Match Report: Queen's Park 0-5 Rangers

RANGERS progressed to the quarter-finals of the Sky Sports SWPL Cup with a 5-0 victory over Queen’s Park this afternoon.

A hat-trick from Kirsty Howat and goals from teenagers Kirsty Maclean and Jodi McLeary saw the Light Blues comfortably through to the last eight of the competition.

Malky Thomson named five changes to his side from Wednesday evening’s UEFA Champions League match against Benfica as Jenna Fife, Colette Cavanagh, Maddie Nolf, Jodi McLeary and Kirsty Howat came into the starting line-up.

Victoria Esson, Rachel McLauchlan, Chelsea Cornet and Sam Kerr were all on the bench.

Rangers started with Jenna Fife in goal and a back four of Colette Cavanagh, Nicola Docherty, Lisa Martinez and Maddie Nolf.

Tessel Middag sat just in front of them as a holding midfielder with Jodi McLeary, Kirsty Maclean and Brogan Hay ahead of her.

Thomson started with two strikers for this cup tie with both Kayla McCoy and Kirsty Howat leading the line.

Rangers were awarded an early free-kick in a dangerous position as Kirsty Howat was pulled back by Ellie Kane as she looked to cut into the box from the left, with the Queen’s Park captain booked for the challenge.

Tess Middag took the set-piece but was unable to keep the early opportunity down as it drifted over the bar.

It wasn’t long until Rangers had the breakthrough with six minutes on the clock. Kayla McCoy delivered a ball from the right which Kirsty Howat turned towards goal. Queen’s Park goalkeeper Lauren Grant did well to block the initial shot but Howat was alert to the rebound to head home.

It was a strong start from Malky Thomson’s squad as Kirsty Maclean threaded the ball through to Kirsty Howat shortly after but her low shot across goal bounced just wide of the post.

Grant pulled off a good save to deny Rangers a second on the 15th minute as Lisa Martinez picked out the run of Maddie Nolf with a long ball and she played through to Jodi McLeary in the box but the Queen’s Park goalkeeper pushed away the shot.

The keeper was holding firm and denied Kayla McCoy seconds later as she picked up on a loose ball inside the Queen’s Park box.

With 20 minutes on the clock, Rangers doubled their advantage. Kirsty Maclean lifted the ball over the Queen’s Park defence and into the path of Kayla McCoy. McCoy’s shot was blocked by Grant but Jodi McLeary reacted well in the box to turn home the rebound.

Cavanagh had a shot saved by the keeper, before Howat was also denied from close range as Rangers looked to increase their lead before the break.

It was 3-0 before the half-time as Rangers were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Tessel Middag set the ball up for Colette Cavanagh and she lifted the ball into the path of Kirsty Howat who slotted home her second of the game.

Malky Thomson made two changes to his side at half time as Mia McAuley made her Rangers senior debut with Rachel McLauchlan also introduced in place of Nicola Docherty and Kayla McCoy.

Brogan Hay was denied by Grant early in the second-half as Rangers looked to start strong after the break.

Just before the hour mark, Hay came even closer to getting on the scoresheet as the winger’s powerful strike rattled the crossbar before the danger was cleared by Queen’s Park.

It was 4-0 shortly after as Maddie Nolf delivered the ball across the face of goal, with Kirsty Maclean making a good run into the box to tap home.

Kirsty Howat almost had a hat-trick as she came away with the ball in the box after a good one-two with Tessel Middag but the keeper blocked her shot.

Jodi McLeary had a shot blocked by Grant before the Queen’s Park keeper pulled off another good stop to deny Mia McAuley on her first senior appearance.

The 16-year-old had another opportunity as she made a good run to get on the end of a ball from Rachel McLauchlan but Lauren Grant matched the shot with a strong save to deny the forward.

In the final five minutes of the game, Kirsty Howat had her hat-trick as she showed her composure to latch onto a ball from Jodi McLeary and take a touch before finishing low beyond Grant.

RANGERS: Fife, Cavanagh, Docherty (McLauchlan, 46), Martinez, Nolf, Middag, Maclean (Cornet, 61h), McLeary, Hay (Kerr,  61), Howat, McCoy (Mcauley, 46).

Subs not used: Esson.

Queen’s Park: Grant, Fraser, Ray, Kane, Cairney, Callaghan, Tweedie, Gill, Davis, Smith, Boyce.

Subs: Fitzsimmons, Sloey, Fulton, Daly, MacLeod, Sloan, Gibney, Clark. 


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