Match Report: Rangers 6-0 Hamilton Academical

RANGERS produced a dominant display as they made it three wins in a row in the SWPL with a 6-0 win over Hamilton Academical at Broadwood Stadium this afternoon.

Rachel McLauchlan put the hosts ahead with a cross-come shot as the Gers went on to take complete control through two goals from defender Lisa Martinez. Brogan Hay added a fourth before a special moment for Martinez saw her head home a hat-trick as the Gers led by five at the half time break.

In a second period, with little action but continuous Rangers possession, substitute Colette Cavanagh was on hand to head in a sixth towards the end as Rangers collected another three points in their final league outing before the split.

Malky Thomson named seven changes to his side from their 1-0 win over Spartans. Victoria Esson, Tessel Middag, Nicola Docherty, Sam Kerr, Brogan Hay, Lizzie Arnot and Kirsty Howat all came into the starting eleven for the clash in Cumbernauld.

Rangers started firmly in the ascendancy at Broadwood and went close to taking an early lead. Kirsty Maclean picked up the ball just outside the area and spotted the run of Rachel McLauchlan down the right side, clipping it into her path the right-back was able to take in her stride, she cut the ball back looking for Kirsty Howat inside the area but she was unable to turn the chance home for the hosts.

The Light Blues took the lead and made their early dominance count inside eight minutes in the contest. McLauchlan again found herself in an advanced position down the right flank, looking for her teammates at the back post her looping delivery caught Chloe Nicolson in the Accies goal off guard as it flew into the far corner to put Rangers in front.

The hosts went close to doubling their advantage, Lizzie Arnot picked up the ball on the left channel and fired a cross to the back post but it evaded Howat’s head who looked to get on the end of the delivery.

The second goal did arrive for the hosts courtesy of Lisa Martinez’s header. The defender rose highest from a Tessel Middag corner and her effort beat the scrambling Accies goalkeeper as the two centre-backs combined to double the Rangers lead.

Hamilton almost produced an instant reply, Middag’s pass was cut out by Chloe Muir inside the penalty area, but her left footed effort was straight at Victoria Esson who gathered.

Sam Kerr went close to making it three for the Light Blues just after the 20 minute mark. Middag’s corners were causing problems in the Hamilton backline and the midfielder found herself free at the back post, but her cushioned volley back across goal at the angle drifted wide.

Martinez was on hand to make it three and again it came from a corner kick delivery. This time in the second phase as Kerr picked up the loose ball and found the defender placed at the penalty spot as she did brilliantly to turn the ball goalwards as it found the top corner from her left footed strike as the Gers took early control at Broadwood.

Brogan Hay rounded off a fantastic team move as she added a fourth with her second goal in as many games. A clever interchange down the right flank involving Kerr, Maclean and Cornet allowed the former to find the winger in behind the backline before her strike found the top left corner on the half hour mark.

A memorable moment for Lisa Martinez arrived just shortly after as her header marked a fifth on of the day and a personal hat-trick just short of 10 minutes before half time. Hay found herself free on the edge of the area and opted to tee up the defender as she turned home her third of the day from close range.

Substitute Megan Bell went close to adding a sixth in the first of the second half action. Receiving the ball inside the box she tried to slide it passed Nicolson who did well to make the stop before it was turned behind by Megan Quinn.

A clever interchange between Bell and Howat at the edge of the area almost brought a sixth for the hosts. The midfielder fired a shot across goal that went narrowly wide in a second half where they were continuing to dominate possession as the Gers made several changes but never added to their five goal half time advantage with just under 20 minutes remaining.

Jodi McLeary sent a left footed effort wide of the far post as the game approached its conclusion in what was a second half of few chances as the hosts continued to keep the ball and go in search of adding to their lead towards the end of the contest.

Rangers did add a sixth goal just under five minutes from time, two of the subs combined as Megan Bell’s free kick from the right side was met by Colette Cavanagh who beat the keeper to the ball and headed home from close range to round off the scoring in North Lanarkshire.

RANGERS: Esson, McLauchlan (Nolf 59), Middag, Martinez, Docherty, Cornet (Bell 45), Kerr, Maclean (Cavanagh 59), Hay (Watson 59), Arnot (McLeary 59), Howat.

Subs not used: Fife, Ferguson.

HAMILTON ACADEMICAL: Nicolson, Ross, Quinn, Coakley, Martin, McIntosh, Muir, McGonigle, Sinclair, Mitchell, Aitchison (McLounan 89).

Subs not used: Hay, Thomson, Gardiner, Caldwell.


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