There was high drama at Broadwood for the second week in a row, as the Colts again ran out 3-2 victors. This weeks home win in the league cup following on from last weeks 3-2 league win over Renfrew.
With a place in the league cup final at stake Cumbernauld came out the blocks quick, and put the visitors on the back foot. Last weeks Player of the match Frances Fern started where she’d left off 7 days prior. Latching on to a Bethany Kerr through ball she lashed the ball past Parker-Smith in the Hibs goal on six minutes to give her side an early lead.
Fern had the ball in the net again inside ten minutes. Her effort was chopped off as she was judged to be offside. However, replays of club footage showed she was at least a yard onside.
Fern was not to let this bother her and was to get her second and place her side in a commanding lead in the 17th minute. Shaw played a ball over the defence that Fern ran on to before she dinked the ball over Parker-Smith as she narrowed the angle.
Hibs were to recover from the two early setbacks and go back into the game as they came up to speed and matched the endeavour and application from the home side.
Ruth Young almost put the cherry on the top of a great first half when her free kick was saved at her near post by Parker-Smith before the defenders dead ball could squirm over her line.
The home side knew the next goal would be key, and they were to get it with an hour on the clock. Kim Guthrie chased in a back pass and challenged Parker-Smith whose clearance fell to the feet of Fern. Fern steadied herself and passed inside to Morrison, who’d come on as an early substitute in the first half for Bethany Kerr. Morrison took a touch and steadied herself before she lashed the ball home to make it 3-0.
A three goal deficit didn’t phase the current cup holders as they pulled a goal back with twenty minutes of the match remaining. Confusion and an air of panic in the home side backline let Kirsty Morrison finis past McGann in the home goal.
Pulling a goal back gave the visitors the second wind and belief they needed that they may be able to get back on terms. They threw everything they had at the home side and got a second with four minutes remaining. The goal coming from the head of Colts defender Melissa Porter as a Hibs corner came off the back of her head and into the net.
The home side saw out the remaining minutes being resolute as they were forced deeper and deeper back to their goal.
When the final whistle blew the players celebrated their first cup final as a squad together.
In the second semi final that kicked off later in the afternoon. Celtic came from a goal down to defeat Renfrew setting up an exciting final against the Colts that will take place on Thursday the 18th of May with a 19:45 kick off. The venue to be confirmed!
Bizarrely, the way the league fixtures have worked out, the sides will meet four days before the final as Colts travel to face Celtic on May the 14th in the league.
After the match, a visibly ecstatic McSherry said she’d never been prouder of her players. We knew we’d have to work for the win, and boy did the girls work. I can’t fault a single player. They gave me their all today, and a little bit extra. None more so than Lynne Jackson, who ended the match in A&E as she’d taken an attempted clearance to the head.
Reported by Stephen Bole
Cumbernauld Cotls FC
