Hearts Women kickstarted their new campaign in style with a convincing 11-1 win over Queen’s Park at Ochilview on Sunday.
It was a busy summer window for the Jambos and Eva Olid named five debutants in the starting 11 as Lisa Robertson, Eilidh Shore, Kerry Beattie, Lauren Wade and Joely Andrews got the nod in a new-look side.
There was perhaps a little bit of the unknown about what to expect from Hearts with so many new players in the starting line-up, but it was a fast start from the Jambos, who were ahead inside 90 seconds, thanks to one of their numerous new arrivals.
Beattie smashed in the goals for Glentoran before making the switch to Edinburgh and she wasted no time in opening her Hearts account as she turned home Eilidh Shore’s low cross from the right.
There were celebrations prior to kick-off as Queen’s unfurled the SWPL2 champions flag, but the smiles were long gone when Wade doubled the lead on just six minutes. It was an excellent pick out from Lizzie Waldie, who slid the ball down the left channel for Wade and the winger kept her cool to slot home from close range.
The early signs were looking ominous for the home side, but they pulled a goal back from a corner on 23 minutes as Emma Craig’s looping header from Ellie Kane’s corner found the back of the net.
The Jambos restored their two-goal lead 11 minutes from the interval as Wade bagged her second of the afternoon. Queen’s looked for a flag that didn’t arrive and Girasoli’s through ball was perfect for Wade to go clean through and finish from close range.
The pick of the first half goals arrived just five minutes later. It was another channel ball to begin the move and when Beattie’s low cross was beaten into the path of Adamolekun by goalkeeper McGregor, the Jamaican curled the ball expertly into the far corner to round off a dominant first 45.
Half-time: Queen’s Park 1-4 Hearts
The points were in the bag at this stage, but with other sides in the top tier racking up big scores, Hearts fancied following suit.
The fifth goal arrived just four minutes after the break, an unfortunate deflection off a Queen’s defender saw the ball roll into the path of Beattie. She rounded McGregor and slotted home to bag a debut brace.
The chances kept falling for the women in maroon and Adamolekun was next to secure her brace. Quick thinking from Carly Girasoli saw a throw-in send Monica Forsyth down the right wing, her initial shot was blocked, but the ball dropped for Adamolekun, who toe poked the ball into the bottom corner.
Both sides looked to freshen things up on what was a warm afternoon, but it was Hearts who continued to control the tempo, and they added a seventh on the 73rd minute. Wade had enjoyed herself down the left and her final act before being replaced was to cross for Jess Husband, who slotted home her first goal in professional football.
Hearts showed no mercy in the closing stages as the substitutes all took their opportunities to come on and find the net. Jackie Richards and Georgia Timms both bagged braces in the final 20 minutes to round off a successful opening day for the Jambos.
Queen’s Park: McGregor, Hay, Cunningham, Bonner, Craig, Cairney, Kane ©, Molley, Muir, Quigley, McLintock
Subs: Inman, Callaghan, King, Graham, Wright, Paton, McQuillan, Robertson, Macara
Hearts: Johnstone, Robertson (Powell, 58), Forsyth © (J. Husband, 58), Shore, Beattie (Timms, 66), Wade (Jardine, 75), Waldie, Adamolekun (Richards, 66), Andrews, Girasoli, E. Husband
Subs: Parker-Smith, Ilijoski, Timms, Jardine, Greenwood, J. Husband, Richards, Broadrick, Powell
