Hearts secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Rangers at Oriam on Sunday.
A quick-fire brace from Georgia Timms and a header from skipper Georgia Hunter had Hearts 3-0 up in the first half.
Despite a reply from Kathryn Hill and a second half strike from Mia Macualay for 3-2, the Jambos secured a huge three points and went above Rangers to go 4th in the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League.
Eva Olid made two changes from the 5-1 victory over Aberdeen at Balmoral Stadium before the international break.
Jess Husband replaced Monica Forsyth while Joely Andrews came in for Bayley Hutchison.
Hearts started the match on the front foot and looked to go at Rangers from the off.
In the 5th minute, Hearts were awarded a penalty after Carly Johns was brought down by Rangers goalkeeper Jenna Fife.
Her strike partner Georgia Timms stepped up and dispatched her penalty into the bottom left corner for 1-0.
The attacker got her second not long after. Johns played a brilliant through ball to set Timms down the left wing and into the box. She hit a low strike on her left foot to find the far corner to make it 2-0.
Rangers looked to utilise the space down the left to hurt the Jambos. McAulay sent in the cross and found Berry in the box who chopped on to her left foot and struck one, but her effort went wide of the left hand post.
The women in maroon made it three in the 31st minute. Jenna Slattery floated her free-kick from 40 yards to the back post and captain Georgia Hunter arrived to power the header home past Fife for 3-0.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 41st minute. McAulay sent in the cross from the left and Kathryn Hill rose the brightest to head it home into the bottom left corner for 3-1.
Half-time: Hearts 3-1 Rangers
Rangers were buoyed by their goal before the break and looked to go at Hearts to start the second 45, and looked far more threatening throughout the half.
Katie Wilkinson fired in a dangerous cross from the right but Johnstone did well to claim it.
The visitors made their pressure count not long after. In the 49th minute
McAuley dribbled down the left wing into the box, she cut on to her right foot and slotted home into the bottom right corner for 3-2.
They nearly found the equaliser through Wilkinson’s curled free kick from the edge of the box which nearly caught out Johnstone, but the goalkeeper was able to keep it from crossing the line.
Rachael Johnstone came up big in the second half to deny Rangers their equaliser, making several key saves.
In the end, Hearts got themselves over the line to secure the victory and recorded their second ever win over Rangers.
Hearts: Johnstone, J. Husband, E. Husband, Hunter © (Ypema, 65’), Shore, Timms, Wade (Forsyth, 46’), Waldie, Andrews (Hutchison, 86’), Johns, Slattery (Adamolekun, 64’)
Subs: Thomson, Ypema, Forsyth, Adamolekun, Jardine, Halliday, Hutchison
Rangers: Fife, Docherty ©, Eddie, Hill, Sabajo, Mcaulay, Austin, Berry, Cruft, McLeary, Wilkinson
Subs: Ivarstoddir, Pegram, Rafferty, Lafaix, Connolly-Jackson
