The Light Blues showed their patience and determination to break down the Edinburgh side to ensure they continued their strong start to the league season.
Malky Thomson named five changes to his side from Sunday’s UEFA Women’s Champions League match against PAOK as Jenna Fife, Dina Orschmann, Lizzie Arnot, Emma Watson and Kirsty Howat came into the starting XI, with Victoria Esson, Sam Kerr, Jenny Danielsson, Brogan Hay and Kayla McCoy on the bench.
Rangers lined-up with Jenna Fife in goal and a back four of Nicola Docherty, Hannah Davison, Tessel Middag and Rachel McLauchlan.
Chelsea Cornet, Kirsty Maclean and Dina Orshmann were in midfield with Lizzie Arnot and Emma Watson supporting striker Kirsty Howat.
Rangers had an opportunity at goal straight from kick-off as Dina Orshmann drove towards goal and won an early corner for the hosts. Lizzie Arnot played the set-piece short into the feet of Kirsty Howat and she turned well to get a shot away at goal but it was held by Parker-Smith.
It was a lively start as Hearts broke down the other end of the pitch through Georgia Timms as she cut the ball back to meet the run of Erin Rennie but the midfielder was unable to keep her effort down as it drifted high over Jenna Fife in the Rangers goal.
From another corner Rangers came agonisingly close to getting the breakthrough as Lizzie Arnot again delivered a dangerous ball into the box which this time fell for youngster Emma Watson but her strike took a deflection inside the box as it skimmed the goalkeeper’s left hand post.
The Edinburgh side had two good opportunities in quick succession as they looked for the breakthrough in this match. Jenna Fife managed to block a close range shot from Vyan Sampson as she got on the end of a corner from Rebecca McAlister, before McAlister herself had a sight of goal which was held by Fife.
Katie Rood tried a shot from distance for the visitors midway through the first-half but it was wide of the target before Lizzie Arnot cut inside from the right at the other end to curl a left-footed shot towards goal but it was pushed wide by Charlotte Parker-Smith.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Rangers had their best chance of the game so far and it was Arnot again who had the opportunity. The Scotland international was picked out on the edge of the box by Chelsea Cornet and she released a looping shot at goal but it rattled the crossbar before the danger was cleared.
It was end-to-end at Rangers Training Centre and the woodwork also denied Hearts shortly after. Georgia Timms drove down the left before getting a shot away but it bounced off the crossbar with the rebound falling to Rebecca McAlister in front of goal however, she was unable to guide the ball into the back of the net.
Timms was causing problems for Rangers as she got on the end of a long ball forward from Emma Brownlie to fire a powerful strike towards goal but it was saved well by Jenna Fife.
Dina Orschmann came close for the Light Blues as the match edged towards half-time with a powerful strike towards goal but it was just over the bar.
Malky Thomson made two changes to his side at the break as he introduced Jenny Danielsson and Sam Kerr in place of Emma Watson and Dina Orschmann.
Early in the second-half, Hearts were continuing to stand firm against any Rangers attack as Lizzie Arnot saw another shot held by Parker-Smith.
With 58 minutes on the clock, the breakthrough did come and the Light Blues were ahead. Kirsty Maclean played a lovely ball forward to find the run of Kirsty Howat in the box. The striker controlled the ball well to fire a powerful strike across goal and into the bottom corner for her fourth goal in three league matches.
It was almost two shortly after as Chelsea Cornet’s curling cross was scooped away from goal by Parker-Smith with the rebound falling for Jenny Danielsson but she fired just wide of the target.
With just over 20 minutes of the game remaining, Kirsty Howat was replaced by Kayla McCoy and the Jamaican international had a chance within seconds but her strike was blocked well by Parker-Smith.
Rangers did have two a few minutes later as another corner was swung into the danger area b Lizzie Arnot. In a crowded box, Sam Kerr managed to get a touch on the ball to send it beyond Parker-Smith to double the Gers’ advantage.
In the final stages of the game, Kayla McCoy was denied a goal with a fantastic save from Parker-Smith as she got a strong hand to the ball to block an effort from the Rangers striker.
Next up for the Light Blues is a trip to Hamilton on Sunday afternoon.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Davison, Middag, McLauchlan (Hay, 73), Cornet, Maclean, Orschmann (Kerr, 46), Arnot (McLeary, 87), Watson (Danielsson, 46), Howat (McCoy, 67).
SUBS: Esson, Martinez.
HEARTS: Parker-Smith, Brownlie, Hunter, Grant, Timms, Smith, Rennie, McAlister, Sampson, Rood, Cowan.
SUBS: Rodgers, Rolandsen, Anderson, Aitchison, Handley, Davies, Young.
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