Hearts would come from behind to beat Hibs in the latest Edinburgh Derby at Meadowbank Stadium.
Kathleen McGovern opened the scoring in a topsy-turvy affair within 80 seconds, before Lisa Robertson and Emma Brownlie second-half goals put the visitors ahead to secure all three points.
Building on the positive 3-0 victory over Motherwell last week, Grant Scott made just two changes from that side heading into the match. Kirsty Morrison and Tegan Bowie returned to the starting line-up, replacing Rosie Livingstone and Abbie Ferguson on both flanks.
Looking to start the match on the front foot, Hearts took a pot-shot directly from kick-off but Erin Clachers safely collected the long-range effort.
Despite their immediate threat, it was Hibs who quickly took the lead. With two minutes on the clock, McGovern had the Hibees ahead. A low cross from Michaela McAlonie from the left found the number 10 at the near post, who turned in a sublime backheel.
Scoring once against her former club, she nearly doubled that tally after quarter of an hour; forcing a save from Charlotte Parker-Smith after a delightful curling effort from the edge of the area.
Lauren Doran-Barr and winger Morrison also had further opportunities to open the scoring, with both their efforts whistling agonisingly wide of the mark.
On top for the majority of the first 45, Hibs should have extended their lead further. Intercepting a loose ball from the Hearts keeper, McGovern’s battling energy gave way to allow Bowie a pop at goal. Taking aim with her left foot from an acute position, her strike whizzed narrowly wide of the target.
Coming out for the second half, Hearts held the initiative. Incisive crosses from Lauren Wade and Lisa Robertson were quickly dispersed by Ellis Notley, with Hibs looking to maintain their narrow lead with slow build-up play going forward.
Latching onto a forward pass by Morrison, Bowie’s toe-poke should have bulged the net but Parker-Smith held firm to put herself directly into the line of fire to deny the winger once more.
Finding their footing, Lisa Robertson equalised for the visitors with a venomous strike into the bottom corner.
Kathleen McGovern responded immediately with a powerful header that rebounded off the crossbar, before Hearts raced up the other end — with Emma Brownlie’s swift dribble and strike snuck past Clachers to put the visitors in front just minutes after levelling.
The momentum now against them, Hibs were under severe pressure. Wade hit the post with a timed effort, before the visitors forced Clachers to come off her line to claim a succession of crosses.
Continuing to lead from the front, a rallying charge from McGovern resulted in two close opportunities to restore parity. Parker-Smith was forced into a stretch twice to deny the striker.
Heading into the final five minutes, Hibs looked increasingly agitated as Hearts continued to hold firm at the back — even after striker Eilidh Adams was welcomed onto the pitch.
Despite the added support up front, Hearts managed to hold on to secure the three points.
