(photos courtesy of Craig Doyle)

Jocky Lawrence hailed Aberdeen’s “miracle” win after the women’s under-19s side beat Hearts to lift the SHAAP National Performance League Cup at Ravenscraig.

Eilidh McHattie’s goal after six minutes was enough to land the Dons the trophy.

However, they could have won it by much more in a dominant second half showing from the young Dons.

“It’s great considering where we’ve come from,” said Lawrence.

“The girls had no coach at the start of the season. I came in and basically we had to start from scratch.

“We weren’t expected to win any games or even compete with some of these teams, so to be unbeaten in the league and win a trophy by the end of June – it’s a miracle, an absolute miracle.

“Some of the girls had to get up at 5.30am to get down here. I think that probably told on some of the girls today, but you have to win the cup some way and beat the best teams.

“We can’t thank the players enough for their efforts for the last three or four months, they’ve been brilliant.”

After seeing off Rangers and Celtic on their way to the final, the Dons arrived in Lanarkshire as firm favourites.

Leading the National Performance League, they also enjoyed a 4-1 win over Hearts seven days before the final.

And the Dons didn’t take long to get their noses in front. Goalkeeper India Marwaha got to Eilidh McHattie’s shot but couldn’t keep it out.

But Hearts began to threaten from set pieces with Maisy Hathaway sending a free-kick into the side netting, while twice they headed over from corner kicks.

Hearts had arguably edged the first 45 minutes despite the one-goal deficit, but Aberdeen stepped it up a gear in the second half.

Hannah Innes thought she had doubled the lead when her free-kick crashed off the bar and bounced down. The referee, however, ruled it hadn’t crossed the line.

Then McHattie’s through ball sent Nadia Sopel’s clear, but she fired straight at the goalkeeper. Bailley Collins forced another save soon after followed by Ellen Reid holding off her marker before going close from a tight angle.

They couldn’t find the second goal to kill the game off and in time added on a soft free-kick gave Hearts the chance to send everyone into the box. An astonishing goalmouth scramble had the Dons throwing bodies on the line to block every shot, but it was as close as the Jambos would get.

Aberdeen team: Pratt, Rogers, Collins, Broadrick, Whittingham, Sopel, McHattie, Innes, Cooper, Shane, Jones.

Subs: Reid, Hewitt, Park, Dalgetty.