Hibernian Women head coach Grant Scott was “delighted” with his side’s performance after leaving New Douglas Park with a 5-0 victory over Hamilton Academical.
Goals from Kirsty Morrison and Ellis Notley along with a Siobhan Hunter brace, and a first Hibs goal for Scarlett Herron gave Hibs the three points in South Lanarkshire.
“I think when you saw the setup in Hamilton’s tactics there, it was quite defensive and quite deep, and it’s always tough to break down, but thankfully we’ve moved the ball fairly well today,” Scott told HibsTV.
“We created a bit of possession and territory that was dangerous, and they defended well.
“They had a lot of blocks, and we’ve had to rely on a couple of set-plays, but that’s what they’re there for. We’re just delighted to get that one over the line.”
17-year-old goalkeeper Rowena Armitage made her first start for the club and kept a clean sheet with a great save in the final ten minutes of the match, which left Grant Scott and his coaching staff “very proud” of the young goalkeeper.
“We’re very proud. I don’t even know if it’s a gamble on Rowena, but she’s very young to be a Hibs keeper at her age, but we’ve watched her development for a season-and-a-half now, and she keeps developing month on month.
“She’s got a long way to go and a lot to learn, but it was important that we gave her some match time this season for us and that she gets used to playing with the backline players.
“I think she’s not had a lot to do today, but that’s sometimes a keeper’s job, especially in a Hibs jersey when we’ve dominated the ball quite well today, and there’s always going to be a moment in a game, and she’s handled it really, really well, so I’m thoroughly impressed and delighted for her.”
It wasn’t just Rowena Armitage who made her first start for the club, as Jess Fitzgerald and Scarlett Herron made theirs also – with Herron scoring her first goal for the club with a towering header just after the halftime break.
Grant Scott praised both of the Irish recruits of their performances at New Douglas Park.
“Both girls have landed well. I think them being in the middle of their Irish league has helped. They’ve come in just a bit sharper, match-ready almost.
“We think there’s a bit of work to go with both, but you can see the qualities they give.
“Scarlett was very good defensively today when she had to be, used the ball well, and obviously got the reward of the goal, but I thought Jess’ performance was exactly what we brought her here for, just to try and dominate midfield areas, be useful with the ball, and be really efficient, and she got about the pitch really well, so I am delighted with both of those.”
Summer signing Hannah Jordan was finally able to make her debut for Hibs after missing the start of the season through injury since joining from Spartans.
Grant Scott took her off the bench for the closing part of the match at New Douglas Park, and he believes Jordan will bring a “different dynamic” to his side.
“I think Hannah will give us just a different dynamic, a change of dynamic from the midfield area. We’ll play her in the front line and just in behind, I think, in the main. She can obviously play off the sides as well, so look, it just gives us a variety of options at this point which we’ll need.”
Scott added, “It’s a long, hard season. We know how tough it is to get through games like today and games like Wednesday night coming. We’ll need everyone at the right moment, so it’s just great to have her back.”
Hibernian Women welcome Glasgow City to Meadowbank on Wednesday 1 November, with a 19:35 kickoff, and Grant Scott and his side “look forward to these types of games” in a top-of-the-table clash in the capital.
“I think Glasgow City and Hibs is a fixture that always stands out for everyone involved; there’s been a great rivalry over the years, and hopefully that’s another season of that to come.
“It’s a tough challenge; they are obviously a very, very good side, with a great manager. There are great people at that club, as there are at ours, and yeah, we just look forward to those games.
“It’s one that we always look at when the fixtures come out, and yeah, it’ll be a tough one, there’s no doubt about that, but we’ll look forward to it.”
