SWF First Division: Airdrie United 1-4 Hearts
From Hearts News at Airdrie Leisure Centre

On the back of last week's fine League Cup Fine, Hearts Women got their SWF First Division campaign off to a great start with a convincing and deserved win against newly promoted Airdrie United through at Airdrie Leisure Centre, on Sunday.

After a tricky start, in difficult and windy conditions, Hearts eased themselves into the game and in the end ran out deserved winners.

It was all about counter attacks in the first half for the visitors, who had to rely on solid defending in blustery conditions. With Suzanne Gill and Danni Johnston in the centre of defence clearing their lines and Megan Paterson and Kelsey Campbell cutting out the threat from their wide players it looked like Hearts would reach the break level. Alas with only 10 minutes remaining in the half another corner-kick was conceded and when it was delivered it ended up being assisted by the wind and eluding everyone in flying into the net.

Within minutes skipper Kim Borthwick almost drew Hearts level with a tremendous run in the inside-right channel that saw her evade two tackles before hitting a low shot across the keeper that smacked off the inside of the post.

Confident that a result could still be achieved, Hearts went on the offensive but they were just a bit too eager at times, and although well on top, the women were starting to show signs of anxiety and frustration as they tried to draw level.

With only 15 minutes remaining and still a goal behind Hearts won a free-kick wide on the right, 25 yards out. Megan Paterson fired the ball into the six yard box and once again the wind played its, deceiving Airdrie's keeper and ending up in the net, despite her very best attemps.

Hearts now had their tails up and they went in search of all three points with wave after wave of attacks.

Five minutes after drawing level Hearts took the lead when a loose ball in the penalty box saw Karolina Lech react quickest and she sent a left-footed shot wide of the keeper into the bottom corner of the net.

And then almost straight from the restart the young Polish striker pounced again with a wonderful right foot volley from 16 yards after good play down the right flank.

With Airdrie finding it hard to get out of their half it looked like Hearts had now done enough to secure the points and that was confirmed two minutes from time. Lynsay Anderson took off down the right wing before crossing from the bye-line, perfectly for Kelsey Campbell who found space to direct her header into the net from four yards to finish off what was a 15 minute goal blitz that saw all three points safely secured.

After the match head coach Tam Milne said: "The girls thoroughly deserved their win today and although we left it late with our goals I was always confident that we would win the match.

"The wind made it difficult for both teams and our game plan was to try and reach the break at 0-0, as we knew that the second half, with the wind behind us, would see us having more of the ball in offensive areas.

"We did not quite manage to hold out with the strong wind playing a big part in their goal, but to be fair it also assisted us with Megan's goal that brought us level. It's important to note that the wind played no part in our other three goals though as all three were well taken.

"We now look forward to next week when we travel over to Fife to play Dunfermline in the second round of the League Cup and after scoring 10 goals in our last two matches and only conceding once, our confidence should be high. Dunfermline will prove to be stern opponents and we will have to work hard to get a result, though."

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

Meanwhile, the Women's division's U13s got their season underway with a League Cup tie away to Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday morning, and although there was eventual disappointment for the maroon girls, a thrilling 2-2 draw and subsequent 4-3 penalty shoot-out defeat would have greatly enthused all involved, not least the sizeable crowd.

There was less good news from the U17s who lost out 6-2 in the local derby against a very good Hibs outfit at Redford Barracks. Although they reached half time level at 2-2, the more established Hibs side proved to be the stronger in the second half, running out comfortable winners.

Hearts Women is always on the look out for new players both for the first team and it's academy sides, U17s, U15s and U13s. For more information speak to the division's chairperson News Maragaret milne via 07801 152 725 or email homwfc-contact@yahoo.co.uk.