Hearts 1 Hibs Women 3

Hibs battled their way to a crucial 3-1 victory against city rivals Hearts in the final Edinburgh Derby of the 2024/25 season.

Kathleen McGovern struck twice in the first half against her former club before Lauren Wade pegged a goal back soon after halftime, but Eilidh Adams made sure of victory with a venomous strike to give Hibs the advantage in the SWPL title race.

Grant Scott made wholesale changes to the Hibs side that defeated Motherwell on Wednesday evening, with full-back Caley Gibb making her first start for the club since signing on loan from Partick Thistle in January.

Versatile defender Linzi Taylor and forward Eilidh Adams, still fresh from their respective Club Player of The Year award wins, also started. The fourth and final change saw the reintroduction of holding midfielder Ciara Grant.

Hibs had the opportunity to catapult themselves to the summit of the table yet again above closest challengers Glasgow City with a win at Oriam. The final Edinburgh Derby of the campaign therefore had the potential to live long in the memory.

With both sides having early opportunities to open the scoring, a masked Eilidh Shore's ambitious effort from range was soon followed up by Kathleen McGovern hammering a firm strike off the crossbar.

It took only 18 minutes for McGovern to score the opener after all. Tegan Bowie delivered a perfect low ball into the area moments after having an opportunity for the taking herself, and McGov's perfectly-timed effort gave Rachael Johnstone no chance of a save. 

Continuing to break Hearts down with a similar move minutes later, Caley Gibb’s cross towards the middle almost saw Hibs score their second. Eilidh Adams came narrowly close at the near post with a ferocious effort.

Her strike partner McGovern made sure that they didn’t rue that missed chance. McGovern capitalised on a defensive mix up after latching onto a lofted Lauren Doran-Barr pass. With Hearts' keeper failing to sweep up, our striker sensed fear and prodded beyond the hesitant Johnstone to put Hibs firmly in the driving seat. 

Hibs started second half with plenty of vigour and soon struck the woodwork for the second time, as Grant rattled the crossbar with a curling strike from 25 yards out. 

However, after a disappointing first half, Hearts were energised and in fighting spirit. With an opportunity mirroring our first goal, Lauren Wade stabbed past Noa Schumacher to drag her side back into the contest.

The home side's fight back didn’t last the course, however.

Timing her run to perfection and advancing beyond the defensive line, number nine Adams smashed the ball past Johnstone to restore Hibs' two-goal advantage.

That sublime strike was Adams' 25th goal of the campaign and seemed certain to earn Hibs all three points in the capital as clear cut chances were few and far between in the latter stages of the match.

Hearts substitute Olufolasade Adamelekun came closest to finding a fifth goal in the match, but her close-range attempt was excellently blocked behind by Siobhan Hunter - while Schumacher done enough to withhold the hosts from the resulting corner.

Late substitutes Abbie Ferguson, Kirsty Morrison and Rosie Livingstone freshened things up, and helped to ensure Hibs ended the final derby of the season with a memorable victory, as well as positive momentum heading into a tricky final three fixtures.