Hearts Women beat Hibernian Women 2-1 in the Edinburgh Derby at Meadowbank Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The women in maroon conceded early on after Kathleen McGovern put Hibs ahead, but two goals in three minutes in the second half from Lisa Robertson and captain Emma Brownlie sealed a massive comeback victory for Hearts.
Eva Olid made four changes from the 4-0 away defeat against Rangers at Ibrox Stadium. Charlotte Parker-Smith, Addison Handley, Joely Andrews and Monica Forsyth all came into the team.
The Jambos struggled in the first half, as Hibs dominated the possession and made it difficult for Hearts to play out from the back.
In the 2nd minute, Michaela McAlonie whipped in a dangerous low ball to the near post and Kathleen McGovern flicked the ball past Charlotte Parker-Smith for 1-0.
Joely Andrews had a decent opportunity to equalise in the 20th minute. She went on a brilliant run down the left wing and drove into the Hibs penalty area, she eventually got a strike away which was saved well by Erin Clachers and was cleared from danger.
Moments later, the ball was whipped into the feet of Emma Brownlie in the penalty area, who hit a first time strike on her right foot, but didn’t get the connection she wanted as it was scuffed over the bar.
Hibs could have made it 2-0 in the 38th minute. Parker-Smith looked to play out from the back for Hearts, but had her pass cut out by Tegan Bowie. The midfielder looked to lob the ball over the head of the goalkeeper from the edge of the area, but instead hit the side netting.
Half-time: Hibs 1-0 Hearts
Hearts were revitalised after the break, and began to put the Hibs defence under pressure.
Half-time substitute Lauren Wade undoubtedly changed the game for the Jambos.
In the 47th minute, Wade sprinted down the left wing and fired across a dangerous cut back into the box which found Bayley Hutchison. Her first time strike on her right foot went wide of the post.
Up the other end, Parker-Smith was called into action. The ball was crossed in from the right which found Bowie who struck from close range, but was denied brilliantly by the right boot of the Hearts goalkeeper.
The Jambos would have their equaliser not long after. In the 60th minute, Wade got down the left again and passed it into the feet of Lisa Robertson who hit a brilliant first time strike on her left foot to slot one past Clachers into the bottom left corner for 1-1.
Hearts went ahead only a few minutes later. Georgia Timms was able to split the Hibs defence and play skipper Emma Brownlie into the box. She showed great composure to take a touch and struck past Clachers into the bottom right corner for 2-1.
Lauren Wade could have made it 3-1 in the 66th minute. The ball was played to the winger at the edge of the box, she hit a first time strike from a tight angle which hit the right hand post and somehow stayed out.
In the 76th minute, McGovern was played in behind the Hearts backline and managed to get a low strike away on her right foot, which forced a great save from Parker-Smith to protect the lead for the Jambos.
The women in maroon managed the game brilliantly to deny the possibility of a late fightback from Hibs.
It was a proud moment for Izzy Young, who came on to replace Georgia Timms in the 90th minute to make her first team debut for Hearts.
The full-time whistle was blown as Hearts secured the Edinburgh derby bragging rights and a massive three points in the post-split.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, manager Eva Olid said:
“The game didn't start as we expected because they man marked us and that was not in the game plan, and because of that we were a little disorganised.
“I wanted to give this message to the players but it was difficult during the game, we could transmit some information, but we had to wait until half-time. At half-time we adapted and changed tactically and it worked really well in the second-half."
The manager was pleased to see both Lisa Robertson and Emma Brownlie get on the scoresheet.
“They are key players for us and and obviously they are not attackers, they are more defensive and that shows that everyone can score and we need that. It’s not just the responsibility of the strikers. I’m so happy for them.
“It’s not easy to concede in the first two minutes. We went back and we fight and we believe.
“We spoke this week in training because we know if we conceded first it would be difficult. We have to fight if we are winning, if we are losing, we have to keep fighting until the end.”
Hibs: Clachers, Papadopoulous, Grant, McAlonie, McGovern, Notley ©, Doran-Barr, Bowie, Morrison, Taylor, Reilly
Subs: Armitage, Hunter, Ferguson, Adams, Livingstone, Gibb, Ramsay
Hearts: Parker-Smith, Brownlie ©, Robertson, Forsyth (Wade), Shore, Timms (Young 90’), Waldie, Ypema, Handley (J.Husband), Andrews (Powell 77’), Hutchison (Adamolekun 68’)
Subs: Johnstone, Wade, Jardine, Adamolekun, J. Husband, Powell, Young, Slattery
