RANGERS fell to a 3-2 defeat to Hibernian in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League this afternoon.
A double from Katie Wilkinson had Gers 2-0 ahead at Meadowbank, but the hosts responded to take all three points.
There was a debut for defender Li Mengwen, who joined the club last month, while Leah Eddie also made her first start of the campaign after recovering from injury.
Jenna Fife returned to the line-up, behind a back four of Mengwen, Kathryn Hill, Leah Eddie and captain Nicola Docherty.
Jodi McLeary and May Cruft start in midfield, with Shin Ji Kim playing in the number 10 role. Mia McAulay and Lizzie Arnot provided the support for striker Katie Wilkinson.
It was the first meeting of the sides this season, and it was a fairly even opening 10 minutes at Meadowbank as both teams got a feel for the fixture. Stacey Papadopoulous tried an effort from distance for the hosts, but it looped high of the bar.
With their first chance of the match, it was Rangers who had the breakthrough and it was a well-worked goal from Leanne Crichton’s side. Li Mengwen combined with Mia McAulay down the right, with the Rangers debutant whipping a fantastic cross into the box which Katie Wilkinson was on hand to glance beyond Schumacher for her ninth goal of the season.
At the other end, Linzi Taylor delivered an inviting ball into the box as the hosts looked for a quick response, but Kathleen McGovern was unable to keep her header on target as it bounced wide of the post.
Wilkinson almost had an opening for a second as Mia McAulay drilled a powerful cross across the face of goal, but the Hibs goalkeeper did well to gather under pressure from the striker.
With 31 minutes played, Rangers were awarded a penalty as Siobhan Hunter pulled down Jodi McLearly inside the box as the Light Blues launched another attack.
It was Wilkinson who stepped-up to the spot, and the strikely calmly dispatched a right-footed penalty into the bottom corner to double Rangers’ advantage.
Jenna Fife pulled off a fantastic save to deny Hibs a goal back with 10 minutes of the first-half remaining. The ball was sent into the box by Caley Gibb and McGovern got enough of a connection to send it goalwards, but Fife was alert and managed to get a strong hand to tip it behind for a corner.
The hosts did reduce the deficit before the break as Rosie Livingstone put pressure on the Rangers defence and nicked the ball from Kathy Hill to make ground into the box. Her initial shot came back off the post, but Livingstone made no mistake in sending the rebound into the back of the net.
A free-kick provided another opening for Hibs with 54 minutes played in the capital. Ciara Grant delivered the ball into the box, and Linzi Taylor got a foot to it to divert it towards the target but Jenna Fife got a big block again as it went out for a corner.
It wasn’t long until the Edinburgh side were level as the game approached the hour mark as Eilidh Adams cut it back from the byline with Kathleen McGovern sending a powerful strike beyond Fife from a central area in the box.
A few minutes later, Hibs had the lead. Tegan Bowie sent a ball in from the left, and Eilidh Adams blasted an effort high into the back of the net to turn the game on its head.
A big final 20 minutes were needed from Rangers if they were to rescue anything from this game. A corner provided an opportunity, Kathy Hill was just wide with her header, but the hosts still looked threatening as Adams saw another chance blocked by Fife.
Wilkinson curled a shot from the edge of the box just wide of the target as the game entered six minutes of added time.
Another big chance fell for Rangers as the ball broke for Laura Berry just inside the box from a free-kick, but it was straight at Schumacher who gathered comfortably.
Gers were unable to find a way back into the game at Meadowbank and it was the home side that took all three points.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Eddie (Pegram, 64), Hill, Mengwen (Sabajo, 80), McAulay, Arnot (Berry, 64), Cruft, McLeary, Wilkinson, Shin Ji
Subs: Ivarsdottir, Austin, Griffiths
Hibernian: Schumacher, Gibb (Fitzgerald, 88), Hunter, Papadopoulous, Grant, Adams (Jordan, 90), McGovern, Notley, Livingstone (Burchill, 80), Bowie, Taylor.
Subs: Armitage, Herron, Boughton, Morrison.
2025-26 AWAY KIT: Follow Forever. Shop the 2025-26 Umbro x Rangers Away Kit in-store or online HERE
2025-26 SEASON TICKET: Same Badge. Same Passion. Join us at every SWPL home game at Broadwood or Ibrox HERE
VIP HOSPITALITY: Combining all the passion, excitement and joy of football with an unrivalled choice of suites and packages at Ibrox Stadium HERE