Hibs Women sealed an outstanding victory at Meadowbank Stadium against Motherwell yesterday 16 August 2026 to kick off the 2026/27 SPWPL season.
Four goals from debutant Aoife Colvill as well as fellow debutant Yuliia Khrystiuk, 17-year-old Jess Ramsey and skipper Rachael Boyle each adding their names to the scoresheet to secure Hibs their first victory of the new campaign.
After the final whistle women’s head coach Joelle Murray spoke very highly of her side after a perfect season opener.
Speaking to Hibs TV after the impressive win, Murray described her delight at her side’s showing and heaped praise on her new signings who made an immediate impact in EH7.
“I’m obviously delighted with the result. Before the game we asked the players to go and put in a statement performance, and ensure that the supporters went away talking about this Hibs team. So hopefully we’ve done that with seven goals and a clean sheet.
“It was fantastic. And we’ve seen it from Aoife in particular, who has been with us all pre-season. We’ve seen it all pre-season, the quality that she possesses.
“I think she was frustrated across pre-season that she didn’t get on the score sheet. So for her to do a score four today was unbelievable. She can be incredibly proud with her performance and her contribution.
“And Yuliia as well, getting on the scoresheet and providing an assist. Another one that can be really, really happy. I’m really delighted with everybody’s contribution today.”
“Jess was excellent,” Murray noted. “I think this season will be a big season for Jess Ramsey.
“She obviously was in and out last season, she probably didn’t get the minutes she wanted. But we know this is going to be a big season for her. And getting this start and getting the goal will stand her in good stead going forward.
“We have a massive emphasis on our academy, so to see Jess, Isla [Taylor] and Olivia [Cornet] in particular out there today was excellent.”
“I don’t think Motherwell are a poor team by any stretch of the imagination. And 7-0 probably does them in a bit today because I thought across the 90, they showed some really nice passages of play from back to front.
“For us, we probably started slow. We weren’t happy at half-time because the quality wasn’t where it should have been. The speedy play wasn’t there. We asked them to be harder to beat. So we went in [at half-time] with two goals and we weren’t happy with what we were seeing, just because we know the standard that the girls can show.
“I think as cliche as it sounds, we don’t get carried away. We would never do that. Today is done. We reset, we recover, and then we look ahead to Partick. We’re already doing that now. So we know that will be a difficult one. But I think first and foremost, not getting carried away because today is done.
“The next game is always the biggest and the most important one, and that’s Partick next weekend.”
