Match Report: Rangers 4-0 Aberdeen

FOUR goals from four different scorers helped Rangers to an historic Park’s Motor Group SWPL 1 victory against Aberdeen at Ibrox this afternoon.

Sam Kerr and Kayla McCoy had Rangers ahead at the break, before Nicola Docherty and Lizzie Arnot were on target in the second-half.

A crowd of over 4,400 were at Ibrox to cheer on the squad in their first match as a professional side to be played at the stadium. 

Malky Thomson made one change from last weekend's victory over Hibernian with striker Kayla McCoy coming into the starting XI and Kirsty Howat on the bench.

Rangers lined-up at Ibrox with Jenna Fife in goal and a back four of Nicola Docherty, Chantelle Swaby, Brianna Westrup and Demi Vance. 

Tessel Middag, Kirsten Reilly and Sam Kerr were in midfield, with Lizzie Arnot and Brogan Hay providing the support for Kayla McCoy. 

It was a fairly even start to this SWPL 1 tie with Rangers showing patience as they searched for the breakthrough. 

A long ball forward from Chatelle Swaby met the run of Demi Vance and she cut the ball back to Lizzie Arnot. The winger took a touch beyond an Aberdeen player to find space in the box but her shot was held comfortably by AJ Meach. 

Demi Vance was again involved in the build-up shortly after, this time down the right, as she picked the ball up just inside the box and again picked out Lizzie Arnot but her low drive drifted just wide of Meach’s right-hand post. 

The Light Blues were pushing for an opener at Ibrox and in the 25th minute Kayla McCoy headed just wide from a Brogan Hay cross.

However, the pressure paid off and the opening goal did come for Rangers just before the half-hour mark after great build up play from the back. Chantelle Swaby found Lizzie Arnot just in the Rangers half and she turned well before releasing Demi Vance on the overlap. 

Vance delivered a dangerous ball into the box and Sam Kerr made a driving run from midfield to get on the end of it and tap home from close range. 

It was 2-0 to Rangers before the break as Kirsten Reilly played the ball out wide to Nicola Docherty and the right-back swung a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Meach managed to get a touch to the ball but guided it into the path of Kayla McCoy who managed to touch the ball into the back of the net. 

Just one minute into the first-half Rangers had their third goal of the match and it was a fantastic strike from Nicola Docherty. 

From the kick-off Rangers went on the attack with Brogan Hay eventually finding space down the right. She played the ball to McCoy who turned in the box and picked out Docherty in an advanced position. With space, Docherty took a touch before firing a powerful left-footed shot high into the back of the net from 20 yards out. 

It was a great start to the second-half for Rangers and they were four goals ahead with 53 minutes on the clock.

The ball was given away at the back by Aberdeen and Kayla McCoy pounced on the opportunity. The striker could’ve had a shot herself but spotted Lizzie Arnot darting into the box and cut it back to the Scotland international and she guided the ball low into the bottom corner of the net. 

Sam Kerr almost had her second of the game as Brogan Hay drove to the byline before pulling the ball back to the midfielder but her first time hit was wide of the target.

Second-half substitutes Kirsty Howat and Zoe Ness played a lovely one-two as Rangers continued to press with the ball eventually landing with Howat but her shot drifted just inches wide of the post 

Aberdeen had a chance to get on the scoresheet as Bailley Collins picked out Louise Brown but she couldn’t keep her effort on target before Bayley Hutchison had a shot saved by Jenna Fife.

RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Swaby, Westrup (Arnth, 76), Vance, Middag, Reilly (Maclean, 76), Kerr (Bell, 65), Arnot, Hay (Ness, 65), McCoy (Howat, 55).

Subs: Cunningham, Grant. 

Aberdeen: Meach, Campbell, Broadrick, Shore, Gover (Stewart, 80), Hutchison, Collins (Fraser, 80), Ogilvie (Bruce, 71), Forrest, Paterson, Thomson (Brown, 71).

Subs: Doig, Gordon, Innes.

Referee: Andrew Craven