Hearts Women ended 2023 with a memorable result at Oriam on Sunday afternoon following a 1-1 draw with Celtic.
Eva Olid made one change to the side that defeated Partick Thistle last time out as Cailin Michie replaced Danni Findlay.
It was Hearts who started the brighter of the two teams and they hit the front after just eight minutes. Lizzie Waldie played an intelligent ball down the left channel for Georgia Timms.
Her first effort was stopped by Kelsey Daugherty but when the ball rebounded back to Hearts’ number nine, she had the composure to cut inside, before firing in the opening goal.
The Jambos had the better of the first half, largely nullifying Celtic and restricting them to chance from set plays, but into the second half and the visitors started to pile on the pressure.
Colette Cavanagh almost restored parity 11 minutes after the interval, but Charlotte Parker-Smith got down well to her left to beat her strike away.
Just two minutes later though, Celtic did hit back. Patient play on the right saw the ball worked to Caitlin Hayes on the edge of the Hearts box and her low strike went through the legs of Carly Girasoli, leaving Parker-Smith stranded.
Hearts dug deep to weather a Celtic storm for the next 15 minutes and as the game entered the final stages, both sides had chances to snatch all three points.
The Jam Tarts have been a threat from set plays this season and Girasoli, who scored against Celtic earlier in the season, almost repeated the feat when her back post header was tipped on to the bar by Daugherty.
Up the other end, Hayes almost snatched all three points for Celtic in the final minute when getting on the end of substitute Maria McAneny’s floated cross, but she couldn’t keep her header down and it sailed high over the bar.
That was the final chance as after over six minutes of stoppage time, the whistle sounded on another memorable result for Hearts at Oriam.
They end 2023 having now picked up points against Rangers, Glasgow City and now finally, Celtic.
Hearts: Parker-Smith, Brownlie, Hunter ©, Grant, Timms (McGovern, 90), Lockwood (Anderson, 53), Waldie, Adamolekun (Rennie, 62), Handley, Girasoli, Michie
Subs: B. Rennie, Penman, E. Rennie, Anderson, McGovern, Davies, Findlay, E. Husband, J. Husband
Celtic: Daugherty, Ross, Craig, Gallacher, Smith, Mengyu, Cavanagh, Agnew, Clark, Hayes, Partido
Subs: Logan, Barclais, Burchill, Menglu, Goldie, Barclay, McStay, McAneny, Addi
