By Stephen Bark
Glasgow City maintained their two-point lead at the top of the SWPL with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback win against Hibernian at Petershill Park.
Michaela McAlonie had given the away side the lead against the run of play before a second half header from Jenna Clark and an own goal from Liana Hinds gave City all three points.
City made two changes from the side which defeated Partick Thistle last weekend with Hayley Lauder and Lauren Davidson returning to the starting XI in place of Chloe Warrington and Bea Prades.
The home side started well and a corner from Hayley Lauder found Clark but her header went wide before, at the other end Hinds found McAlonie on the edge of the area but her shot went wide.
City were playing well and Kinga Kozak set up Abbi Grant on the counter but her shot was saved. Then it was Grant who tried to turn provider as she played in Whelan but her effort was wide.
Grant and Kozak again combined for the later to test Bene Haaland in the Hibs goal but her effort was saved.
City’s two best chances of the half came with 45 minutes approaching. First a Lauder effort was deflected into Whelan whose snapshot was saved before Lauder cracked the crossbar from 25 yards with the keeper helpless.
However, it would be the away side who would take the advantage into the half time break. Eleni Giannou played in McAlonie on the right and her effort from the corner of the box found the net despite the best efforts of Lee Gibson.
The lead didn’t last long into the second half though as City scored with their first proper chance. A Lauder corner found Clark who headed the ball beyond Haaland in the Hibs goal.
It was a more evenly contested second half but a well taken advantage after a foul by Hinds earned City a corner. Lauder’s ball across didn’t find a City head but instead, Hinds looped the ball up and over Haaland and into her own net to give City the lead for the first time.
Another Hinds foul almost resulted in a third for the hosts. Lauder’s deep freekick found Claire Walsh at the far post but she couldn’t direct the ball goalwards.
With Hibs looking for an equaliser to take a point away from Petershill, substitute Nor Mustafa was played through but good covering from Clark saw her shot deflected wide in what was one last chance for the visitors.
Match Information
Team Lines:
Glasgow City: Gibson; Muir, Lauder, Walsh, Fulton, Whelan, Clark, Davidson, Grant, Prades (Kozak 72), Foley. Subs not used: Clachers, Warrington, Monsívais, Gibb, Moore, Martin, Noble, Forrest.
Hibernian: Haaland; Leishman (Livingstone 76), Hunter, Hinds, McAlonie, Adams (Mustafa 76), Notley, Murray (Eddie 46), Kuyken (Parry 64), Giannou (McGregor 46), Lawson. Subs not used: Kosinska, Morrison.
Scorers:
Glasgow City: Clark 49’, Hinds 71’ (o.g.)
Hibernian: McAlonie 44’
Yellow cards:
Glasgow City: Foley 79’
Hibernian: Hunter 6’, Adams 62’, Hinds 70’, McAlonie 77’
Referee: Gary Train
Stadium: Petershill Park