After a closely fought out contest in the opening 45 minutes a well-taken Brogan Hay strike from inside the area put the away side in front at the break before Rio Hardy doubled the advantage after the restart to claim another three points as they made it seven wins in a row at the start of the new domestic campaign.
The Light Blues headed into the match level on points with their opponents with a game in hand. The Jambos had made an impressive start to the campaign themselves, winning six of their seven leagues matches. Head coach Jo Potter named five changes from the win on their return to domestic action last weekend. Kathy Hill, Nicola Docherty, Tessel Middag, Mia McAulay and Rio Hardy all came in from the get-go.
Both sides looked to settle into the game early on in the capital. In a game that looked to be a tricky test for the Light Blues in their search to maintain their 100 per cent start to the new SWPL season.
The Gers should have taken the lead inside the opening five minutes of the match with the first real attack of purpose from either side. A mistake in the Hearts backline from Lizzie Waldie was pounced on by Brogan Hay as the winger moved it to the front line. Katie Wilkinson picked it up inside the area and spotted Rio Hardy well placed to her left, but she scooped her effort from close range over the top.
After a period of possession mainly from the away side they had the next opportunity to open the scoring in the contest. A delivery from the right side from Hay was met by the head of Kathy Hill inside the area, her effort produced an impressive point blank save from shot stopper Rachel Johnstone to deny the defender from finding the back of the net.
Hearts had their first moment of real purpose after changing over possession following a mistake in the Rangers midfield. A cross from the left flank was met by the head of Georgia Timms on the stretch as she managed to knock it down for the arriving Joely Andrews, but her strike on the half volley lacked the desired power and went wide of the target.
The hosts had a free kick opportunity just outside the penalty area as Emma Brownlie looked to test Victoria Esson in the Rangers goal. The former Ger fired it round the wall and seeked out the corner at the near post but the New Zealand international was level to it as the goalkeeper pushed away the effort to safety.
Just past the 25-minute mark the match remained goalless as the Light Blues had the next chance to break the deadlock. Wilkinson collected a long ball from defence from Leah Eddie as she held it in before bringing Liv McLoughin into play, but the midfielder’s effort from range landed into the hands of Johnstone.
Rangers again had a chance to take the lead this time they worked the ball down the left flank. Captain Nicola Docherty sent a long ball down the channel which allowed Mia McAulay to latch onto it. The youngster stood up her marker and played in a cross-come shot into the box which hit Wilkinson and almost caught out Johnstone, but the Jambos keeper managed to readjust to claim the effort.
It was the away side who did take the lead just under 10 minutes from the half time interval curtesy of a well-taken finish from Brogan Hay. All her own work she managed to win the ball just outside the Hearts area before working the ball onto her right foot and smashing it into the top corner to put the Gers ahead in the capital.
Clear openings remained few and far between as the away side looked to build on their slender advantage, as they took a one-goal lead into the half time in Edinburgh.
The theme of the match continued after the restart but the Gers did have the first opening after a clever piece of team build-up play. Initially working the ball down the left Tessel Middag picked it up in the middle of the park and spotted the run of Kirsty Howat round the back post, picking her out the forward she cushioned the ball across the box looking for a teammate but there were no takers in blue.
Hearts looked to mount the pressure themselves and get back on level terms. A ball from wide from Lauren Wade was met by the head of Andrews who was unmarked in the area, but the midfielder headed wide of the post.
It was in the next phase of play however that the Gers pounced on a Hearts error and doubled their lead through Rio Hardy. After breaking away Lauren Wade managed to intercept the ball but her pass back was loose which allowed the forward to pick the ball up and place it beyond Johnstone to give Rangers breathing space in the capital.
Jo Potter’s team started to take control of the contest as they looked to limit the threat of the hosts who seeked a way back into the game. The away side introduced both Jodi McLeary and Charlie Devlin into proceedings as they looked for the third goal that would put the match beyond any doubt.
Again a period of the game went by without either side threatening before top scorer Katie Wilkinson had a real chance to put it to bed. A corner kick delivery round the back post sent in by Mia McAulay was met by the head of the forward, but she headed over from close range.
Substitute Kerry Beattie had an effort inside the penalty area in stoppage time which was kept out by Esson at the second attempt as Rangers controlled the closing stages of the contest to claim the win in the capital, as their attention now turns to the start of their defence of the Sky Sports Cup next weekend.
HEARTS: Johnstone, Brownlie, Robertson (Hutchison 90), Forsyth, Shore, Timms (Beattie 68), Wade (Richards 85), Waldie, Andrews (Jardine 85) , Husband, Husband (Adamolekun 68)
SUBS: Parker-Smith, Ilijoski, Greenwood, Broadrick
RANGERS: Esson, Docherty, Eddie, Hill, Middag, Hay (McLeary 66), Howat (Devlin 66), Hardy (Ross 81), McAulay, McLoughlin, Wilkinson
SUBS: Fife, Rafferty, Arnot, Austin, Lafaix, Cruft
REFEREE: Abbie Hendry