After an impressive start and first half showing from the visitors they found themselves two goals to the good at the break through a Bayley Hutchison double before the Gers fought back through substitute Laura Berry’s strike and Rio Hardy’s header which saw the match end level.
It was Hearts who started the brighter of the two teams as they enjoyed some early pressure in the Gers half early on. A corner in the opening stages of the game was swung in by Lisa Robertson, it was met by Emma Brownlie who fired it back in and it only required a touch to turn it home before Victoria Esson was able to grab it amongst the scramble.
After starting positively it was the visitors who got their reward as they opened the scoring in Cumbernauld through Bayley Hutchison. Winger Jessica Husband played a ball through to the forward who managed to spin away from Kathy Hill before skipping past Leah Eddie and dispatching the ball into the far corner to put the Jambos in front.
They were well worthy of their lead after the start to the match they made. Creating the better of the opportunities whilst the hosts struggled to manufacture anything clear-cut inside the opening 15 minutes.
The Light Blues looked to respond and almost did so via a corner. A delivery was sent into the area which was flicked on by Tessel Middag at the near post, Rio Hardy made the next contact and sent it goalwards with her head, but the covering Jackie Richards did well to head the ball off the line to safety.
Yet to register anything on target the Gers did have a half chance fall to top goalscorer Katie Wilkinson. A Kirsty Maclean cross from the left side of the box was only half cleared, but the striker fired wide of the post from around the penalty spot.
Rangers thought they had a glorious chance to level up proceedings only to be denied by the assistant’s flag for offside. Maclean did well to find striker Hardy who ran in behind, she was set to beat goalkeeper Charlotte Parker-Smith to the ball in a one-on-one situation, only to be stopped in her tracks by the flag much to the disbelief of the home support.
Having enjoyed the better of the contest Hearts made the most of a corner kick situation to double their lead. A cross was sent in once again by Husband, Esson had to palm the ball away at the near post before Georgia Timms kept it alive in the second phase. She sent the ball back in which allowed Lizzie Waldie to flick it on before Hutchison was on hand to volley at the back post to make it two as the visitors put themselves in a fantastic position in the game.
Middag went close with a volley following a free-kick routine before Wilkinson sent a set piece chance into the hands of the goalkeeper with the hosts going at the break two goals behind and having it all to do.
Jo Potter got her half time messages across but there was little response from the off from the Gers as they tried to get back into the game. Hearts remained comfortable during proceedings as they looked to protect what they had, the only real opening saw Chelsea Cornet try a shot from range, but it was deflected wide of the target leaving Parker-Smith untroubled.
The Light Blues turned to their substitutes bench with Laura Berry and Kirsty Howat introduced into the match in a double switch. They made an instant impact on the game as Berry was on hand to brilliantly fire home Wilkinson’s pass first time in at the near post to halve the deficit and give the home side a real fighting change with exactly 25 minutes remaining.
From there on, the Jambos were happy to play on the counter-attack and mainly protect what they had. Following a succession of Rangers corners which came to no avail, the away side had a chance on the break to restore their two-goal advantage. Hutchison did well to hold off Hill inside the area before Eddie was round to provide a challenge on the cover, it broke to substitute Monica Forsyth but her shot was pushed away by Esson to stop a third going into her net on the day.
After a period of pressure the Gers did get their equaliser as Berry made another contribution, this time turning provider for Hardy to head home. Picking up the ball on the left flank where she was operating she expertly picked out the striker who finished it off to level up the match as they then went in search of a winner.
Few clear chances were to follow but there was an opening for Berry to get a shot away on the edge of the box before having it taken off her toes in what proved to be the penultimate piece of action before the referee brought an end to proceedings after the following corner was taken short, with the hosts having to settle for a point in the end up on their return to action.
RANGERS: Esson, Eddie, Hill, Middag (Docherty, 75), Hay, Hardy, Arnot (Berry, 54), Cornet (Howat, 64), Maclean, McLoughlin, Wilkinson (Lafaix, 75)
SUBS: Fife, Rafferty, Ross, McLeary, Cruft
HEARTS: Parker-Smith, Brownlie, Robertson, Shore, Timms (Adamolekun, 68, Waldie, Jardine (Andrews, 59), Hutchison (Williams, 85), Husband, Husband (Forsyth, 59), Richards (Handley, 85)
SUBS: Wade, Ypema, Powell,