Georgia Timms’ double sealed a huge 3-1 victory for Hearts over Celtic in the Scottish Women’s Premier League at Oriam on Sunday.
Captain Emma Brownlie scored an emphatic header to open the scoring for Hearts in the first half before striker Georgia Timms struck in the 56th minute. Despite a reply from Celtic through Saoirse Noonan to make it 2-1, Timms made it a brace for herself straight after to help the Jambos pick up an important three points in their opening post- split fixture.
Eva Olid made three changes from the 3-2 loss in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals against Glasgow City last Sunday. Rachel Johnstone returned in goals, Kayla Jardine started in midfield and Jess Husband started on the wing. Charlotte Parker-Smith, Monica Forsyth and Naomi Powell dropped to the bench.
Hearts looked confident in possession in the first half, and looked a constant threat going forward as they looked to utilise the wide areas to cause Celtic problems.
In the opening moments of the game, Georgia Timms sprinted down the right and fired a low ball into the penalty area, but Celtic were able to clear their lines.
The women in maroon capitalised on their positive start to the match after nearly 10 minutes played.
The free kick on the right was played short by Lisa Robertson to Kayla Jardine, who clipped a fantastic ball to the back post which found captain Emma Brownlie who headed past Daugherty to give Hearts a deserved lead.
Lauren Wade came close to scoring a second for the Jambos. Bayley Hutchison slipped Wade in behind the Celtic defence, she drove into the box and looked to fire one into the far corner, forcing a good low stop from Daugherty.
On 37 minutes, Lisa Robertson won the ball in midfield and played it to Kayla Jardine who played Bayley Hutchison through on goal. She was forced wide, and her powerful strike hit the side netting.
The visitors had a huge chance to equalise in the 40th minute. The ball was flashed across the face of goal and Saoirse Noonan looked to slide in to score from close range, but she didn’t get the right connection on it and instead put it behind for a goal kick.
Rachael Johnstone was called into action just before half-time. Saoirse Noonan was played into the box, she turned and got a strike away on her right foot, forcing a fantastic save from Rachael Johnstone to protect the lead for Hearts.
Half-time: Hearts 1-0 Celtic
The women in maroon continued to impress after the break.
Emma Brownlie lofted a ball from deep within her own half which split the Celtic defence and found Bayley Hutchison in the penalty area. She struck one from a tight angle which was kept out by Daugherty.
The Jam Tarts doubled their advantage in the 56th minute. Lisa Robertson did brilliantly as she picked the ball up in midfield and drove into the box before whipping a great cross to Georgia Timms, who smashed one home on the volley past Daugherty for 2-0.
Celtic pulled one back not long after. Hearts were unable to clear their lines from a corner from the left, and Saoirse Noonan scored an acrobatic overhead kick to make it 2-1.
Just a couple of minutes later Hearts made it 3-1. Eilidh Shore played a brilliant pass down the left wing to Hutchison who dribbled well to the edge of the area, before firing it into the feet of Georgia Timms in the box. She took a touch before hitting a powerful strike past the gloves of Kelsey Daugherty to score her second of the afternoon.
In the late stages of the game, the Hearts defence showed great resilience to shut Celtic out.
Ultimately, the Jambos went on to record their second win over Celtic in the league this season, and will be full of confidence heading into their away clash against Rangers at Ibrox Stadium on March 30th, kick-off at 2pm.
Hearts: Johnstone, Brownlie ©, Robertson, Shore, Timms (Williams 88’), Wade (Handley 88’), Waldie, Jardine (Powell 78’), Hutchison (Adamolekun 88’), E.Husband, J.Husband (Forsyth 74’)
Subs: Parker-Smith, Forsyth, Ypema, Adamolekun, Handley, Powell, Williams
Celtic: Daugherty, Barclais, Ross, Gallacher, Agnew, Clark ©, Cross, Noonan, Clifford, Lawton, Nakao
Subs: Rodgers, Smith, Harrison, Carstens, Cavanagh, McGregor, Costa, Mcaneny
