In the first outing of 2025-26, the Gers wasted no time in getting off the mark as Kirsty Howat scored inside a minute before a Katie Wilkinson finish sandwiched between a second for the number nine gave the hosts a three-goal lead at the break.
Howat earned her hat-trick in the second half, as well as goals from Laura Berry and youngster Natalie Bandura on her first appearance for the club set them on their way as they now prepare for their training camp in Italy this coming week.
The team on the day, taken by assistant head coach Craig McPherson, saw a mixture of both experience and youth in the Rangers ranks, as preparations on the pitch for the new competitive season got underway.
Rangers signaled their early intent from the off with a goal inside a minute. Last season’s top goalscorer Katie Wilkinson showed quick feet on the left flank as she helped it on to Laura Berry. The striker swiveled and spotted Kirsty Howat well placed inside the area who dispatched the ball beyond the goalkeeper to give the hosts an early lead.
Having got the goal in the opening exchanges, the Gers continued to dominate the early possession. A cross from Mia McAulay from the right flank picked out Wilkinson, but her shot towards goal lacked the desired power as it was comfortably gathered by Megan Borthwick.
The hosts really limited their English visitors to very little inside the opening quarter of an hour in North Lanarkshire. Having very minimal opportunities to go off, the away sides only real sight of goal came via set pieces but were unable to properly test Jenna Fife between the Gers posts.
Rangers went close to doubling their lead on the day as two of the front players combined. Goalscorer Howat looked to help the ball on to Laura Berry who was in on goal, but her effort with the outside of her right foot was stopped by the Boro keeper with her feet.
The home side then profited by reacting first to a second phase as they made it two on the day. Firstly, a cross from the right side was brilliantly intercepted by the sliding Emma Foster in the Middlesbrough defence as Berry looked destined to turn it goalwards. She stayed down leaving Wilkinson onside to receive a pass from her captain Nicola Docherty, with plenty of time she did what she does best and finished the ball off at the front post to double the lead.
They continued to probe thereafter and added a third before the break. In a great team goal starting from the left, the Gers worked it across the field as youngster May Cruft found Wilkinson. She played a defence splitting pass towards Howat who finished it off well to add her second on the day and the team’s third.
Almost straight after it was nearly four. A long ball forward saw all three front players combine as Wilkinson fed Berry, she played in Howat but the foot of the right post denied the forward a hat-trick heading into the break.
It was the visitors who had their first sight of goal in the second half and really should have got themselves on the scoresheet. Substitute Erin Nelson’s corner was met by the head of Ellen Turnbull who should have done better from close range but her effort flew over the top.
Despite starting well in the second period Boro fell further behind as Howat grabbed her hat-trick on the day. A great pass through initially from the striker set Berry through one-on-one, she was denied by sub keeper Ruby Cook before it broke back for the youngster to tee up the number nine to dispatch home her third goal of the afternoon.
Rangers also fans got the opportunity to see their two summer arrivals in action for the first time. As Fallon Connolly-Jackson and earlier today signing Alice Griffiths were introduced on two separate occasions throughout the second period.
After turning to their bench on several occasions there was a special moment for youngster Natalie Bandura, who found the back of the net in what was her first time wearing the Light Blue jersey. Fellow sub Sophie Townsley delivered the ball into the box as she brought it down and finished it well into the near post on her left side despite the goalkeeper’s best efforts to keep it out.
Wales international Griffiths almost marked her debut with a goal but her effort was denied by Cook between the Boro posts. Townsley was involved again, this time her pass from the left found the midfielder but her shot from outside the area was straight down the throat of Cook who gathered.
There was still time before the day was up for Berry to get herself on the scoresheet much to the surprise of few as she rounded off the scoring for the afternoon. Latching onto Sophie Black’s pass, she composed herself off balance to finish it beyond Cook to make it six and start Rangers’ pre-season schedule off in positive fashion.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty (Simpson, 78), Eddie (Connolly-Jackson, 45), Howat (Townsley, 63), McAulay (Hay, 45), Arnot (Bandura 63), Berry, McLeary (Griffiths, 63), Boyce, Wilkinson (Black, 45), Cruft (McArthur, 78)
SUBS: Ivarsdottir
MIDDLESBROUGH: Borthwick (Cook, 45), Turnbull, Packham (Burn, 45), Foster, Boyes (Nelson, 45), Bell, Callander, Maxwell (Mett, 45), Robson, Giles, Ferguson
SUBS: N/A