The league fixture was a dress rehearsal for Sunday’s SWPL Cup Final, when the Hibees and the Hoops meet again at Broadwood Stadium, for a 4.10pm kick-off.
Although Celtic began well, keeper Megan Cunningham was called upon to keep out successive efforts from Lucy Graham and Katey Turner dragged a volley wide of the home goal.
Suzanne Mulvey found the side-netting for Celtic and Ruesha Littlejohn had her goal-bound shot blocked out in the area.
A crucial couple of minutes after the hour mark saw Hibs goalie Jenna Fife turn away Mulvey’s powerful low drive before Celtic’s Courtney Whyte and Cunningham collided when going for Rachel McLaughlan’s cross, allowing substitute Lia Tweedie a simple finish.
Within 10 minutes it was 2-0, as Abi Harrison broke away from the Celtic defence to fire home.
Emma Brownlie cleared a Mulvey effort of the line and Littlejohn had a shot deflected over, before Sarah Ewens came off the bench to pull a late goal back for the hosts.
There’s more SWPL action tonight, as Glasgow City host Hamilton Academical and Rangers entertain Stirling University but Spartans versus Aberdeen is postponed.
Pictured – The teams line up at Lennoxtown Training Ground. (@HibsLadies)
