Hibs Women claimed a hard-fought derby victory over Hearts as Rosie Livingstone's second-half goal sent the Capital Cup to Easter Road.

The 19-year-old, a Hibs fan and academy graduate, climbed off the bench to turn a turgid affair in the visitors' favour, keeping her calm and slotting home after a brilliant run from Stacy Papadopolous. The result will be pure catharsis for manager Grant Scott and his team after they were battered 4-0 at home in the previous derby meeting in September.

Here, they never looked like conceding and capitalised on their big moment when it arrived. The result lifts Hibs into fourth in the SWPL table, leapfrogging Celtic and closing to within a point of Hearts,

It was, as derbies often can be, a game largely short on quality and, therefore, short on clear-cut opportunities. Hibs will feel they had the better of them, registering 17 shots on target and restricting Hearts to just one on target. Most of them were of the half-chance variety, with the best in the first-half falling to Kirsten Reilly from a Hibs set-piece, but she couldn't direct the ball on target as it fell out of the sky from close range.

Elsewhere, Linzi Taylor had a couple of efforts, stinging the palms of Hearts keeper Johnstone without causing her significant stress. With both sides toiling to create from open play, set-pieces became the more likely avenue as the first period wore on. Ciara Grant's well-delivered corner found the head of Kathleen McGovern, but her effort was diverted wide via a maroon jersey.

A crowd of over 5000 had turned out despite the cold, but the initial atmosphere faded as the game meandered either side of half-time. Action in the final third was hard to come by, even as Hibs looked somewhat the more likely. Taylor had another two efforts, this time a header saved, then a looping shot from the edge of the box that bounced narrowly wide.

Given how the last derby panned out, with Hearts taking a three-goal first-half lead, remaining solid and resolute for as long as possible will have been a priority. But given just how little they restricted Hearts to, it would have felt like a missed opportunity had they not pressed on to claim a win. Scott rang the changes as time ticked away, and it was the first of those that proved the difference.

Livingstone had looked a bright spark from the moment she was introduced, seeking to take risks in a game where too many were, perhaps, playing things a little safe. That being said, the winner doesn't happen with Papadopolous' skill and persistence, weaving an unlikely path through the Hearts defence, and earning the touch of fortune the run deserved. The ball broke to Livingstone lurking near the back post, and she kept her cool to slot home and create a moment she'll never forget.