Hibs Women kicked off the 2024/25 SWPL season with a 2-1 victory over Partick Thistle at Lochburn Park on Sunday.
Abbie Ferguson scored a neat finish after 10 minutes to get Hibs off to a flying start before Tegan Bowie later doubled the girls’ lead with a terrific powerful effort.
Emma Lawton reduced the deficit in the second half for Thistle.
Hibs boss Grant Scott was impressed with the way his players managed to handle the pressure – especially in the final minutes.
After the final whistle he told Hibs TV: “I’m really proud of the group. Even though a lot of players didn’t feature in game, they supported the team well from the side.
“We knew the type of opponent Partick Thistle are; very difficult to knock over. And we had to work really hard at the end – playing the dirty side of the game, which sometimes you don’t get credit for.
“It was a disappointing playing surface, so it was never going to be a terrific football match and it didn’t really suit our style of play. But I’m really proud of the girls because they’ve adapted and managed the situation.
“I think we had opportunities to threaten a little bit more but, overall, I thought we looked dangerous on the attack. I’m happier with the pragmatic side of the game, where we had to dig in and defend properly.
“All good signs this early in the season.”
Scott was also quick to comment on the performance levels of his summer signings, with a total of five players making their competitive debuts – as well as Kirsten Reilly returning to the club for her second spell.
“The new girls have done well to settle in. They’ve been welcomed and been made really comfortable. When you get a performance like today, with a group that is really together and fighting for everything, it’s good signs.
“They threw everything at it, making good changes with lots of pace. Again, we had to dig in and manage that. Overall, I’m very happy with the performance.”
Abbie Ferguson added: “It was a great feeling. To score early on was vital. In these games, a lot time we are on top and we don’t score quick enough. I thought everybody done great to get the finish in.
“I had a feeling I was going to score today, so I’m happy. It was hard. We were under pressure at the end. But we saw it out.
“That’s down to absolutely everybody. I’m really happy. It has paid off. In those last moments, I felt that we were fit. Everyone was really at it. It [the training camp] was hard work but it definitely paid off.”
Photographs Colin Poultney
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
