RANGERS picked up another three points in the SWPL this afternoon with a 5-0 victory over Spartans at Rangers Training Centre.
First-half goals from Kirsty Howat and Zoe Ness had Rangers ahead at the break, before Lizzie Arnot, Clare Gemmell and a second from Howat rounded off the scoring in the second-half.
From last weekend’s 6-0 victory over Hearts, Chantelle Swaby came into the starting XI for her debut with Carly Girasoli on the bench.
Jenna Fife was in goal for Rangers with Nicola Docherty, Brianna Westrup, Chantelle Swaby and Rachel McLauchlan in front of her.
Sam Kerr, Kirsten Reilly and Emma Brownlie and in midfield with Kirsty Howat, Zoe Ness and Lizzie Arnot in attack.
Kirsty Howat was first to threaten for Gers as they looked to get off to a strong start but her shot was just wide of Rachel Harrison’s post.
Spartans broke shortly after as Louise Mason tried to feed the ball forward to Rebecca Galbraith but Jenna Fife was quick to react and clear the danger.
On the 22nd minute Rachel McLauchlan found space down the right to deliver a dangerous cross into the box. Lizzie Arnot was waiting at the back post but her diving effort was just wide of the target.
Rangers continued to pressure as debutant Chantelle Swaby saw her header cleared off the line by Sarah Clelland.
The breakthrough did come on the 24th minute, Nicola Docherty’s cross was headed back into the danger area by Emma Brownlie with Kirsty Howat waiting to head home her sixth goal in four games.
Howat came close to adding a second as she curled an effort from the edge of the box but it was held by Rachel Harrison.
Harrison was called into action shortly after as Sam Kerr tried a shot from distance but the Spartans goalkeeper managed to push the effort wide of goal.
From the resulting corner Rangers did get their second goal of the afternoon. Emma Brownlie’s delivery found the head of Zoe Ness and the Gers’ striker got a good connection on the ball to divert it into the back of the net.
Malky Thomson’s side started the second-half brightly with Rachel McLauchlan seeing her effort saved by Rachel Harrison before Kirsty Howat headed just over from a Nicola Docherty cross.
Lizzie Arnot netted a third for Gers just after the hour mark as she cut inside from the left, to hit a right-footed shot low into the bottom corner of the net.
Rachel McLauchlan came close to her first Gers goal as she fired a powerful shot towards goal in the final ten minutes of the game but her effort bounced back off the post.
Substitutes Clare Gemmell and Daina Bourma combined in the 88th minute to get Rangers a fourth of the afternoon.
Bourma picked out Gemmell on the edge of the box and the midfielder hit it first time into the bottom corner of the net.
There was one final goal for Gers with the last kick off the ball as Kirsty Howat turned home a Brogan Hay cross.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Brownlie (Hay, 55), Reilly (Gemmell, 73), Ness (O’Neill, 55), McLauchlan, Arnot (Bourma, 73), Howat, Kerr, Westrup, Swaby (Girasoli, 78).
SUBS: Cunningham, McCartney.
SPARTANS: Harrison, Beveridge (Reynolds, 60), McCafferty, McMahon, Smart, McAlonie (Frew, 68), Mason (Gibb, 68), Marshall, Douglas, Clelland, Galbraith.
SUBS: Yates, , Denholm, Graham, Murray.