Hearts Women made yet more history at Oriam on Sunday afternoon as they defeated Celtic for the first time ever thanks to Kayla Jardine’s first half strike.
Eva Olid made four changes from the side that defeated Partick Thistle last weekend as Rachael Johnstone, Lauren Wade, Kayla Jardine and Joely Andrews all returned to the XI with Charlotte Parker-Smith, Sade Adamolekun, Georgia Timms and Jackie Richards dropping out.
It was a quiet beginning, with both sides cancelling each other out in the early stages. Celtic had looked to threaten down the left through former Jambo Maria McAneny and after slicing an early effort wide, she forced Johnstone into her first save of the afternoon on 19 minutes, but her left-foot strike from distance was routine for the stopper.
Hearts carved out their best opening of the match just before the half hour mark as Bayley Hutchison slipped the ball in behind for Jardine but from a tight angle, her shot was well held by Kelsey Daugherty.
Five minutes later, the pair combined again and this time, the ball did end up in the back of the net. It was a good move from the women in maroon and after a neat one-two between Andrews and Wade saw the latter slip in Hutchison, she cut the ball back for Jardine, whose effort was deflected past the helpless Daugherty.
That goal gave Hearts a lift and they were the better team for the remainder of the half and almost doubled their lead six minutes before the interval. Hutchison was again involved, and she delivered a brilliant cross for Wade at the back post, but her effort was straight at Daugherty.
Half-time: Hearts 1-0 Celtic
There was a triple change from Hoops boss Elena Sadiku at the interval as Colette Cavanagh, Saoirse Noonan and Murphy Agnew were all introduced.
A further two changes were made on the hour mark as Amy Gallacher and Lucy Ashworth Clifford were introduced but in truth, Hearts navigated the first 15 minutes of the second period with ease.
Hearts continued to look a threat on the break and Hutchison almost added a second just after the hour mark. The striker had led the line so well and deserved a goal for her efforts. She put the afterburners on to breeze away from Kelly Clark, but after cutting inside, was smothered by the onrushing Daugherty.
Ashworth-Clifford and Gallacher had the visitors best opportunities, but both curled off target from the edge of the area.
As the game headed into the final ten minutes, Celtic continued to push for the equaliser and the closest they came was when Jackie Richards had to clear the ball off the line, following a dangerous Celtic corner.
It wasn’t exactly backs to the wall stuff from the women in maroon however and they continued to threaten up the other end, as they looked to kill the game off. Sade Adamolekun came off the bench to slide in Hutchison, but once again, Daugherty kept Hearts at bay.
Following four additional minutes, the whistle sounded on another historic afternoon for everyone associated with Hearts Women.
Hearts: Johnstone, Brownlie ©, Robertson, Forsyth (J. Husband, 58), Shore (Greenwood, 90), Wade (Adamolekun, 70), Waldie, Jardine (Richards, 70), Andrews, Hutchison, E. Husband
Subs: Parker-Smith, Ilijoski, Morgan, Greenwood, Adamolekun, J. Husband Richards, Broadrick
Celtic: Daugherty, Ross, Carstens, McGregor, Clark ©, Cross, Hayes, Lawton, Costa, McAneny
Subs: Rodgers, Barclais, Richardson, Gallacher, Smith, Cavanagh, Agnew, Noonan, Ashworth-Clifford
