Grant Scott’s Hibs were denied a Sunshine on Leith rendition at Ibrox yesterday afternoon after clinching their first SWPL title for 18 years – but will be hoarse tomorrow with celebrations set to go on long into the night at Easter Road. A 1-0 win courtesy of Linzi Taylor’s second-half goal gave them a title delivered with a little bit of breathing space. They finished three points ahead of a Glasgow City side whose win over Hearts delivered Scotland’s second Champions League place to Petershill. It leaves Rangers ruminating on another game when they choked when the pressure was on. They will look to post-splits defeat to Hibs and Glasgow City before yesterday’s game as fundamental in failing to win the title. Their challenge now will be to rouse themselves ahead of next weekend’s Scottish Cup final at Hampden against City. That will come later. The day belonged to Hibs and to Grant Scott at Ibrox. They defended resolutely, frustrated a Rangers side who had loads of the ball but no real idea how to pose any menace with it.
The visitors, by contrast, were clinical when they chance came. Kathleen McGovern, heading into Melissa Andreatta’s first Scotland squad on the back of a campaign that has brought forth 25 goals, deserved huge credit for the keeping the ball in play before cutting it back for Taylor’s volleyed finish.
That moment, in the 74th minute, was when Scott revealed he felt the title was going to Leith.
“I relaxed when the goal went in,” he said. “At 0-0 we knew we were only one goal away from Rangers taking it away from us. It was a strange game and very tight. We have done well defensively this year and once the goal went in, you’re never sure, but I did think it would be a stretch for Rangers to get two when they had created so few chances within the game.
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“I was obviously delighted to see it hit the back of the net. I was probably surprised at his few genuine chances they had because they have some phenomenal forwards.” And what it means to Scott to win it?
“It is relief, pure relief,” he said. “You are out there and the adrenalin is flowing and Rangers have so many players to call on. It is just relief when the whistle goes.
“It is difficult to take in. We have spent weeks daring to dream and thinking why shouldn’t it be us. We knew we had to keep producing the performances. It is an unbelievable achievement and I am so thankful that the players got it over the line.
“I am immensely proud to lead this group. We have been on the page all season. We have had or moments and we have questioned one another at times but the consistency has been phenomenal.”
There was salt in the wounds for Jo Potter’s side who had to hang around for the trophy celebration on the Ibrox pitch. The former England internationalist had to console some visibly upset players while the there would have been no escape from within the sanctuary of the dressing room; the singing of the Hibs squad came over loud and clear as they rightly hit full party mode.
Potter spoke of the ‘dark arts’ of Hibs as they managed the game and ran the clock down. It was said with a hint of envy rather than criticism but the frustration of Rangers grew more apparent the longer the game went on.
Laura Rafferty was dismissed deep into added time to compound a miserable afternoon for the hosts who never looked at any point that they would get the win they needed.
“They know all the dark arts and what it takes to get through a game that way which is football,” said Potter. “That isn’t nice when you are on the receiving end of it but it is great when you are in that camp.
“If the shoe was on the other foot, I would want us to do that as well. It is no surprise. That is down to them to bring it and it is down to us to not let it effect us. We were trying to get the referee to hurry them up a little bit but you can’t control that.
“They have some very good players who have been around the block and got the t-shirt.
“That is full credit to them. They were deserved winners. They have done what they needed to do to win this league.” Elsewhere, Celtic finished their season with a 6-0 win over Motherwell that gives them fourth spot.
At the bottom end, Thistle beat Spartans 2-1 in Brian Graham’s last game in the dugout.
It is a result that sends Spartans down. Aberdeen beat Queen’s Park 3-0 while Montrose beat Dundee United 4-0.
