Match Report: Partick Thistle 0-1 Hearts

Eva Olid made two changes to the side that lost out to Celtic in the Scottish Cup last weekend, as Vyan Sampson and Aimee Anderson replaced Gwen Davies and Jenna Penman.

It was a first 45 of few chances and the best opportunity was arguably the earliest of the match, as Georgia Timms robbed Clare Docherty of possession and crossed for Smith, who didn’t connect as she would’ve liked, but still forced Megan Cunningham into an excellent save at full stretch.

Hearts continued to enjoy the lion share of possession, without creating anything of note.

As for the home side, their best opportunity arrived from a free kick. Charlotte Parker-Smith was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the box, but it came to nothing as Hearts threw bodies in the way and cleared their lines.

It hadn’t been a particularly entertaining first half and whatever Olid said at half-time, clearly had the desired effect as Hearts were ahead just three minutes into the second half.

Ciara Grant’s corner from the left was met by Emma Brownlie and her looping header was missed by Cunningham and Smith had the simplest of tasks of nodding the ball home from close range.

That goal had given Hearts a much-needed boost and there was much more zip to their play as they now went in search of a second goal.

Monica Forsyth has been like a new signing for Hearts after spending months on the side-lines last season and she almost doubled the Hearts advantage seven minutes later. She picked up a pocket of space 20-yards from goal and let fly, only to see her effort come back off the crossbar.

The Hearts advantage remained a slender one as the second half progressed and the Jambos survived a huge scare when Linzi Taylor’s free kick came back off the inside of the post with five minutes remaining.

It wasn’t pretty, but Hearts saw the game out to record a vital three points to move 11 clear in fourth spot.   

Partick Thistle: Cunningham, Slater, Falconer, Docherty, Donaldson, Bulloch, Taylor, Henderson, McGlashan, Ferguson, Longcake

Subs: Ramsay, Murphy, Adams, MacDonald, Dalziel, Robinson, Fisher

Hearts: Parker-Smith, Brownlie, Hunter ©, Grant, Forsyth, Timms, Smith (Rood, 79), Anderson (McAllister, 87), Rennie, Handley (G. Davies, 65), Sampson

Subs: Currie, Penman, McAllister, Rood, G. Davies, E. Davies, Cowan, Michie