Competition: Park’s Motor Group SWPL1
Match: AFC Women v Hearts Women
Venue: Balmoral Stadium
Kick Off: 16:00
Ticket News: Click here for ticket information.
TV Coverage:  Match highlights will be available on RedTV from 19:30 on Monday.
Social Media: Follow @AberdeenWomen on Twitter for in game updates and match reaction.

Aberdeen Women return to the Balmoral Stadium this Sunday after a week’s break due to the international fixtures. Jess Broadrick, Eva Thomson, Bailley Collins & Bayley Hutchison all featured for Scotland U19s in their recent games last week.

The Dons and Hearts have faced each other twice this season, with both games ending as high scoring encounters. It was Hearts who won the first match of the season 3-2 at the Balmoral Stadium but Aberdeen came out on top at the start of the year, winning 4-0 at The Oriam.

Emma Hunter and Gavin Beith’s side go into this match sitting in fifth spot in the league, two points above sixth placed Spartans with The Dons also having a game in hand over the side from Edinburgh. Emma Hunter looked ahead to Sunday’s match:

“We’ve got four of our five remaining matches away from home after Sunday so we are looking forward to enjoying being at home before that run begins.

“Today’s opponents are a very good young Heart of Midlothian side who have really improved as the season has gone on. Eva Olid’s team have already won here earlier in the campaign when they came from two goals behind to win 3-2 back in October.

“We managed to exact a wee bit of revenge for that loss when we travelled down to Edinburgh for the return fixture in January. Maria McAneny was sent off in the first half for Hearts and a really good performance from ourselves saw us run out 4-0 winners.

“To score four goals away from home is always very pleasing and I thought we played very well that day and showed a great attitude in what was our second game back after the winter break. It can be difficult to play against ten players at times but I thought we used our advantage well as two goals from Bayley Hutchison and one from Eilidh Shore in the second half added to Francesca Ogilvie’s first half opening goal.

“Today’s visitors have a great team of young players and you just have to look at the recent Scotland under-19 squad to see that. There were six Hearts players in Pauline Hamill’s squad for the games against Kazakhstan, Estonia and Kosovo. Aimee Anderson, Tegan Browning, Shona Cowan, Addie Handley, Rebecca McAllister and Maria McAneny are all regulars for their club with McAllister only arriving on-loan from Celtic in January.

“We had our own players representing their country in Pauline Hamill’s squad. Bayley Hutchison, Bailley Collins, Eva Thomson and Jessica Broadrick all featured in the matches over the recent international break. It was great to see some of them get their names of the scoresheet for their country too and of course Jessica is the Scotland captain at under-19 level.

“It should make for an exciting game having so much young talent on the pitch and with nine goals in the previous two games between the sides, I’m sure you’ll see an enjoyable game. The support has been terrific here all season and the players are really grateful for the backing that you continue to give them. They all want to end the season in positive fashion and they’ll be giving their all to get three points.”