Hearts 3 Aberdeen Women 0 ScottishPower Women’s Premier League Sunday 15 September 2024 | 3.00PM Oriam
Aberdeen fell to a 3-0 defeat against Hearts at Oriam, with all the goals coming in the second half.
The Dons made just one change from last weekend’s draw with Dundee United, Hannah Innes coming into the side in place of Nicola Jamieson.
While Hearts had much of the opening possession and territory, it was Aberdeen who presented with the first golden opportunity. A mix up at the back meant Emily Kraft beat Johnstone to a long ball, and knocked it past her, but she could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
Timms had an opportunity soon after when a cross from Richards found her feet at the back post, but Niamh Noble closed the angle well she too saw her effort go the wrong side of the post.
Timms and former Don Shore then combined, with the latter putting in a dangerous low cross, but Innes was there to clear for a corner. Three further corners followed, a swirling wind proving mischievous, but eventually Waldie’s header went wide.
On the half hour mark Richards’ cross from the left was met on the penalty spot by Andrews, but her shot was comfortably wide of Megan Sidey’s left post.
Two minutes later it was Timms who found her target with the cross from the right, but another ex-Don, Hutchison, headed over the bar from the six yard line.
In the 37th minute Kraft combined with Innes, who took on an audacious effort on the bounce from 30 yards out, but it sailed wide of Johnstone’s goal.
A minute later a long ball was headed into Aberdeen’s box by Andrews and brought down by Shore, but Sidey produced a strong diving save high to her left to keep the scores level.
Aberdeen’s defence were being regularly tested but stood tall, Edwards the next to put in a timely challenge when Richards looked to be through on goal. From the resulting corner, Hearts worked the ball into the box where Shore headed onto the roof of the net.
Half-time Hearts 0-0 Aberdeen.
An early second half corner for Aberdeen resulted in a scramble on the six yard line involving Kraft, but Hearts managed to get the ball away.
The home side took the lead in the 53rd minute. A cross from Wade was hit goalwards by Timms and cleared off the line by Finnie, but Andrews was on hand to find Sidey’s right corner from the edge of the box.
Another big chance fell to Adamolekun in the 55th minute, but her shot was blocked for a corner. The second did come from the set-piece though, with Timms’ low header finding the bottom corner.
Aberdeen were nearly back in four minutes later when Noble found Gover from the by-line, but she dragged her shot wide under pressure.
Adamolekun then picked up on a loose pass and put Timms through on goal, but her shot from the edge of the box didn’t find the target.
Timms found the net for a second time in the 66th minute after Aberdeen couldn’t clear their box, but this time it was pulled back as she was offside.
In the 75th minute Black’s ball down the right channel was picked up by Ogilvie, who stepped inside and shot, but a deflection took most of the power of it and it was held by Johnstone.
A minute later Wade was put through on goal eight yards out, but Sidey closed the angle well and saved smartly with her right foot.
Adamolekun then weaved her way into a shooting position just inside the box, but Sidey got down low to her left to make a good save, and though Shore found the net with the rebound she was offside.
Timms’ backheel then found Shore on the penalty spot as Hearts pressed hard for a third, but Edwards got out well and made the block.
The third came in the 83rd minute when Adamolekun turned in Jessica Husband’s cutback, placing it into the bottom corner.
Aberdeen nearly replied instantly through Eva Thomson when she picked up a loose pass just outside the box, but her curling effort went narrowly wide. Ogilvie took on a long-range effort that Hannah Stewart was almost able to turn in, but Johnstone just got to the ball first.
Wade then looked certain to score Hearts’ fourth from the left, but her effort came back out off the post.
Wade hit the woodwork again with the last real opportunity, this time hitting the crossbar from distance.
Full-time Hearts 3-0 Aberdeen.
STATS
Hearts: Johnstone, Brownlie, Robertson, Forsyth (J Husband 62), Shore, Timms, Waldie, Andrews (Jardine 80), Hutchison (Wade 45), E. Husband, Richards (Adamolekun 45)
Substitutes: Parker-Smith, Ilijoski, Wade, Jardine, Greenwood, Adamolekun, J.Husband, Broadrick
Aberdeen: Sidey, Edwards, Noble, Gover, Stewart, Ogilvie, Finnie, Innes (Jameison 62), Thomson, Kraft (McEvoy 80), Black
Substitutes: McCann, Bruce, Jameison, Miller, McEvoy, MacLean, Elder
