By Stephen Bark
Glasgow City gave retiring hero Clare Shine a fitting send off at Petershill Park as they recorded a 2-0 win over Heart of Midlothian.
An early Jenna Clark goal was followed up by a second-half strike from Lauren Davidson as the hosts extended their 100% start to the SWPL season to six matches.
City made two changes to the team which defeated Hibs before the international break with Shine, in her 106th appearance, and Clare Walsh coming in for Kinga Kozak and Meikayla Moore.
The home side started the match well and earned an early corner when Shine’s curling effort from the edge of the D was well saved by Charlotte Parker-Smith.
Hearts initially defended the corner well but the ball broke to Shine who played it wide for Hayley Lauder and her cross was glanced into the back of the net by Clark.
City controlled the first half well and had chances to extend their lead. Clark played Priscila Chinchilla through on the edge of the box but her shot was saved well.
A free-kick just before the half hour was struck into the wall by Davidson but the ball spun into the path of Clark who set up Shine and her goal-bound effort was blocked.
As half time approached, Shine crossed for Emily Whelan but the ball was flicked out her path by a defender and into the path of Lauder but her shot flew over the crossbar.
Hearts best chance of the half fell to Jennifer Smith just before half time as she took a dig from range which went wide of Erin Clachers’ goal.
The away side started the second half better and created an early chance to equalise when Ciara Grant set up Katie Rood but her effort was well held by Clachers.
However, at the other end, Chinchilla cut the ball back for Lauder who set up Shine to blast one from the edge of the area only to be denied by the crossbar. It then broke out wide for Davidson to play it back across but Shine could only fire over.
It didn’t long into the second 45 for City to double their lead. Lauder’s slide rule pass down the wing found Davidson and her miss-hit cross slipped under the goalie.
Davidson then had the chance to extend the City lead as she cut in from left and curled one from the edge of the area but Parker-Smith was equal to it.
Hearts best chance of the second half came when they won a free-kick right on the edge of the box with 20 minutes to play. Up stepped Ciara Grant and her curling effort went just over the crossbar.
With 76 minutes on the clock, Shine was substituted to a standing ovation as Aliyaah Allie came on for her City debut.
Hearts did fashion one final opportunity when Georgia Timms set up substitute Aimee Anderson but Clachers produced a good stop to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Match Information
Team Lines
Glasgow City: Clachers, Muir, Lauder, Walsh, Fulton (Warrington 86), Shine (Allie 76), Whelan, Clark, Davidson, Chinchilla (Greening 61), Foley. Subs not used: Gibson, A. Grant, Gibb, Moore, Wright, Noble.
Heart of Midlothian: Parker-Smith, Rolandsen (Anderson 70), Brownlie, Hunter, C. Grant, Timms, Smith, E. Rennie (Aitchison 82), McAllister (G. Davies 59), Sampson, Rood (Cowan 70). Subs not used: B. Rennie, Handley, E. Davies.
Scorers
Glasgow City: Clark 9’, Davidson 66’
Referee Ryan Kennedy
Stadium: Petershill Park