In an even start, the Gers got a foothold in the game thanks to two first half goals from Katie Wilkinson and Laura Berry to put the visitors two ahead at the interval.
They controlled the second half without too many clear openings at either end, with Shin Ji scoring directly from a corner to round off the scoring in the team’s final fixture of 2025.
Leanne Crichton’s side headed into their match at the Balmoral Stadium off the back of five victories in a row and looking to end the year on a high, with the Head Coach naming an unchanged starting lineup to the one that defeated Partick Thistle seven days prior.
Having made such a fast start in their last outing, that was the target for the visitors once again, but they were halted to just maintaining safe possession inside the opening exchanges at the home of Cove Rangers.
The Gers did have their first effort goalwards following a short corner. Shin Ji Kim combined with Jodi McLeary, with the South Korea international firing an effort goalwards on her left side from a tight angle but saw the shot blocked.
At the other end, the hosts looked to post a threat on the counter attack and almost had an opening themselves. A promising run from Mya Christie over the top saw the forward get in behind as she looked for former Gers youth player Abi Tobin on the opposite flank, but the covering Eilidh Austin just about did enough to prevent the danger round on the cover.
Minutes later, the away side had their best opening of the game after 12 minutes. Shin Ji the creator this time, her defence splitting pass found Quinty Sabajo well placed inside the box, but goalkeeper Katie Cox did well to narrow the angle and stop the chipped effort.
Rangers really came to life just past the quarter-hour mark as Katie Wilkinson went close on two back-to-back occasions. Crichton’s side won it high, as Shin Ji found Laura Berry well placed, the two forwards looked to combine as they did seven days ago, but the number 44’s effort was well saved initially by Cox before an even better stop followed on the rebound.
Aberdeen were having their moments at the other end and did threaten to break the deadlock themselves. In a role reversal, it was Tobin who seeked out Christie as she made the first contact inside the box, but the effort flew just over Jenna Fife’s crossbar.
It was Mia McAulay who was next to go close as the game was lively from the off before the away side did make one of their openings count to go in front in Cove. An early theme of the match saw Rangers consistently win the ball high and this time they got their reward. Wilkinson was found inside the area and slotted the ball beyond Cox into the near post to put the away side ahead.
A second shortly arrived and it was a moment of class from Shin Ji to setup Berry. A great turn and through ball in the final third from the midfielder set the Scotland Under-19’s international free in behind as she calmly finished the ball beyond the shot stopper to double the advantage and give Rangers a foothold in the game.
The goals really seemed to settle Rangers down as they took full control of proceedings. Getting in down the sides on several occasions, there were further chances for both Wilkinson and Berry, but both were denied by an inspired Cox who was having an impressive game between the Aberdeen posts.
After going in at 2-0 at the break, the Gers looked to start on the front foot and pull further ahead in the contest. Berry was quick to react and close down a kickout from Cox, but after nicking it high she was forced wide before trying to find a teammate inside the area, but the goalkeeper did well to recover and gather.
The away side went within an inch of adding to their lead after some effective build-up play. A clever pass from Wilkinson round the corner found Austin in behind and her cross was almost turned goal bound by Berry on the stretch. From the following corner, and with help from the windy conditions, Shin Ji’s delivery evaded everyone and found the back of the net without a touch, with there now being clear daylight between the teams as the Gers found a third.
Both sides turned to their substitutes bench as the game went a bit at the Balmoral Stadium. The Light Blues were firmly in control with the three-goal advantage and their opponents posing little danger to their goal, as they probed and looked to add to their advantage.
Eilidh Austin, who had been in good goalscoring form of late tried her luck after a long period with no efforts on goal. Cutting in from the right-back position her effort was well struck but flew wide of the post to the keeper’s right.
Few further chances arrived at either end, as the Gers signed off for the calendar year with victory and are now not back on the pitch until January 11 when they entertain Kilmarnock in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
ABERDEEN: Cox, Broadrick, Black (Galloway, 66), Stewart (Daniel, 66), Ogilvie, Finnie (Clarke, 79), Illijoski, Thomson, Tobin, Christie, Beattie (Miller, 66),
SUBS: Prawer, Mendez, Noble, McEvoy, Carrol
RANGERS: Fife, Austin (O’Donnell, 81), Pegram, Rafferty, Docherty (Connolly-Jackson, 66), McLeary (Cruft, 45), Shin Ji, Sabajo (Lafaix, 66), Berry, McAulay, Wilkinson (Mengwen, 58)
SUBS: Ivarsdottir, Coyle Morrow
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