Aberdeen Women were defeated 4-1 by fourth-placed Hibernian at the Tony Macaroni Arena in SWPL 1’s penultimate weekend of fixtures.
Hibs took the lead through Eilidh Adams, but despite Bayley Hutchison pulling level, the Dons went into half-time 2-1 down after Adams put her side back in front in the 38th minute.
The home side added two more in the second half, as Kelly Forrest’s own goal put Hibs 3-1 ahead, before Michaela McAlonie netted their fourth effort to secure all three points.
After an even opening ten minutes, Hibs almost took the lead as McAlonie held the ball up in the final third before laying it off to Colette Cavanagh but her shot from 20 yards hit the crossbar.
The Hibees were piling on the pressure and took their chance in the 16th minute as Adams put the Edinburgh side in front. She beat Bailley Collins down the right flank, and hit a curling effort beyond Aaliyah-Jay Meach to make it 1-0.
Things went from bad to worse for the Dons, as Emma Hunter and Gavin Beith were forced to make an early change with Natasha Bruce coming on in the 19th minute for the injured Chloe Gover.
That substitution prompted a formation change, as Francesca Ogilvie moved to the left hand side, where she picked the ball up and drove towards former Don Jenna Penman, but the Aberdeen winger misjudged her pass into the box, and the chance was wasted.
Ogilvie’s foray forward was one of only a few opportunities they created but the Dons pulled level in the 31st minute after an error from Scotland internationalist Leah Eddie.
⚽️ Goal for The Dons as Bayley Hutchison draws us level. COYR!
30' | 🟢 HIBS 1-1 ABE 🔴 | #StandFree pic.twitter.com/F57yH0H8hI
— Aberdeen FC Women (@AberdeenWomen) May 8, 2022
After thwarting an Aberdeen counterattack, Eddie played a slack pass back to goalkeeper Gabby English that Hutchison intercepted, before she fired home at the near post for her 14th SWPL 1 goal of the season.
However, the game was only level for seven minutes, as Hibernian regained their lead just before half-time, after Adams netted with a close-range header from a corner.
A Hibernian double in the second-half
Aberdeen had started the second-half with more intent than they had started the first, but were left with a mountain to climb if they were to get anything out of the game as Hibs extended their lead in the 54th minute.
Hibs’ Joelle Murray played through Shannon McGregor, whose cross was turned into her own net by Dons captain Forrest.
McAlonie increased Hibs’ advantage to three in the 59th minute. After getting on the end of a long ball, she beat Forrest for pace, and burst into the box to slot beyond Meach for 4-1.
Defeat against Hibs means Aberdeen’s bid for fifth continues, with the next opportunity to pick up points being an away clash against Glasgow City on Wednesday night.
SWPL 1 title race comes to an end
Rangers ended Glasgow City’s 14-year streak as SWPL 1 champions, as a 0-0 draw between the two sides was enough for Malky Thomson’s side to win their first ever top-flight trophy, with one game to spare.
We are Rangers. We are Champions 💙 pic.twitter.com/rjmcROAyMC
— Rangers Women (@RangersWFC) May 8, 2022
In the other SWPL 1 fixtures, Hamilton secured their third win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Partick Thistle, Motherwell secured seventh place with a 1-0 win against Hearts, and Spartans failed to put pressure on Aberdeen in the contest for fifth, as they were beaten 3-1 by Celtic.
SWF Highlands and Islands League
Nairn St Ninian Women bounced back from last weekend’s 3-1 defeat against Clachnacuddin, as they beat Caithness 3-2 on the road in Thurso.
Meanwhile, Buckie Ladies Development won their fourth game of the season, defeating Orkney Women 6-0 at home.