Partick Thistle 1 Hibs Women 4
Hibernian advanced to the semi-finals of the Sky Sports Cup thanks to an inspired display against Partick Thistle.
Poppy Lawson opened the scoring with a fantastic effort, before Partick Thistle replied to only moments later.
Pushing and prodding all game, McGovern scored a second-half hat-trick in near record time at Petershill Park to ensure we advance into the next round of the competition.
Grant Scott opted to make 3 changes to the side that beat Aberdeen 7-1 last weekend as Ciara Grant, Michaela McAlonie and Kathleen McGovern started. The triumvirate of Eilidh Adams, Rachael Boyle and Kirsty Morrison all dropped to the bench.
It was also a milestone day for Michaela McAlonie, as she made her 100th appearance for the club.
Starting proceedings off in positivity, Linzi Taylor fashioned a fantastic strike at goal, which was saved on the line by Jenni Currie on the goal-line. Tegan Bowie also came close to opening the scoring, with her effort before 5 minutes also narrowly missing the mark.
With 14 goals in 12 games Kathleen McGovern, in an attempt to keep pace with her striking partner, also troubled the goalkeeper with a bullet header aimed for the top corner but was saved sharply by a hyper-focused Currie.
The positive start would pay off in dividends with Poppy Lawson scoring a terrific acrobatic scissor kick to open the scoring shortly before 10 minutes of action. The ball fell to our number 33 outside the area, and showing great athletic ability, she smashed the ball into the top corner to much acclaim from players and fans at Petershill Park.
However, against the run of play, the lead would be short-lived, as Thistle equalised via Cheryl McCulloch’s back post header.
Both teams would press the other throughout and calls for a penalty were waved away by the referee as Stacey Papadopoulos was brought down in the area.
Siobhan Hunter’s free kick also came close to rattling the net before the end of the half, as Hibs failed to find a second goal.
The second half, it transpired, would be driven by Kathleen McGovern. Adding to her fantastic goalscoring record, on the turn and swivel, she scored a cracking low drive into the bottom corner to take the lead once more, just after 65 minutes played.
Clearly energised by her first goal, she scored again by slotting underneath the goalkeeper to extend the lead further.
On brand, McGovern secured her quickfire hattrick after 74 minutes by firing low once more into the bottom corner from outside the area past Jenni Currie to secure Hibs’ fourth of the afternoon and passage into the Sky Sports Cup semi-final.