GLASGOW City's domination of Scottish women's football ended in dramatic fashion at Ainslie Park last night when a late winner from Lizzie Arnot gave Hibernian their first trophy since they took this competition in 2011.
Captain Joelle Murray, one of only two Hibs players present on that occasion, said: “It's absolutely amazing, We waited so long for this and we deserved it. We played so well tonight.”
The goal which separated the sides came in injury time just as it looked as if extra time was inevitable. Her low cross in the 92nd minute looked to have been deflected into the net by City goalkeeper Gemma Fay.
The final was in many aspects similar to the one between the teams last season, with Hibs having the better of the first half and City, despite the crushing blow which was to await them, edging the second.
Despite that, it was the holders who took the first half lead on the half hour. Fay had earlier saved her side with a great save from a Lisa Robertson volley before Julie Fleeting scored the opener following a Leanne Ross corner.
Hibs needed a quick response and they got it five minutes later. Savannah McCarthy brought Kirsty Smith down in the box and Morag Pirie pointed to the spot. Arnot, who was later to be the heroine, had her penalty saved by Fay and then failed to connect properly with the rebound. Fortunately for Hibs Sarah Ewens was on hand to fire home the equaliser.
The second half saw both sides create several chances. An audacious Lucy Graham volley from just inside the City half nearly brought Hibs a goal, and then at the other end Hayley Lauder hit a post and Murray headed the follow-up attempt off the line.
Extra time looked inevitable until Arnot struck. Referee Pirie waved away City protests that there had been an infringement in the build-up.
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