Spartans 3-0 Hearts: Debbi McCulloch happy despite "bad" performance

Match report and reaction from Ainslie Park

Debbi McCulloch labelled Spartans’ performance as “bad”, but was happy to see her side beat Edinburgh rivals Hearts 3-0 and remain fourth in SWPL 1.

A cracker from Ronaigh Douglas and second half strikes from Kat Smart and Michaela McAlonie eventually killed off a stubborn Hearts.

And bottom-of-the-table Hearts had to finish the game with striker Lia Tweedie in goal, after goalkeeper Charlotte Parker-Smith was sent off with 10 minutes to go.

“If we can play as bad as that but win 3-0 then I am going to go home happy,” McCulloch told Anyone’s Game.

“I don’t think it was our best performance today, the game was a bit scrappy and we made far too many individual errors for my liking. Hearts are a good team”

She added: “I felt it was always going to be a positive result for us, I felt we dominated and controlled the game especially in the second half.”

Spartans now face another Edinburgh derby on Wednesday as they big to hold off Hibernian in the battle for fourth place.

It was an evenly matched start to the game, but Spartans took the lead when Douglas let rip from 30 yards to leave Parker-Smith with no chance; the ball cannoning down off the bar and in.

But Hearts were dogged and determined. Tweedie and Georgia Hunter went close, with Spartans Bobbie Beveridge clearing the latter’s effort off the line.

Spartans had the ball in the net for a second time through Galbraith after some wonderful passing between McAlonie then Louise Mason, only for her to be flagged offside.

Home captain Alana Marshall looped a free kick off the bar with Parker-Smith beaten before the break.

It was 2-0 when Parker-Smith got a hand to the corner but could only push it to Smart who smashed home.

And the goalkeeper was out of luck again when she was sent off after taking down Galbraith.

From the resulting free-kick Spartans made it three. McAlonie hit a fierce drive past despairing Tweedie.

Spartans had the ball in the net for a final time when Galbraith nodded home Marshall’s free kick but Tweedie was adjudged to be fouled when coming for the ball.

Player of the match - Michaela McAlonie

McAlonie was superb for Spartans; great range of passing, lovely turn and pass to set up a move for Galbraith’s disallowed goal in first half, if she lost the ball she won it back. She capped a fine display with fierce drive for Spartans third.