Hearts Woman secure SWPL2 League title at Tynecastle

Ashley Carse and Rachel Walkingshaw. Photo: Alistair Linford

Hearts Women secured the Scottish Building Society SWPL 2 title after a 3-0 victory over Partick Thistle at Tynecastle.

A Danni McGinley brace and Rachel Walkingshaw effort in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 secured the club their first-ever league championship and promotion to Scottish women’s football’s top flight next season.

The Jambos only needed a point to clinch the title but ended up finishing six points clear of nearest challengers Hamilton, who lost 1-0 at Kilmarnock.

Walkingshaw settled the nerves after 19 minutes with an astute lob from 25 yards that sailed over the head of Thistle goalkeeper Nicolle Andrews.

The home side’s second arrived on the hour mark with McGinley showing great strength to hold off a defender before sliding the ball into the bottom corner.

And the former Forfar striker added a third with a neat finish to cap off the perfect afternoon in Gorgie.

“All we had to do was get a point to make sure of it but we wanted to win the game,” head coach Andy Enwood said. “Watching the girls’ faces makes it all the more worth it and seeing them with the trophy. It’s been three years hard work but it’s all come to fruition. We’ve stuck together through some difficult times and got our rewards.

“We want to go and compete in SWPL 1 but we’ll enjoy this first before we start to think about next year. It’s been the perfect way to end what has been a brilliant season.”

Goalscorer McGinley added: “It was a slow game to start with, maybe showing our nerves a little given what was at stake. I’m delighted with the goals. It’s absolutely amazing to win the title. I have only been here a short time so I can only imagine what it means to the girls who have been here for considerably longer.

“It was great to play in front of such a big crowd. It was only when the game kicked off you started to realise just how many people were there. It was incredible.”

Meanwhile, Hibs Ladies finished runners-up in SWPL 1 following their 4-1 win at

Forfar while Spartans rounded of their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Rangers at Ainslie Park. Hutchison Vale went down 10-0 to St Johnstone.

Hearts: Mutch, Delworth, Williamson (Kidd 85), Cunningham, Walkingshaw (Mason 73), J Smith, McGinley (Carse 85), Brill-Edwards (Smith 82), Pagliarulo, Kaney, Maughan (Evans 68). Subs: Parker-Smith, Hunter.

Partick Thistle: Andrews (Caddel 43), Ross, Ranes, Bisland (Hawksworth 67), McGlashan (Morris 85), Donnelly (Lyle 67), Mallon (Murray 76), Gallacher, McLeod, Christie, Rigden. Subs: Richardson, Paterson.

Attendance: 1,050.