Hearts crowned champions

15.10.2012

By Hearts News at Forester Park, Tranent

SWFL 2nd Division South East

Football Club of Edinburgh 1 Hearts 10

Scorers: Football Club of Edinburgh: To, 82; Hearts: Paterson 15, Wilson 17, Honjigawa 22, Piaskowski 26, 55, 62, Kidd 46, Anderson 64, Hunter 77, Fraser 83.

Hearts Women finally secured top spot in their regional division, taking the Second Division (south-east) title with a comprehensive victory over Football Club of Edinburgh.

The win, which adds to their divisional League Cup victory from earlier this season, now gives Hearts the chance to play off for a place in the second-top tier of Scottish women's football. The winners of four regional second divisions now compete for three places in the Scotland-wide First Division, the games provisionally scheduled for next Sunday.

The odds of taking the title had been in favour of Hearts since they secured a vital 0-0 draw against their nearest challengers, Spartans Reserves, three weeks ago.

With the venue for this all-important final fixture of the league card switched because of a water-logged pitch, Hearts enjoyed the early possession without being able to make the breakthrough. However, Megan Paterson set the ball rolling with a 16-yard effort - Hearts' 100th league goal of the campaign.

Paterson and her central defensive partner Grete Wilson have contributed enormously to a parsimonious record that, by the end of this contest, totalled just five goals conceded.

And Hearts went 2-0 up when Wilson - given a more forward role when it became clear that FC Edinburgh were deploying just the one player up front - smashed a shot into the top-left corner from the right corner of the 18-yard box.

More goals soon followed, including a stunning volley from 22 yards by substitute Eve Hunter. Goal No. 3 came via a Kiyomi Honjigawa header, while No. 4 was essentially a tap-in for Gemma Piaskowski - who was to go on to net a hat-trick.

4-0 at half-time was soon five when Kara Kidd got her head to a corner just seconds after the re-start. Among the remainder of the goals, Anderson was released by a diagonal pass by Kirsten Reilly to make it eight, while Emmelie Young poked a low, right-footed cross for Piaskowski to do the needful at the near post. The hat-trick was a low shot, to the goalkeeper's right.

Almost the best was kept until last, when the always clever Lauren Fraser clipped an audacious chip from 23 yards.
But, credit to FC Edinburgh, they never gave up and were rewarded with a notable fact: while Hearts have conceded only five goals in the league, two - one from each of their league encounters - have been netted by FC Edinburgh.

On this occasion, a fantastic first touch allowed Debbi To to charge in on the Hearts goal from almost the half-way line, the move finished with a delicate dink over Lorna Esson.

At the end of the game, the Scottish FA's Sheila Begbie was on hand to dispense the league medals and the divisional trophy.

It was certainly a week to treasure for Hearts, its U13 side having negotiated its way to the final of their Scottish Cup competition to previous day. They, like their older counterparts, are also their divisional League Cup winners.

Says chair, Margaret Milne: "It's been a fantastic season and I would look to extend my congratulations to all the players and the coaching staff. We can't wait for the women taking part in the play-offs; it's a great challenge that I am sure the players will rise to, as they have throughout their campaign.

"To have scored 109 goals and conceded only five in the league tells its own story. And it's great to see our age-group sides also prosper this season. The U13s were a joy to behold in their Scottish Cup semi-final at Ravenscraig.

"As well as the parents and coaching staff, I'd like to thank our sponsors. We are particularly grateful to our main sponsor, Independent Plant Services Ltd, with additional sponsorship from Charlie Irons Coaches; also Kevin Mauriello at Baberton Building Services, along with MSL (Scotland) Ltd, MKM Building Supplies and ASC Ltd."

Football Club of Edinburgh (r-to-l): Taylor; Mansfield, Cupin, Jordan, Conner; Martin (Davidson 66), Redpath (Thomson 66), Sandilands (Rafferty 85), Hyett (c), Bonamino (MacDonald 66); To (Scragg 85).

Hearts (r-to-l): Esson; Young (Hogg 79), Paterson (c), Wilson, Preston (Cunningham 60); Anderson, Fraser, Reilly, Honjigawa (Buchanan 68); Kidd (Hunter 68), Piaskowski (McGovern 79).

Hearts World