The Gers took a while to find their groove, but they showed their class and quality as the game progressed as hat-tricks for Katie Wilkinson and Eilidh Austin, supplemented by strikes from Saoirse Coyle Morrow and Laura Berry, sealed their place in the fourth round.
Speaking to RangersTV after the victory, she commented: “We’re pleased ultimately to progress in the cup, which was our first objective.
“The first half performance wasn’t where we wanted it to be. I know it’s always tough coming back off the international break – we’ve not had a lot of time together as a team – and it’s always challenging to a point, but I just felt the way we moved the ball in the first half was nowhere near the levels that we really wanted it to be, albeit we had the cushion of the scoreline.
“I thought the second half was much, much better. There was more urgency and quality, which was more like ourselves.
“The rhythm was there [in the second half]. We had more patience in possession.
“I felt in the first half we were probably chasing goals too much and we just felt the importance of moving the ball forward far too much.
“We had more patience, perseverance, better control of the ball, and we picked our moments [in the second half].
“We created an awful lot and I felt the goals we scored in the second half were there, but we probably should have had another three or four more.
“Credit to Renfrew, who I thought were excellent today. They came here in really tough conditions and probably not knowing the type of challenge they were going to face. We had the same level of respect for them as we would for any other game this afternoon.”
On the impact of Austin, who netted her first Rangers hat-trick this afternoon while operating in a more advanced role, Crichton continued: “Eilidh has been excellent for us.
"She has been ticking away really nicely, taking her opportunity, and listening to everything that we ask from her and trying to put it into force.
“Her assists were there, and her contributions whether it’s defensively or in the final third, and that was the message today.
“We started her higher up the pitch to try and go refine that decision making in the final third, so there were opportunities to do that.
“In the second half we felt it would be better to drop her a bit deeper – she’s got that engine and speed – and she’s a real handful with the timing of her runs.
“I was delighted to see the ball hit the back of the net and it was a first hat-trick for her here. Those are the types of moments that you see the players enjoy it and for me it’s really fulfilling.”
The early rounds of the cup invariably provide an opportunity to showcase the Academy talent at the club, with Coyle Morrow and Phoebe O’Donnell introduced midway through the second half.
And the duo certainly made the Gers faithful inside Broadwood sit up and take notice, with O’Donnell providing dynamism down the right-hand side and Coyle Morrow netting her first senior goal with a fantastic strike.
Crichton added: “It was great for the players who came into the game in terms of managing the squad.
“I thought Saoirse and Phoebe came in and done well in the second half; two young players who we’re looking to bring through from the Academy.
“They’re giving us everything and really enhancing the group, which is so pleasing for us as a staff group to see.
“They are seizing the opportunity, and ultimately really pleased that we now progress.”
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