A SUPERB performance by Hibernian wasn't quite enough to steer them back to the top of SWPL1 at Ainslie Park.
They beat Celtic 7-2 after the sides had been level at half-time but, in the later kick-off, defending champions Glasgow City won 4-1 at Hamilton Accies.
The scorelines narrowed City's goal difference advantage over their Edinburgh rivals to just one. Both sides have 44 points with five games remaining.
“First and foremost a win at this stage of the season is massive,” Hibs head coach Grant Scott admitted.
“We've been searching for this type of performance in the last couple of games and it has not really been there.
“Credit to Celtic, I thought they took their chances in the first half really clinically, but we stepped up a wee notch in the second 45.”
Chelsea Cornet and Abi Harrison put Hibs two ahead, but Celtic fought back with goals from Sarah Ewens and Kathleen McGovern. Any notion that Celtic were going to make a game of it was dispelled in the second half.
Defenders Emma Brownlie and Siobhan Hunter made it 4-2, both goals following corners, with Harrison (2) and Jamie-Lee Napier completing the scoring.
“Abi comes up with the goods time and time again and her workrate today was second to none,” Scott said of the striker. “They were quality finishes, so I'm delighted for her.”
Defending champions City struggled in the first half against Hamilton and had Sam Kerr to thank for a narrow 1-0 half-time lead. It was still that way on the hour but further goals from Carly Girasoli, Jordan McLintock and Abbi Grant kept them top of the table.
Despite a late consolation there was further bad news for Accies. They are bottom of the table following Spartans' 1-0 win at Rangers.
As expected, Motherwell won SWPL2 – and promotion – with five games to spare. They beat Edinburgh University Hutchison Vale 5-1 in Eddie Wolecki Black's last game in charge.
The former Glasgow City head coach starts his new job as Celtic manager on Monday.
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