Hearts Women got their SWPL title defence underway with a dominant 6-0 victory over Aberdeen Women at The Vanloq Community Stadium on Sunday.
The Champions were given a guard of honour, prior to kick-off and they were at it from the first whistle, with new club captain, Lauren Wade, drawing a smart from Katie O’Hanlon, after good work from Kayla Jardine inside the opening two minutes.
O’Hanlon would’ve expected a busy afternoon between the sticks, and she was again called into action, this time to gather a shot from Ellen Dolan, with Jardine again the architect.
The game burst into life in the 13th minute, when O’Hanlon played a poor pass, which was intercepted by Carly Johns, who had no issue slamming the ball into the back of the net to get her campaign up and running for the new season.
No sooner had the game got back underway, the Jambos had their second. O’Hanlon took too long on the ball and summer signing Mariana Speckmaier was able to capitalise, nipping in to slot home and double the Jambos’ lead.
Hearts continued to ramp up the pressure on the Aberdeen goal with Kayla Jardine driving down the left, before cutting inside and taking a shot which rattled the crossbar, before Carly Girasoli and Johns both spurned chances to extend the advantage.
As the clock ticked down to half-time, Hearts got their third as Jessica Husband whipped in a ferocious corner and Ellen Dolan was there to plant a header past O’Hanlon and send the down the tunnel with a convincing lead.
Half-time: Hearts 3-0 Aberdeen
Hearts started the second half the way they ended the first half as Jess Husband saw her shot from distance sail over the bar.
The one-way traffic continued, as on the hour mark, Jardine carried the ball up the left flank and floats in a brilliant ball which landed right at the feet of Jenny Smith to arrow the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.
In the 83rd minute Ellen Dolan played a killer through ball into the path of Ava Crawford, which the 16-year-old Academy Graduate, slammed into the bottom corner for her first SWPL goal.
Hearts would then wrap up a dominant afternoon in Pilton as Lauren Wade’s corner was met by Speckmaier, for her second of the afternoon and the Jambos’ sixth, rounding off a convincing opening day win for Andy Thomson’s side.
Full-time: Hearts 6-0 Aberdeen
Next up is a trip to K Park to take on Motherwell in SWPL action. Kick-off is at 4pm on Sunday.
Hearts: 52. Rachael Johnstone, 3. Jessica Husband, 4. Erin Husband,5. Carly Girasoli, 8. Mairead Fulton, 9. Mariana Speckmaler, 10. Carly Johns, 11. Lauren Wade ©, 12. Ellen Dolan, 14. Kayla Jardine, 15. Jennifer Smith
Substitutes: 25. Emma Thomson, 6. Erin Rennie, 7. Monica Forsyth, 18. Keri Halliday, 19. Ava Crawford, 20. Kate Fraser, 23. Ashley Robertson, 26. Ebonie Locke, 33. Toni Campbell
Aberdeen: 1. Katie O'Hanlon, 2. Briana Salvetti (Regmi 63’), 4. Lola Nesbeth (Watt 10’),5. Aimee Black, 6. Erin Carrol, 8. Piper Lea (Buhan 46’), 10. Soraya Walsh (Reid 62’), 11. Holly Daniel (Selbie 82’), 15. Maddie Finnie ©, 32. Piper Mayhew, 43. Selin Cemal
Substitutes: 12. Amber Signorini, 7. Mia Selbie, 17. Melissa Regmi, 21. Millie Buchan, 22. Iona Watt, 24. Emily Simpson, 25. Tyler Ferguson, 28. Olivia Reid
