Match Report: Hearts Women triumph over Partick Thistle

The girls flew out the traps and were in complete control by the interval thanks to goals from Georgia Timms and Katie Rood. The hosts came back into the contest in the second half and although they halved the deficit through Cheryl McCulloch, Hearts stood firm to hold on to the 3 precious points that maintain their 7-point lead in 4th spot.

Eva Olid made four changes from the side that thumped Hamilton 5-0 at Oriam a fortnight ago, as Gwen Davies, Jenny Smith, Vyan Sampson and Ciara Grant all returned to the starting 11.

The girls started well and took a deserved lead after just nine minutes through Georgia Timms. A clever, clearly pre-rehearsed, free kick was taken by Grant, who slid Timms in at the near post and the striker kept her cool to fire the ball low into the net and put Hearts ahead.

Hearts weren’t allowing Thistle any time on the ball and as they have done all season under Olid, have tried to make the pitch as big as possible and try to play football.

The second goal was coming and Timms almost provided it on 21 minutes, but her strike was cleared off the line.

11 minutes from the interval, Hearts did deservedly double their advantage. Timms was again involved and this time she turned provider after good work down the right, she crossed for her strike partner, Katie Rood, who tapped in from close range.

There was no let-up from Hearts, and they almost added a wonderful third just before the break. Timms again was causing chaos with her combination of speed and strength and after neat exchanges involving Rood, Monica Forsyth and Cailin Michie. Timms’ low drive was well saved by Megan Cunningham.

Into the second half, and the game continued in a similar fashion with Hearts dominating possession and limiting Thistle to very little from open play.

Michie has had quite an impact in midfield since joining Hearts in October and the midfielder almost sealed the points in style seven minutes into the second half. She received the ball 25-yards out and let fly and with Cunningham beaten, the crossbar came to Thistle’s rescue.

The home side had looked a threat from set plays all game, so it was no surprise to see their route back into the game came from a free kick. Hearts didn’t make first contact and Cheryl McCulloch sent a looping header past Parker-Smith to haul Thistle back into the contest just after the hour mark.

It was not pretty after that, but the girls dealt well with the physicality and directness of the Jags and held on for a deserved victory to see out 2022.

Partick Thistle: Cunningham, Murphy, McCulloch, Falconer, Docherty, Canavan, McLintock, Donaldson, Bulloch, Taylor, Henderson

Subs: Ramsay, Slater, McGowan, Hamill, Terry, Adams, Ferguson, Robinson, Fisher

Hearts: Parker-Smith, Brownlie, Hunter, Grant, Forsyth (Rennie, 62), Timms, Smith, Sampson, Rood, G. Davies, Michie

Subs: Rodgers, Penman, Anderson, Rennie, McAllister, Handley, E. Davies, Connor, Cowan