Grant Scott made four changes to the side that took on Glasgow City at Meadowbank last Sunday. Ellis Notley came into the side and took the captain’s armband, replacing Naomi Powell at the base of the midfield. Shannon Leishman, Siobhan Hunter and Kirsty Morrison all also came into the side in place of Mya Christie, Rosie Livingstone and Poppy Lawson.
Hibs immediately took control of the tie and pounded on Annalisa McCann’s goal from the off, leading to the opener from Shannon McGregor. The Hibs number 10 laboured to squeeze the ball beyond McCann and into the net after a smart cross into the mixer caused havoc amongst the Aberdeen defence.
Just before the 20-minute mark, Hibs had their second. Tricky winger Abbie Ferguson used her dribbling prowess to advance up the flank to the byline, before cutting the ball back into the danger area. As is often the case, Hibs’ top scorer Jorian Baucom was at hand in a good position to fire home.
Not content with just the one, Baucom waited just six minutes to grab her brace. Morrison sped down the right flank before finding her forward line compatriot, who made no mistake in slamming beyond McCann once more.
Off the back of a lovely assist, Morrison snatched a goal of her own. McCann initially saved a ferocious strike from midfielder Michaela McAlonie, but could only agonisingly watch as the ball fell to the ever-aware Morrison. The attacker reacted quickest to prod home Hibs’ fourth of the afternoon.
A fifth would come immediately before the interval as the brilliant Baucom would end 2023 on a high by netting a fantastic first-half hat-trick. The forward curled in her third to all but settle the game before the break.
Aberdeen made changes at the break in an attempt to consolidate such a compounding defeat, as well as giving young ‘keeper Zoe McLean her senior debut in place of the bruised McCann.
As Hibs continued to pick away at the tiring Dons defence, two more goals would eventually come in quick succession. The quick-fire double salvo was thrashed out by substitute Brooke Nunn.
The first was nudged over the line from close range, before Nunn struck from outside the penalty area to condemn Aberdeen to a harrowing defeat and help Hibs finish 2023 in spectacular fashion.
