AFC Women fall to cup defeat

Hibernian 6 Aberdeen 2

Sky Sports Cup | Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh | 12:00 | 1st October 2023

Aberdeen were knocked out of the Sky Sports Cup by Hibernian as the Edinburgh side won 6-2 in the capital. The Dons briefly lead in the first half as young striker Darcie Miller grabbed a brace on her first start, but Hibs equalised before the break and a strong second half performance saw them into the next round.

Eilidh Shore, Bayley Hutchison and Maddie Finnie were all on the bench after their return from Scotland duty whilst Aimee Black, the fourth Don away with her country started. Miller replaced Hutchison up front for her first start of the season whilst Eva Thomson made her 100th Dons appearance.

Hibernian threatened in the opening minutes as former Aberdeen defender Mya Christie caused problems down the left, but her cross was well dealt with by Jess Broadrick.

It didn’t take the hosts long to take the lead as they were awarded a penalty after just seven minutes. Broadrick felled Lauren Doran-Barr in the box and the referee had no option but to give a spot-kick. Jorian BAUCOM scored a hat-trick against the Dons last time out and she made no mistake with the penalty.

The Dons looked to respond and both Eva Thomson and Hannah Stewart had tame efforts on goal saved by Fraine in the home goal. Hannah Innes then had a shot wide from just outside the box as the visitors settled into the game.

Miller was almost through one on one with Fraine in the Hibs goal after twenty minutes but her touch on the through pass was too heavy as she tried to go round the keeper. At the other end Hibs could have doubled their lead on the breakaway when Shannon McGregor went down the right and crossed for Baucom but the goalscorer couldn’t find the target with her overhead effort.

Aberdeen got a deserved equaliser in the 35th minute. Chloe Gover had a good freekick effort tipped wide for a corner by Fraine. Innes swung in the resulting corner which was cleared as far as Gover who fired the ball back in. A deflection on the shot broke to MILLER who scored from close range.

It got even better for the visitors and their young striker three minutes later as they went in front. Some good work down the left saw the ball eventually find MILLER on the edge of the box who curled the ball high into the net.

Hibernian drew level in first half stoppage-time. A deep free-kick found Siobhan Hunter sneaking in round the back, she played the ball back across goal and Poppy LAWSON fired a low shot into the net.

HT HIBERNIAN: 2 ABERDEEN: 2

Hibs started the second half on the front foot, and they were rewarded for their early pressure with their third goal on 51 minutes. Abbie FERGUSON was played in by McGregor on the right side of the Dons penalty box and she made no mistake with a high shot into the roof of the net.

Aberdeen looked to respond as they brought on Finnie and Hutchison in place of Miller and Black but before the changes could have an impact it was 4-2. Good play by Michaela McAlonie in the middle of the park saw her send BAUCOM through the middle and she fired home from inside the box.

It got even worse for the visitors on 64 minutes as Hibs scored a fifth. A deep from the Dons left was swung in deep to the back post and as HUNTER tried to get her head on it the ball hit her in the back and went into the net.

Aberdeen handed a debut to young Amelie Martindale as she came on along with Hannah Insch in place of Phoebe Murray and Hannah Innes.

Hannah Stewart came close to pulling a goal back for the Dons when she sent in a low drive which was deflected just wide of the keeper’s right-hand post. At the other end Annalisa McCann did well to block a powerful shot by Hibs’ substitute Eilidh Adams.

Another Dons youngster entered the game for the remaining ten minutes as Emma Lawson replaced Francesca Ogilvie. There were loud claims for a penalty from the Aberdeen players in the dying minutes as the ball appeared to strike a Hibernian arm in the box, but the referee thought otherwise.

Hibs added a sixth goal in stoppage time as a deep cross found LAWSON at the back post and she fired in a low shot for her second of the game to round off a 6-2 win for the hosts.

FT: HIBERNIAN 6 ABERDEEN 2

Derek Anderson:

“We were two one up and looking to go on and win the game but then to go in at half time all square and then Hibs started the second half really well. If we had gone into the second half ahead it might have been different but they came out and scored two really quickly. I felt the girls dug in and gave everything they had, even once they went five two down. We’re a young team and I think it shows the strength of the young talent that we have at Aberdeen and the willingness of the gaffer to give the young players a chance. I don’t think there is another team in the league who give so many young players the opportunities they get at Aberdeen. We’ve got a lot of young talent and I’m delighted for Darcie to get her two goals and I thought all the under eighteens that played today did well.”

Aberdeen:

20. Annalisa McCann 4. Jessica Broadrick 8. Chloe Gover 9. Hannah Stewart 12. Darcie Miller (Hutchison 60) 13. Francesca Ogilvie (Lawson 81) 16. Hannah Innes (Martindale 71) 18. Eva Thomson 22. Pheobe Murray (Insch 71) 23. Aimee Black (Finnie 60) 24. Nadine Hanssen (c)

Subs:

7. Eilidh Shore 10. Bayley Hutchison 11. Hannah Insch 15. Madison Finnie 19. Amelie Martindale 21. Emma Lawson 30. Zoe Maclean (GK)

Goals: Miller 35, 38

Booked: Miller 46

Hibernian:

13. Katlynn Fraine 3. Mya Christie 4. Siobhan Hunter 5. Jorian Baucom 7. Abbie Ferguson 8. Michaela McAlonie 10. Shannon McGregor 16. Ellis Notley (c) 22. Lauren Doran-Barr 27. Naomi Powell 33. Poppy Lawson