A brace from Sade Adamolekun handed Hearts all three points against Spartans at Ainslie Park on Sunday afternoon.
Eva Olid made three changes from the side that drew with Glasgow City during the week. Rachael Johnstone returned in goals, meanwhile Adamolekun and Kerry Beattie were drafted into the attack.
In blustery conditions in north Edinburgh, the women in maroon started well and were ahead inside two minutes. Adamolekun had a goal bound shot blocked just seconds before but picked out the bottom corner after good play from Lizzie Waldie down the left wing.
The Jambos thought they’d added a second on 7 minutes when Monica Forsyth headed home at the back post, but the whistle had blown for a foul in the build-up.
It was one-way traffic in the early stages as Hearts pressed for a second goal and it almost arrived when Hutchison headed Robertson’s cross towards goal, but Spartans skipper Robyn McCafferty was in the right place to divert the ball away from goal.
Hearts continued to dominate proceedings but after Beattie had an effort saved by Alicia Yates, the home side threatened as Tegan Browning drove forward and fired an effort just wide from distance.
After a bright start, the Jambos had allowed Spartans to gain a foothold in the match and some powerful running from Hannah Jordan down the right wing saw her force Johnstone into a smart save from the angle.
Half-time: Spartans 0-1 Hearts
Spartans were growing in confidence as Hearts’ lead remained a slender one and the home side threatened from a couple of dangerous set plays early in the second half. The wind was playing it’s part and Johnstone did well to stick out a left boot to deny Reynolds as she pounced on the second ball, before Browning volleyed over at the back post.
The game was finely poised as the clock ticked past the hour mark, but the women in maroon would’ve known that a second goal would’ve killed any chance of a Spartans comeback and Beattie almost provided it when volleying at goal, but Yates got a strong right hand up to deny her.
The Jambos finally added the second goal they craved 12 minutes from time. Erin Husband with a brilliant diagonal pass to find Jess Husband down the right, she crossed for Adamolekun, who took a touch to compose herself, before slotting past Yates at the near post to wrap up the three points.
Spartans: Yates, Clelland, Browning, McCafferty ©, Douglas, Anderson, Jordan, Rennie, Reynolds, McKenna, Davies
Subs: Thomson, Chuter, Bates, Beaton-Hill, Johnstone
Hearts: Johnstone, Brownlie ©, Robertson (Greenwood, 80), Forsyth (J. Husband, 53), Shore, Beattie (Andrews, 69), Wade (Richards, 69), Waldie, Adamolekun, Hutchison (Timms, 53), E. Husband
Subs: Parker-Smith, Morgan, Timms, Jardine, Greenwood, Andrews, J. Husband, Richards, Broadrick
