It transpired to be an afternoon of reflection for the women of steel, as visitors Hearts punished Motherwell’s lack of conviction in the final third.
Former Motherwell starlet Kayla Jardine reintroduced herself to the K-Park faithful, netting against her former side with a precise header guided into the bottom-left corner. Less than a minute later, Hearts had a second in similar circumstances, with an enticing delivery into the box being directed onto the Motherwell crossbar before unfortunately ricocheting off of the back of Emily Mutch before nestling into the Motherwell goal.
Head Coach Paul Brownlie made four changes from the side that were defeated by title-chasers Rangers at Broadwood Stadium last weekend. Emily Mutch returned between the sticks, with striker Eilidh Austin, Shannon Leishman, and Sophie Black all returning to the starting Xi. Skipper Gill Inglis also returned to the matchday squad following a recent spell sidelined with injury.
Motherwell started firmly on the front foot, with countless opportunities on goal pinning the visitors deep into their own penalty area. Louisa Boyes’ swirling right-footed effort rattled the far post, with Bailley Collins also denied after going one-on-one with the Hearts stopper.
The midfielder then curled a hopeful strike moments later that fell agonisingly wide of the target.
Motherwell continued to dominate the majority of the first-half, but the visitors soon capitalised on Motherwell’s frustrations in the final third.
Monica Forsyth chipped a perfectly-weighted delivery from the left-flank across the Motherwell penalty area, and former Motherwell midfielder Kayla Jardine calmly dispatched a well-placed header into the bottom-left corner. Less than a minute later, Hearts had a second, with a similar delivery causing the Motherwell backline problems, and Hearts fortunately found the target after a deflection off the back of goalkeeper Emily Mutch.
Two-goals behind at the break after controlling much of the opening 45-minutes, Motherwell were forced to alter formation and try to chase the game. Hearts continued to press, and soon took full control of the contest. Striker Bailey Hutchinson converted a third moments into the second-half, with strike partner Olufolasade Adamolekun making it four before the hour-mark. Six-minutes later, Addison Handley calmly placed her strike into the bottom-right corner from around 12-yards out to make it five. After teeing up Jardine for the opening goal, Forsyth soon added her name to the scoresheet after coasting through the Motherwell backline, and placing her attempt under the on-rushing Emily Mutch.
Motherwell will have to quickly regroup before facing Glasgow City in the final home matchday at K-Park on Wednesday evening.