The Light Blues kept up their 100 per cent start to their league campaign thanks to second half goals from Chelsea Cornet and Rio Hardy although were made to work hard for the points after Kathleen McGovern’s strike gave the home side hope. The Light Blues held on for the win as they now prepare for their clash with Glasgow City this weekend.
Head coach Jo Potter named one change to the team that ran out 5-1 winners over Aberdeen, with Michelle Colson making her first league start in place of Laura Berry.
Hearts started in positive fashion at the Oriam but it was Rangers who registered the first effort of the contest. Kirsty Maclean, who was operating in a more advanced midfield role found Kirsty Howat, but the striker’s shot was comfortably gathered by Charlotte Parker-Smith in goal.
Early clear cut chances were few and far between despite a fast-paced start in the capital. Both sides eased themselves into the game in the early stages with something having to give with both teams having won their opening two league fixtures.
Hearts thought they had opened the scoring just before the quarter-hour mark. Ciara Grant swung in a free-kick delivery which travelled all the way through into the back of Jenna Fife’s net, however Emma Brownlie was judged to have been in an offside position with the effort disallowed straight away.
After a period of safe possession the Gers started settling into the game after 20 minutes on the clock. Jodi McLeary tried her luck from distance in what was a well-hit strike but the effort sailed just over the top of the Hearts crossbar.
Half chances arrived for the away side in quick succession as they looked to up the tempo and cause more problems for the Hearts shot stopper. Rachel McLauchlan did well to turn over possession in the right-back area as she found Rio Hardy, the striker opted to turn inside and shoot on her left side but her effort was diverted away to safety.
The Gers went close through a combination of play from the front pairing. Howat dropped deep to receive the ball on the half turn, she slipped through Hardy in behind with the forward trying her luck from a tight angle as the Hearts goalkeeper gathered on the ground.
Howat went close after a corner-kick routine off the training ground. Maclean combined with McLauchlan with the full-back coming short, the Gers created an overload on the near side with the striker opting to shoot from the flank which tested Parker-Smith and forced her into a save on the stretch.
There was still no breakthrough as the match approached the 40-minute mark. The hosts were holding their own defensively whilst the Gers continued to probe in search of breaking the deadlock without creating a real opportunity in front of goal.
The two youngsters combined as Potter’s side went close to going in front moments later. Maclean did superbly to turn and release McLeary who had swapped flanks for the time being, taking it in her stride she tried her luck from outside the area but the shot whistled over the top.
Kathleen McGovern got on the end of a long diagonal free-kick for the hosts but her header left Fife untroubled in the Rangers goal as the referee blew for the half-time whistle with the sides goalless.
The hosts started the second period on the front foot and went close to breaking the deadlock with the first effort since the restart. Ciara Grant tried a looping effort from outside the area which had Fife back-peddling, but the shot stopper managed stop the ball looping over her head as she gathered at the second attempt.
The Light Blues came to life themselves as an opportunity presented itself to McAulay after a second phase from a corner. A delivery from the right side was initially cleared but the youngster’s effort on the half-volley sailed over.
The Gers took the lead after a well worked team goal which was finished by Chelsea Cornet. The ball started with Hill who worked it across to fellow defender McLauchlan, the defender found the feet of Hardy who had dropped deep. Managing to turn the striker acknowledged the run from deep from the midfielder who collected the forward pass and finished on her left side to give Rangers the lead in Edinburgh.
As the hosts looked to get back into the game the Light Blues extended their lead on the counter-attack. Possession changed over inside the Rangers box before the long clearance broke to Howat who found herself in on goal, in a two on one situation she squared the ball across to Hardy who smashed the ball past Parker-Smith to double the advantage.
Hearts went close to halving the deficit after Kathleen McGovern climbed highest in the box but saw her effort come back off the left post and stay out.
Moments later however the home side did get themselves back in the game. The away side caught in possession having tried to play out from the back, McGovern again was on the scene and this time smashed the ball into the far corner past Fife as the hosts gave themselves hope.
After a period of few chances at either end it was the away side who almost stretched their lead further on two occasions. Firstly McLeary latched on to the loose ball after Hearts had defended a corner but the hosts backline managed to clear the danger.
In the next phase of play it was Hardy who was next to go close. The striker skipped past Carly Girasoli in the Hearts backline before firing a shot at goal which was denied at the front post by Parker-Smith as the game headed towards its conclusion.
Kathleen McGovern thought she had levelled up the contest right at the end. A mix-up in the Gers backline saw McGovern latch onto the loose ball, with the goal at her mercy the forward could only turn her effort onto the post with Fife out of her goal. McLauchlan was then on hand to make a point saving intervention from the rebound as she put her body on the line to make the block as the Light Blues held on for three points in the capital.
HEARTS: Parker-Smith, Morgan (Findlay 84), Brownlie, Hunter, Grant, Timms, Lockwood, Handley (Adamolekun 45), Girasoli, McGovern, Michie (Rennie 45)
SUBSTITUTES: Rodgers, Penman, Anderson, Greenwood, Davies, McGinley, Cowan
RANGERS: Fife, McLauchlan, Colson (Middag 63), Hill, McAulay, Cornet, Docherty, McLeary, Maclean, Howat (Ewens 72), Hardy
SUBSTITUTES: Esson, Inman, Austin, Jardine, Berry, Rowe