In an eagerly anticipated clash before kick-off, which would see the defending champions take on the league leaders, a close contest was expected and that was how it turned out with both teams cancelling each other out in a match which had very few clear-cut chances.
Malky Thomson named the same starting side as seven days prior after their dominant display in their 7-0 league victory over Motherwell.
On a blustery afternoon in Cumbernauld, with the windy conditions making it difficult for both sides, Rangers settled into some early possession, Rachel McLauchlan delivered a cross looking for Lizzie Arnot at the far post, but the ball was too far ahead of the winger as it headed behind.
The away side started to settle into the match just before the 10-minute mark, enjoying a spell of the ball themselves in the Rangers half. Kinga Kozak was picking up the ball up in dangerous areas but couldn’t create any real openings for City to threaten the Rangers goal.
Both sides were yet to really threaten the opposing goal in the opening 15 minutes of the contest, with Arnot’s cross come shot which was parried away by City keeper Lee Gibson the only effort on goal.
Captain Kathryn Hill found herself unmarked in the opposition penalty area after a free kick delivery found her free inside the box, but she could only head the ball over the top of the bar with her back to goal.
The two teams were continuing to cancel each other out midway through the first half, with no clear-cut opportunities being created and both sides defence’s remaining strong.
The game’s best chance up to that stage fell the way of the home side, a long through ball from the left side allowed winger Brogan Hay to latch onto the ball without breaking stride, but she fired her right-footed effort over the top of the crossbar.
Priscilla Chinchilla was looking lively for the visitors, finding space 25 yards from goal she fired a shot but it was comfortably claimed by Jenna Fife in the Rangers goal who gathered.
A clever interchange down the right saw Hay played in behind by Sam Kerr with a defence splitting through ball, but her delivery was unable to find striker Kayla McCoy who had pealed to the far post as the keeper punched the ball clear.
The theme of the opening 45 remained for what was left of the half as both sides made it difficult for each other to create any real chances, as they went in at the half time break goalless at Broadwood.
The second half started in livelier fashion, with Gers captain Kathryn Hill doing brilliantly to get back and clear what would have been a simple tap in for Lauren Davidson. A ricochet left the City player through on goal from Fife’s clearance with an empty net in front of her, but the centre back covered well to divert the ball behind to safety for the Light Blues.
Jenny Danielsson was starting to get on the ball in promising positions for the Gers, drilling a low cross on left-footed looking for her striker McCoy but it was turned behind by Amy Muir. The home looking to break the deadlock as we approached the hour mark at Broadwood.
Malky Thomson made a double substitution as he looked to provide the spark the home side were looking for to find an opener, introducing both Emma Watson and Chelsea Cornet into the contest.
With 15 minutes of time remaining the sides still couldn’t be separated as a close affair was threatening to fizzle out to a stalemate in Cumbernauld with Rangers looking to press for an opening goal the game headed towards the closing stages.
Kirsty Howat who was introduced to the Gers forward line, linked the play well as she released the overlapping McLauchlan down the right flank. Her cross looking for the arriving bodies in the box was gathered out the air by Gibson as the match entered the final 10 minutes.
Megan Bell went close to what would have been a certain winner in stoppage time with her cross causing problems for Gibson in the Glasgow City goal. The keeper appearing to miss judge the flight of the cross but readjusted well to turn the ball away in what the last action of a closely fought encounter.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, McLauchlan, Hill, Davison, Middag, Hay (Bell 86), McCoy (Howat 74), Arnot (Cornet 65), Danielsson (Watson 65), Kerr.
Subs not used: Esson, Cavanagh, MacLean, McCleary.
GLASGOW CITY: Gibson, Muir, Lauder, Walsh, Prades, Whelan (Forrest 82), Clark, Davidson, Kozak, Chinchilla (Motlhalo 90), Foley.
Subs not used: Clachers, Warrington, Fulton, Grant, Gibb, Moore, Allie.