A fantastic Chelsea Cornet strike was cancelled out by Bayley Hutchison’s finish as the two sides went in level at the break. A terrific half-volley from youngster Mia McAulay followed by goals in quick succession from Rio Hardy and Kathryn Hill sent the Light Blues on their way to three points before McAulay rounded off the scoring late on in Jo Potter’s first home match in charge.
The head coach named one change to the side that won 6-1 at Spartans on the opening day, with Laura Berry coming into the team in place of Rachel Rowe.
Rangers got on the front foot straightaway at Broadwood. Jodi McLeary linked up well with Rio Hardy down the left hand side with the latter able to release Laura Berry who had made a clever run in behind, but the striker’s shot was saved at the near post by Faye Kirby.
Mia McAulay was next to create an opening as the Gers went close down the right side. The winger made a dart in behind the full-back but her clipped cross was just over the head of Kirsty Howat who was arriving at the back post.
Berry was again involved in the action as she was next to try her luck. McLeary found space down the left side inside the area and picked out the striker but her looping effort on her left side flew over the crossbar.
The Gers went close just short of the quarter-hour mark after a period of safe possession in the game. McLeary did well to ride the challenge of Jessica Broadrick before picking out Hardy. The striker found Howat in the area but her left footed shot was beaten away by the Aberdeen shot stopper.
The Light Blues took the lead through a moment of sheer quality as Chelsea Cornet broke the deadlock just before the 20-minute mark. Howat held the ball up for the hosts and was able to lay the ball back to the midfielder who fired an unstoppable shot which found the top corner leaving Kirby with little chance as the hosts went in front.
Chloe Gover tried her luck from distance as the away side looked for a response shortly after. The ball broke to the midfielder on the edge of the area but her left footed half volley flew over the bar, leaving Jenna Fife untroubled in what was Aberdeen’s first effort of the contest.
After a lengthy stoppage due to an injury to Francesca Ogilvie the game got back underway. Kirsty Maclean did well to ride multiple challenges through midfield as she made inroads in the final third, she picked out Howat but her shot was too close to Kirby who gathered.
The Gers went close to doubling their lead through Berry. Maclean played a clever ball over the top which was latched onto by the forward, holding off the challenge of Aimee Black, her first shot was saved but she couldn’t get the desired power on the rebound to turn it home as the away side cleared.
Cornet had a similar effort to her goal from distance go close as the Gers looked to go further ahead before the interval. Howat again was able to link the play as the same pair combined but her effort flew over the top of the Aberdeen goal.
Aberdeen got themselves level with a goal before the break. A ball played through the Rangers backline was latched onto by Bayley Hutchison, the midfielder closed in on goal and composed herself before firing a low shot past Fife as the away side levelled up the match.
Rangers looked to start the second half fast as they aimed to retake the lead. The hosts got into some promising without any early efforts on the Aberdeen goal. Kathryn Hill got on the end of a corner kick delivery but was unable to keep her header on target.
The Gers sparked into life once again 12 minutes after the restart as they almost regained their lead. Maclean found half a yard of space inside the area as she worked the ball onto her left side, curling a shot towards the near post Kirby did well to turn the ball round the post and keep it out.
Kirsty Howat was next to be denied for Potter’s side as Kirby again made another stop. Hardy managed to turn and slip through the striker who in on goal but her shot across goal was kept out.
The Gers managed to regain the lead through their second moment of sheer quality in the match. Mia McAulay latched onto the second ball outside of the area, on the half volley she smashed the ball beyond Kirby into the roof of the net to fire the home side ahead once again.
Two soon became three for Rangers as Rio Hardy found the target for the second time in as many games. The forward linked up well with Howat as the duo played a one-two on the edge of the area before she scooped the ball beyond Kirby to add a third on the day and give the Light Blues breathing space.
The goals started flowing in quick succession for the Gers as they added a fourth just shortly after. A corner kick from the left side from Maclean could only be diverted by Kirby into the path of Kathyrn Hill as the ball hit the defender and bundled over the line.
Rangers continued to dominate towards the latter stages of the game and they were seeing out the match with comfort. The hosts still looked a threat whenever they went forward but were unable to add to their lead as the game headed into the final 10 minutes in Cumbernauld.
Rio Hardy went close with six minutes left on the clock to adding a fifth. The striker found a yard of space inside the box as she looked to curl the ball into the far corner but saw her effort flash wide of the post.
There was still time towards the end for Mia McAulay to grab her second of the afternoon as she added a fifth before stoppage time. Substitute Kayla Jardine fired a cross to the back post which was met by the head of the youngster who turned the ball home to round off the scoring.
RANGERS: Fife, McLauchlan, Hill, Docherty, McAulay, Cornet (Colson 82), Maclean, McLeary, Hardy, Howat, Berry (Jardine 82)
SUBSTITUTES: Esson, Inman, Austin, Laird, Clark, Rowe
ABERDEEN: Kirby, Broadrick, Shore (Innes 82), Gover, Stewart, Hutchison, Ogilvie (Holden 34, Miller 60), Finnie, Thomson, Black, Hanssen
SUBSTITUTES: McCann, Paterson, Insch, Miller, Lawson