With Hearts thumping 4-1 winners over Celtic at the Oriam and Rangers beating Partick Thistle 1-0, it means there are just four points left in the top four, with Eva Olid’s side breathing down the neck of a City side who have now lost consecutive SWPL matches after going unbeaten before their league defeat to Rangers ten days ago.
Adams’ goal came after she lifted the ball over Lee Gibson from outside the area, but City were frustrated as there appeared to be a foul in the lead-up to the goal.
In Edinburgh, Hearts surprised a Celtic team that played most of the second half with a numerical disadvantage after Maddie Wilde was sent off. She was ejected early in the second half for a handball on the line while trying to block a shot.
At that point, Celtic were already losing 2-0. Celtic goalkeeper Lisa Rodgers was unable to repel a cross from the left when her attempted strike took the ball into her own goal just three minutes before half-time. Things got worse for Celtic a few minutes later when Erin Husbnad doubled Hearts’ lead.
The narrative continued after the break with a third goal from the penalty spot following Wilde’s handball and red card. Georgia Timms duly took the penalty.
Saoirse Noonan scored a goal for Celtic to briefly give them hope, and had another goal denied for a foul in the build-up, before Carly Johns secured the points for Hearts’ victory with a fierce strike.
It is Grant Scott’s biggest defeat since taking charge of Celtic in January.
Rangers bounced back from their Sky Sports Cup defeat with a 1-0 win over Partick Thistle with Kim Shin-Ji, in tears on Sunday afternoon, scoring the only goal of the game.
Leanne Crichton’s side are in third place, just two points behind City and two points ahead of Celtic, who they face on Monday night at New Douglas Park.
