after only two minutes.
A Leanne Ross cross was brought down by Shine and the Irish striker had only Fife to beat – but the Hibs goalkeeper made a double save to deny her.
City continued to be the more threatening side, but the longer the half went on the more Hibs asserted themselves and they had the best of the limited chances before the interval.
Clachers made comfortable saves from Kirsten Reilly and Jamie- Lee Napier, and t he cl osest t he Edinburgh side got to scoring was when Small’s header from a Colette Cavanagh cross top of the net.
City started the second half
f ound
t he the brighter, as they had done the first and Megan Foley had a shot deflected just wide for a corner – but it was Hibs who were aggrieved when what looked like a goal was disall owed. Clachers attempted to roll the ball out near the edge of her box but Gallacher closed in and her to get a touch which directed the ball towards Small.
The Hibs midfielder lobbed the keeper and put the ball in the net – but referee Gary Hanvidge appeared to decide that Clachers had been fouled as she released the ball.
It looked a contentious call and the official then ruled out City penalty claims at the other end after Nicola Docherty went down just inside the box. Again, it looked a close one.
With the clock running down the game really opened up, but neither side could prevent the game going to extra- time and when that pattern continued it was inevitable the game would be decided by penalties.
GLASGOW CITY:
Subs: not used:
HIBERNIAN:
not used: