On a day the away side had to work to secure the perfect start to the new campaign, the summer signing from Motherwell Bailley Collins saw her impressive finish following a short corner cancelled out by Darcie Miller’s header as the two teams went in level at 1-1 at the break.
The hosts continued to frustrate Leanne Crichton’s side throughout the second 45 minutes, but the new Gers number three popped up with a decisive moment to finish off at the back post to put her side back in front. Before sub Hendle added a third and Katie Wilkinson got off the mark for the new season to claim the points in the first outing of the new league season.
Former Scotland international Crichton handed three league debuts to her summer arrivals with Kirsty Smith, Bailley Collins and Hannah Blake all making their first SPWPL appearances for the club from the off.
Rangers targeted a fast start in Montrose after falling behind in the same fixture 12 months ago. They looked bright from the off, with Katie Wilkinson getting on the end of a Kirsty Smith delivery and seeing her flicked header just go past the near post in the opening stages.
The hosts also looked in a confident mood to begin proceedings as Demi Taylor registered their first shot on goal. Working the ball from the edge of the box the midfielder took a left footed shot which lacked the desired power to trouble Jenna Fife in the Rangers goal.
However, at the other end, the Gers sparked into life with their opening league goal of the season. Following a short corner it was worked to summer arrival Bailley Collins who brilliantly dispatched the ball with a looping finish into the far corner to put the away side ahead.
Montrose almost responded immediately following a lapse in concentration in the Rangers backline. Giving the ball away to Kaela McDonald-Nguah cheaply outside the area, she rounded Jenna Fife and with an empty net in front of her, Lily Boyce recovered quite superbly to make a stop with the ball heading goalbound to keep her side ahead.
After a quiet period in the game following the opener, striker Wilkinson had a great opportunity to double the advantage from a set piece chance from just outside the area. Her initial effort was blocked but broke for Eilidh Austin in the box, but the defender could only fire over from close range on the stretch.
Rangers had further openings to double their lead but with no avail. Hannah Blake on her SPWPL debut fired one across the box which was pushed away by the goalkeeper. Before Laura Berry was unable to pick out any of her teammates with the Gers having an overload on the counter-attack.
The hosts were unphased at being behind in the game and still posed a real threat to get back on terms. Winger Taylor skipped away from Smith inside the Rangers half and unleashed a powerful striker goalwards, but it sailed over the top of Fife’s crossbar.
At the other end, Rangers threatened further from the wide areas. Collins burst down the flank which initially missed Berry in the box, Fallon Connolly-Jackson got onto it but saw her effort blocked at the back post before Wilkinson sent a volley into the side netting in the next phase of play.
After pushing in several parts of the game it was Montrose who got themselves back on terms. After a delivery from the left side, it was number four Darcie Miller who headed past Jenna Fife at the front post with the goalkeeper unable to scramble to keep it out as the home side leveled up proceedings with six minutes to play before the interval.
Crichton’s team looked to come out the traps at the start of the second half quickly. Calliste Brookshire was introduced to try bring a spark to the attack and they almost found an answer straightaway. Berry was played through and in on goal, but Lauren Perry between the posts made a smart stop to deny the number nine her first of the season.
The game remained a spectacle with both sides looking likely to produce the next goal to pull ahead. The home side saw a potential opening as Miller got the better of Boyce on the flank, only for her delivery to be gathered by Fife on the deck.
Frustrations started to mount for the away side as the game went past the hour-mark still locked level. Causing few problems for the Montrose backline their efforts on goal were limited to range with Wilkinson curling one from the edge of the area straight into the hands of Perry who gathered comfortably.
Just as the away side were continuing to grow frustrated it was Collins who popped up at the back post to produce a debut double. Following some smart building up play with Wilkinson involved, the striker turned well inside the area and rolled the ball across the box for the former Motherwell player to find herself in the right place at the right time to fire the away side ahead again for the second time.
On her return to the side following injury, Jodi McLeary went close to pulling Rangers further clear with a clever turn and strike. The young midfielder spun off the bench to setup a chance for herself on the edge of the area, but her well struck shot flew over the top of the bar.
Fellow sub Eva Hendle made sure the points were going back to Glasgow as she notched her first goal in Rangers colours to put clear daylight between the sides. A through ball saw the youngster on loan from Chelsea beat the goalkeeper to the ball and loop it over her before having the simple task of putting it into the back of the net to make it 3-1.
Wilkinson then got off the mark for the season with a header at the back post to put the Gers further clear and secure a win on the opening day. As they now prepare for the visit of newly promoted Spartans for their first home league game next Sunday afternoon.
MONTROSE: Perry, Miller (Bowman, 88), Carter (Elliott, 88), Ross, Guthrie (Gover, 79), McDonald-Nguah (Innes, 83), Ogilvie, Taylor, Brown (Healy, 83) , Cowper, Robb
SUBS: Milne, Stewart
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Boyce, Austin, Smith (Cruft, 57), Connolly-Jackson (Brookshire, 45), Black (Thrysøe, 57), Blake (McLeary, 69), Collins, Berry (Hendle, 69), Wilkinson
SUBS: Ohba, Miller