It was disappointment for Hearts Women as Rangers left Oriam with all three points on Sunday, thanks to a goal each half from Brogan Hay and Rio Hardy.
Eva Olid made two changes from the side that defeated Aberdeen last weekend as Jess Husband and Lauren Wade replaced Bayley Hutchison and Jackie Richards.
Both sides came into this game full of confidence and although it was a confident start from the Jambos in possession, it was the visitors who had the first chance of the afternoon on six minutes.
A long ball caused confusion at the back and when the ball dropped to Rio Hardy, she fired over from inside the penalty box.
For the Jambos to get a result against the league leaders, Rachael Johnstone was going to have to perform well between the sticks and she pulled off a brilliant save five minutes later to keep out Kathy Hill’s looping header following a floated cross from the right.
Hearts’ first chance of the afternoon arrived on 18 minutes as Lisa Robertson’s cross was volleyed wide by Joely Andrews. The women in maroon came even closer just three minutes later. Following a handball on the edge of the box, a free kick was awarded 20-yards from goal. Emma Brownlie stepped up and although her free kick beat the wall, Victoria Esson dived to her left to tip the strike over the bar.
There hadn’t been much in the opening 45, but it was the Gers who broke the deadlock nine minutes from time. The ball fell to Brogan Hay inside the penalty box and her strike across goal flew high into the roof of the net to give the visitors the half-time lead.
Half-time: Hearts 0-1 Rangers
Hearts started the second half with purpose and after Andrews headed wide, the women in maroon looked to have a good shout for handball waved away after the ball struck the hand of Rangers skipper Nicola Docherty, right on the line of the 18-yard box.
The game continued to be tight and the Jambos just needed a bit of good fortune to find a route back into the game, but luck wasn’t on their side and after Lauren Wade’s interception unintentionally slipped the ball through for Rio Hardy, the Gers number 10 kept her cool to slot the ball into the bottom corner 11 minutes after the restart.
It just hadn’t been the Jambos afternoon and despite some substitutions and plenty of effort in the closing stages, it was a solid defensive display from the league leaders, who were able to keep Hearts at arm’s length all afternoon as the three points returned to Glasgow.
Hearts: Johnstone, Brownlie ©, Robertson (Hutchison, 90), Forsyth, Shore, Timms (Beattie, 67), Wade (Richards, 85), Waldie, Andrews (Jardine, 85), E.Husband, J.Husband (Adamolekun, 67)
Subs: Parker-Smith, Ilijoski, Beattie, Jardine, Greenwood, Adamolekun, Hutchison, Richards, Broadrick
Rangers: Esson, Docherty ©, Eddie, Hill, Middag, Hay, Howat, Hardy, McAulay, McLoughlin, Wilkinson
Subs: Fife, Rafferty, Devlin, Ross, Arnot, Austin, Lafaix, McLeary, Cruft
