RANGERS were knocked out of the Scottish Women’s Cup this afternoon after an Old Firm defeat in Airdrie.
Clarissa Larisey gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half before Demi Vance drew Rangers level. However, Chloe Craig’s goal 15 minutes from time proved to be the difference.
Malky Thomson named four changes to his side from Wednesday’s victory over Hamilton with Jenna Fife, Brianna Westrup, Sam Kerr and Jane Ross all coming into the starting line-up with Megan Cunningham, Janni Arnth, Zoe Ness and Kayla McCoy named on the bench.
Rangers lined-up in Airdrie with Jenna Fife in goal and a back four of Demi Vance, Chantelle Swaby, Brianna Westrup and Nicola Docherty. Sam Kerr, Tessel Middag and Ciara Grant made up the midfield three, with Lizzie Arnot and Brogan Hay supporting striker Jane Ross.
Rangers started well and had a chance inside the opening five minutes as Lizzie Arnot did well to win the ball back down the left from Cheyenne Shorts before the ball broke to Sam Kerr and the midfielder curled a shot towards goal but it was deflected wide for a corner.
The Gers were dominating possession early in this cup tie as they looked to get the edge in the game. Lizzie Arnot was causing problems for Celtic down the right and again broke to the byline before cutting the ball back to Sam Kerr. Kerr’s shot was blocked by a Celtic defender before the rebound fell to Brogan Hay and her low shot bounced just wide of the right-hand post.
Despite the early domination from Rangers, it was the hosts who took the lead with their first chance of the match. A ball over the top from Sarah Harkes released Clarissa Larisey through on goal. Under pressure from Brianna Westrup the forward managed to get a touch on the ball to tap it beyond Jenna Fife.
Rangers almost responded instantly just after the half hour mark as Celtic keeper Jodie Bartle came off her line to clear a shot but she managed to recover to block Brogan Hay’s effort. Hay saw another shot drift over the bar, before Lizzie Arnot dragged a low effort wide of the target as the Light Blues searched for a reply.
And that goal did come with 38 minutes on the clock. Brogan Hay whipped a ball into the box from the right which left-back Demi Vance met and guided a header into the bottom corner.
Into the second-half, Brogan Hay delivered a dangerous ball across the face of the Celtic goal but Jane Ross couldn’t get a touch to divert it goalwards. Celtic’s half-time substitute Mengyu Shen came close to getting a second for the hosts as she drilled a low shot towards Jenna Fife’s goal from the edge of the box but it was just wide of the target.
Fife was called into action shortly after as Jacynta’s effort from distance was heading goalwards but the Rangers number one got down well to hold the shot. The home side took the lead with just under 15 minutes of the game remaining. A free-kick was swung into the box by Olivia Chance which Chloe Craig managed to get over the line at the far post.
Malky Thomson introduced Kirsty Howat and Kayla McCoy for the final six minutes as Rangers searched for that equaliser but the Light Blues were unable to find that all-important goal.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty (McCoy, 84), Vance, Middag (Howat, 84), Hay (Ness, 55), Ross, Arnot, Kerr, Westrup, Grant (Bell, 77), Swaby.
Subs: Cunningham, Arnth, Maclean
Celtic: Johnstone, Bartle (Timoney), Shorts, Craig, Jacynta, Larisey (Atkinson, 75), Chance, Harkes, Toland (Shen, 46), Hayes, Bowie (Clark, 82).
Subs: Atkinson, Gros, Ferguson, Warrington.
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