Rachel McLauchlan deservedly put the visitors in front in the first half with a well-taken finish as the Gers made their domination count with a half-time lead. There were little clear-cut chances in the second period before Jenna Clark headed home an equaliser as the hosts looked to have claimed a point right at the end.
In one of the last attacks of the game, however, Kirsty Howat was on hand to round keeper Lee Gibson and roll the ball into the empty net as the Light Blues picked up an impressive three points.
Malky Thomson named three changes to his side from the weekend’s league win over Partick Thistle. Jenna Fife, Hannah Davison and Chelsea Cornet all came into the team.
The Gers had an early set piece opportunity at Petershill which was delivered by Tessel Middag. After the hosts won the initial header in the box it broke for Sam Kerr but her shot on the volley was comfortably gathered by Lee Gibson in the City goal in what was the first effort of the contest.
Rangers went close to opening the scoring just moments later after some good play down the right flank. Emma Watson picked the ball up in a dangerous area as she slipped in the overlapping full-back in Rachel McLauchlan, her shot looked destined to find the back of the net but it came back off the far post and stayed out.
The hosts couldn’t get into the game in an attacking sense as the Light Blues had their best opportunity to go ahead. Full-back Maddie Nolf picked out an expert pass to Kerr who made the midfield run from deep, off balance she took the touch and looked to slip the ball home on her left side but the City shot stopper did well to close the angle and make the stop.
Rangers somehow didn’t go in front from a corner just moments later as they continued to dominate at Petershill. Middag’s delivery was met by defender Hannah Davison as her effort threatened to go in at the far post, the ball looped up and was saved before a combination of firstly Kirsty Howat and then Kathryn Hill tried to force the loose ball over the line before it was turned behind.
The hosts came alive in an attacking sense for the first time in the match as Priscilla Chinchilla caused a real threat down the left flank with her pace, cutting inside the loose ball found Hayley Lauder but her shot was straight at Jenna Fife who gathered.
Rangers took a deserved lead in Glasgow as full-back Rachel McLauchlan broke the deadlock with a composed finish from inside the area. Nolf’s pass was taken in well by Howat as the striker looked to get a shot away at goal, the ball broke for the arriving right-back who finished superbly across Gibson and fired the away side ahead just passed the 20 minute mark.
There was little in the way of chances at either end for the next 10 minutes of the match as Rangers looked confident after taking the lead. The away side still looked for more and were a threat when they went forward without creating anything clear cut.
A chance to double the advantage fell the way of the visitors after some great down the right flank. Kerr’s initial clever feet sent Emma Watson on her way in space down the side, she used Howat in the box but covering defender Jenna Clark did well to come across and make the block.
The hosts started lively in the second period as they looked for the next goal to try get themselves back on level terms, Lauder sent in a free kick delivery from a dangerous position on the right but the Gers did well to clear what was the first of the action since the restart.
The Light Blues came to life for the first time in the second half and there was involvement for substitute Brogan Hay straight away. Kerr did well to hold the ball up as she used the winger down the channel, she slipped a ball through to Howat but her shot at the angle was deflected behind.
The hosts had arguably their best chance of the night as they latched onto a mistake down the left side. Winning the ball high Chinchilla picked out the arriving Lauren Davidson as the two wingers almost combined but she blazed her left footed shot over as they went close to an equaliser.
Second half chances were few and far between and what turned into a cagey contest at Petershill with he Gers looking to withstand and Glasgow City pressure to preserve a clean sheet whilst looking to create opportunities on the counter-attack at the other end when they did venture forward.
Just as the hosts looked to see out the contest, Beatriz Prades Insa sent in a free kick delivery from the right side two minutes from time. Jenna Clark rose highest in the box and headed the hosts level towards the end as they got back on level terms at Petershill.
The Light Blues responded and won it right at the death. Kirsty Maclean did brilliantly to win it in midfield as she slipped through Kirsty Howat in behind, the striker rounded Gibson in the City goal and rolled the ball home as the Gers claimed victory and closed the gap at the top with an impressive win in Glasgow.
GLASGOW CITY: Gibson, Muir, Lauder (Forrest 75), Walsh, Prades Insa, Mothalo (Kozak 61), Whelan, Clark, Davidson, Chinchilla, Oskarsson.
SUBS: Clachers, Warrington, Fulton, Porter, Grant, Foley, Forrest, Greening.
RANGERS: Fife, Nolf, Davison, Hill, McLauchlan (Docherty 83), Middag (Maclean 45), Cornet, Kerr, Danielsson, Watson (Hay 56), Howat.
SUBS: Esson, Ferguson, Bell, McLeary, McAulay, Berry.