Hearts Women 6 - 0 Murieston United Girls
From Hearts News at Kings Park, Dalkeith

Hearts Women enjoyed a fine victory over second division Murieston United Girls on Sunday, running out worth 6-0 winners.

Played at Hearts' new home ground of Dalkeith Thistle Juniors FC, the women's division also thanked Dalkeith British Legion for providing and sponsoring after-match hospitality.

Murieston have just entered the League but they had in their ranks many players with first division experience from their time at Bo'ness, who folded last season.

Hearts head coach Tam Milne gave home debuts to three new signings: Susanne Gill, Karolina Lech and Danni Buchanan and all three can be very pleased with their performance. Susanne was rock solid at the back and Karolina and Danni both got on the score-sheet.

The home team were quickly on the offensive in the early stages of the match and this was a trend that would continue throughout the 90 minutes with the girls enjoying the bulk of possession.

All that possession only produced one first-half goal, though, a very well executed lob over the keeper from Karen Wilkins who latched on to a clearing header from Danni Johnston.

The same two players were involved in Hearts second goal early in the second half. Once again Karen latched on to a header from Danni and drew the keeper before slotting home from 14 yards.

Hearts were now well in command and their domination saw them add further goals through captain Kim Borthwick with a late run into the box and a composed side-footed finish that gave the keeper no chance, Karolina Lech with a left foot shot from 16yds across the keeper, a converted penalty kick from Danni Buchanan after she had been tripped in the box and last, but not least, a stunning volley from 20 yards by Kelsey Campbell that flew past the keeper.

After the match Tam said: "The girls fully deserved their win today, and the score-line does not flatter us as we went close with several other chances.

"We also came up against a very good goalkeeper who had several tremendous saves.

"I was pleased with the debuts of our three new additions, Susanne, signed from Premier League club Boroughmuir, was excellent at the back, Karolina, a Polish international player, always made good use of the ball when in possession and also took her goal well.

"Young Danni had a tremendous second half with several lung-bursting runs down the left flank that left opposing defenders in her wake, and of course she capped it all off by her tucking away her penalty.

"Hopefully we can build on this result when our league campaign kicks off next week through in Airdrie, who have just been promoted to Division 1.

"I want to finish by complimenting our opponents who I thought worked very hard throughout the match and showed great commitment, especially in their defending. I also thought their keeper was tremendous."

Hearts: Porteous, Scobbie (Piaskowski), Johnston, Gill, Campbell, Paterson, Borthwick, Rogers (McGovern), Buchanan, Wilkins (Honjigawa), Lech. Subs: Piaskowski, McGovern, Honjigawa, Milby.

Meanwhile, Hearts Women's Academy teams also got their season underway, in very promising fashion, apart from the U13s whose match away to Whitburn was postponed due to the weather.

The U15s had a tremendous 1-0 victory against a very good Hutchison Vale outfit with Beth Sutherland scoring an excellent goal midway through the second half.

The U17s got their league campaign underway with a 0-0 draw against a strong Falkirk Ladies team, and only the post denied them a victory when Emma Watson hit a free-kick from 25 yards that came back off the upright.