Hearts Women 1, Airdrie United Ladies 0

From Hearts News at King's Park, Dalkeith

Hearts secured victory over Airdrie United thanks to a glorious second-half strike from Kim Borthwick.

The Maroons found the going tough in the opening exchanges at Kings Park, Dalkeith but slowly forced their way into the match.

Wilkins went close on a couple of occasions and the strong running of Rogers was creating problems for the Airdrie defence. Airdrie were by no means out of it, though, and they threatened the Hearts defence on several occasions but neither side was able to make the breakthrough in the first 45 minutes.

Hearts started the second half brighter and were much more positive going forward but they always had to be aware of an Airdrie side that was quick in turning defence into attack.

The visitors keeper was by far the busier at this stage and she pulled off several other good saves to deny the Maroons taking the lead, in particular, diving low to her right to push round the post a shot from Cunningham that looked bound for the bottom corner of the net.

However, with 20 minutes remaining the hosts did take the lead when Borthwick collected the ball 35yds out and made her way forward into the box leaving several defenders in her wake. She drew the keeper and neatly passed it beyond her and into the net from 10yds.

Minutes later Hearts thought they had doubled their lead when the keeper dropped a cross and the ever alert Wilkins pounced to knock it sideways to Rogers who rolled it into the empty net but the referee spotted an infringement.

Head Coach Tam Milne said: "It is another three points but it was not pretty and we never got anywhere near the level of performance that we showed last week and that disappointed me. In saying that I have to give credit to the Airdrie girls who made it difficult for us and they played very well."

Hearts: Milby, Gill, Johnston, Campbell, Buchanan (McGovern), Piaskowski (Cunningham), Borthwick, Paterson (Honjigawa), Jackson (Hurst), Rogers, Wilkins. Subs not used: Fraser.