In a top of the table clash, an own goal and Carly Johns finish either side of half time put the away side in the ascendancy. Calliste Brookshire struck deep in the match to half the deficit but ultimately it wasn’t enough as Leanne Crichton’s side lost ground in the title race.
The hosts shaded the early possession on a sunny afternoon in Cumbernauld, although chances in the opening five minutes were at a premium as both teams looked to work their way into the game.
There was not much to report in the opening 10 minutes. Jodi McLeary’s delivery from a corner was the only sight of goal as she looked to pick out a teammate inside the area.
After chances were few and far between, Hearts thought they had the opener with their first attack of purpose. A pass out wide to Lauren Wade was played across the box as Georgia Timms tapped in at the back post, only for the assistant to deny the goal with an offside in the build-up.
Rangers had their first moment of real purpose thereafter. A quick corner involving Calliste Brookshire and McLeary saw the latter pick out Brogan Hay on the edge of the box, she tried her luck but her effort deflected just wide of the post as the home faithful came to life.
The Jambos then thought they should have been awarded a penalty after a coming together between Timms and Eilidh Austin in the Gers backline. A long ball through was mis-judged by Jess Pegram as the striker looked to profit, but the referee didn’t deem the collision worthy enough to award a spot kick as he waved play away.
At the other end, the Light Blues tested Rachael Johnstone in the Hearts goal for the first time. A clever pass from Kim Shin Ji was brought down by Camille Lafaix, inside the box, but the left footed effort was beaten away by the shot stopper at the near post.
It brought the best spell of the match from the home side thereafter. After Hearts attacked at one end, Pegram’s volleyed clearance sparked a counter. A pass into Shin Ji found Lafaix who acknowledged Brookshire to her left, but the Greece international’s shot was flashed just wide of the target.
After two poor consecutive Carly Johns efforts in a row, it was Eva Olid’s side who struck first in the top of the table clash. Timms found Wade in wide position and in space at the back post, and her ball that was fired across goal was turned into the back of her own net by McLeary as the away side found the opener going into the break.
The hosts introduced Laura Berry for Brogan Hay at the break as they looked for a spark to score the next goal. They started in promising fashion, as Katie Wilkinson’s cross was met by May Cruft, but the 16-year-old fired over from outside the area.
The Rangers number 44 had a free kick effort fly over as she looked to repeat her Old Firm heroics but in the next attack it was Hearts who doubled their lead. An element of fortune how it came about as Johns broke down the left, it ricochet off Austin and fell for the winger near the touchline as she fired it beyond Fife at the near post to make it 2-0.
The Light Blues looked to respond but to no avail. McLeary had a half volley go past Johnstone and wide before they did go close through both substitute Mia McAulay and Wilkinson. Firstly it was the winger’s cross-come shot that hit the far post and fell for the forward, but her half volleyed effort went the wrong side of the post from a Rangers perspective.
Time was running out for the Gers as they pressed for a way back into the game towards the end. Berry’s header from a corner was heading goalwards but for some assured Hearts defending to clear the danger.
Into stoppage time the home side did halve the deficit through Brookshire. A quick corner saw Quinty Sabajo give it to the Greece winger whose curling effort finally beat Johnstone.
Crichton’s side pressed for a decisive equaliser, but time ran out as the Jambos strengthened their position at the top of the SPWPL standings with the victory.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Pegram (Hill, 60), Hay (Berry, 45), Austin, Lafaix (McAulay 60), Cruft, Brookshire, McLeary (Sabajo, 74), Wilkinson, Shin Ji
SUBS: Kelly, Rafferty, Mengwen, Black, Boyce
HEARTS: Johnstone, Ypema, Husband, Husband, Timms (Forsyth 69), Wade (Richards, 69), Dolan (Slattery, 62), Jardine (Ademolekun, 62), Andrews, Girasoli, Johns (Chomczuk, 80)
SUBS: Thomson, Hunter, Shore, Campbell
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