Report: Hibs 2 Partick Thistle 0
Goals from Lauren Doran-Barr and Poppy Lawson would see Hibernian claim victory at Meadowbank.
The defenders would grab the goals in the first half and would go on to see out a solid performance from the back in the second.
The first post-split fixture of the season; Grant Scott made two changes to kick off this stage off. Katie Fraine returned to the starting XI - making her first appearance since December - with Lauren Doran-Barr also returning.
Determined to reaffirm fourth-place in the league, the Hibees would open strongly. Jorian Baucom and Ellis Notley would have brilliant opportunities to open the scoring from six yards within the first 10 minutes, but both would see their efforts fly narrowly wide of Megan Cunningham’s goal.
With the pressure maintained, Lauren Doran-Barr opened the scoring on the 16th minute. A long ball from Leah Eddie was touched down brilliantly and, in one sweeping move, Doran-Barr’s touch and finish was coolly slotted away into the bottom corner - giving our number 22 her first league goal of the season.
Re-establishing her name in the starting XI, Katie Fraine did her bit to ensure we kept our lead – saving twice in a matter of minutes to deny the visitors an equaliser.
In an end-to-end game, Baucom looked to increase her goal tally. On the ambush with another darting run, she blasted an effort well over the bar. Shannon McGregor also had a fantastic opportunity to increase the lead after receiving a squared ball from Kirsty Morrison, but her shot was well saved by Cunningham.
Approaching half-time and still searching for a second, Doran-Barr’s ferocious effort nearly granted the Hibees, and herself, a second. Cunningham’s acrobatic save denied the strike, which was destined for the top corner.
Another Baucom effort deep into first-half stoppage time also sailed over, giving us a slender one-goal lead at half-time.
A flurry of opportunities from within the six-yard box would all be blocked by Cunningham spectacularly, as Tegan Bowie and Morrison both tested their mettle against the Scottish ‘keeper - who received treatment after landing awkwardly after colliding with the post.
Ensuring the missed opportunities would not come back to bite them, Poppy Lawson fired her side into a two-goal lead shortly after 60 minutes. Our number 33 would convert after receiving the ball in a congested box following a corner.
With a final half hour devoid of clear-cut action for either side, Hibs would manage to see the game out with a well-worked victory.