Killie Edge Table Top Clash!

Hibernian LFC 2 - 3 FC Kilmarnock
(SWPL Match - King's Park Dalkieth, 16th March 2003, 2.00pm Kick Off)

On Sunday FC Kilmarnock traveled to the capital to take on Hibernian LFC in a league match. Having recently defeated Hibs in the League cup semi final 5-1, the Killie girls knew that they would face a determined side, eager for revenge.

The game started rather scrappily with the home team looking determined to give the league champions a tough time. and the early stages of the game proved to be more of a physical battle with very little football being played.

On a dreadful pitch Kilmarnock struggled to settle and found it difficult to get the ball down and make passes - this was made even more difficult by the home side who chased and harried all over the pitch. Jo Love was the first Killie player to create a real chance but was thwarted by some good goalkeeping to see the ball pushed wide of target.

With Killie beginning to find space to play McLaughlin and Love came close to breaking the deadlock, however, they lacked the final composure to score. With the visitors beginning to dominate towards the end of the first half, a quality ball flighted into the box from a set piece from Linda Brown was met by defender Shelley Kerr who wrong footed the goalkeeper to head the ball into the net.

The second half started much the same with Hibs intent on playing the long ball and battling for everything and within 5 minutes the game threatened to become a little out of control with strong tackles flying in from both sides. In the 54th minute the home side broke free down the right and under 19 internationalist, Suzanne Malone, slotted the ball past Killie keeper Claire Johnstone to level the score at one apiece.

The home side got an obvious boost from the goal and for the next 10 minutes the game was stretched with half chances appearing at both ends. However it was Killie who took the lead again in the 65th minute from a corner kick, Brown heading the ball home from the back post after a Kerr flick on.

The Killie girls stretched their lead with a superb team goal only minutes later. The ball was cleared wide from a defending corner and with two quick passes Pauline Hammill was released wide on the right. After beating the defender she crossed a deep ball to the back post for Angie Hind to race onto and nod home.

Hibs, to their credit, refused to lie down and continued to battle. They caught out the visitors with a well worked free-kick which saw a deflected shot end up in the back of the net to leave an exciting final few minutes. With experience in the team Kilmarnock played out the remaining minutes to head home with the three points and keep their undefeated run intact.

Defender Shelly Kerr said: "It was a hard game. I thought we should’ve had a bigger lead at half-time and with the game so finely balanced there is always a danger. But we’re delighted to have won the three points."  This Sunday Killie take the first step towards defending the Scottish Cup against Inver-Ross in Inverness.

FC Kilmarnock: Johnstone, Cheyne, Burns, Kerr, Smith, Hind, Sneddon, Fowler, McLaughlin, Hough, Hammill, Brown.

Match Report courtesy of Angie Hind