City win Scottish Cup to secure domestic double

Glasgow City Ladies bounced back from their Women’s Champions League exit as they secured a dominant 3-0 win over last year's winners Hibernian Ladies in the Henson Projects Scottish Cup Final.

The Scottish champions, who won all 20 of their Scottish Women’s Premier League games, had just one black mark on their domestic season after a 2-1 defeat to Hibs in the semi-final of the League Cup in May.

Eddie Wolecki Black’s side gave the perfect send off to German forward Katharina Lindner and goalkeeper Laura Williamson who were playing their last games for the club, with Williamson moving into a coaching role, while Lindner retires from the game.

Black made four changes from the team which lost 7-0 to Potsdam on last Thursday, with goalkeeper Lee Alexander cup-tied, so Williamson had the honour of keeping goal for the last time in her career.

Christie Murray opened the scoring from close range for City on 11 minutes after some good work down the left from the lively Lisa Evans who beat three Hibs players before cutting the ball back to Murray who fired past Shannon Lynn.

City could have doubled their lead just before the half hour mark, but a Leanne Ross free-kick rebounded off the post.

The second half was all one-way traffic as City laid siege on their opponents goal, Lindner coming close with a shot which found the side netting.

Evans and Murray raced through on Lynn’s goal, but after Evans played through her fellow forward to stroke home, the referee’s assistant flagged offside for an obvious, and somewhat inexplicable, offside.

Lindner showcased why she has been one of the league’s best players, and will be sorely missed next season, with a neat back heel to find Evans who fired low past Lynn to double City’s advantage.

Unlike his counterpart, Black had the luxury of several substitutes, with Hibs only able to name four, and no spare goalkeeper. Lindner departed for the last time to a standing ovation from the City faithful with Scotland international Jane Ross coming on in her stead, before Evans put the game beyond doubt, after good interplay with substitute Danica Dalziel to take out the Hibs backline, before the player of the match fired her second and City’s third.

Speaking after the game, Black said: “Firstly I would like to congratulate players and staff on their efforts throughout the season and it has culminated in winning the double, which we achieved today.

“This is not just a reward for the first team, but for everyone connected with the club. On today’s game, I felt we controlled the match throughout and limited a strong Hibs side to few chances.

“The performance second half in particular was very pleasing considering the amount of games we have played this campaign, and we certainly looked the fittest and most likely side to add to the scoresheet. This just caps off a marvellous season for everyone and hopefully we can do even better next year.”

City’s fourth Scottish Cup win comes at the end of a very long season with some players having played over 50 games, including European and cup matches, but any expectations of a long winter break were dispelled after the game when Evans and captain Rachel Corise admitted they will have just a couple weeks rest before returning to light training sessions, before the season begins in earnest with friendlies in February ahead of the new season in March.