On a special day for the women’s side, getting to play at the historic ground for the first time since the final day of last season, the Gers put on a show to match the occasion.
After a close opening half-hour the hosts upped the ante and raced into a three-goal lead at the break courtesy of a Kirsty Howat double and Rio Hardy tap-in.
The striker was on hand to fire home her hat-trick in the second half before a Kathryn Hill header, Megan Bell free-kick and Kirsty Howat fourth rounded off the scoring on a perfect all round day for Jo Potter’s side.
Jo Potter named one change to the side that beat Hamilton 6-0 in their last league outing, with Kirsty Maclean recalled to the team in place Libby Bance.
Rangers settled into some early possession in front of the Ibrox faithful. Rachel McLauchlan, who looked to continue her fine recent form of late, carried the ball over 30 yards before finding Rachel Rowe, but the midfielder’s effort flew over the crossbar from range.
The Gers had a great opportunity to take an early lead just moments later through Kirsty Howat. The striker latched onto an error in the Hibs backline from a goal kick before Rowe took over. The Wales international skipped past multiple challenges before the ball broke back for the striker but her effort flashed wide at the near post.
Poppy Lawson had a free kick chance for the visitors in what was their first effort of the game on eight minutes. The defender tired her luck from distance but the shot was seen over the crossbar by Jenna Fife in the Rangers goal.
A period of little chances in the game were to follow. The hosts continued to probe and looked the more likely of the two teams to break the deadlock but clear-cut chances were few and far between.
Howat had a chance to open the scoring with a header and would have done so but for a block on the line from Lawson. A delivery from the right side was met by the forward but the defender did well to get round on the cover with Katlynn Fraine in the Hibs goal beaten.
McLauchlan tried a shot from the edge of the area that almost troubled Fraine at her near post. The full-back was again heavily involved in the attacking play and found herself in a promising position in the second phase. Trying her luck her right footed shot whistled past the near post as the Gers continued to threaten.
It was the defender who continued to be Rangers’ main threat throughout the first half, this time creating a chance for Howat. Dancing past several players inside the area she laid the ball to Howat but her shot flew over on the swivel.
Tegan Bowie had a real opportunity for the visitors at the other end as they looked to take the lead themselves. After a changeover in possession the winger carried the ball over 30 yards unchallenged but her low effort across goal was seen passed the post by Fife.
Rangers took the lead just after the half-hour mark and it was Kirsty Howat continuing her impressive goal scoring form. A corner kick was presented itself to the hosts after a mistake which they took full advantage of. A short routine was played involving Rowe before it found itself at the feet of Kirsty Maclean inside the area.
The midfielder found Howat and from a tight angle managed to squeeze the ball in at the near post to fire the Gers in front with the striker going across to celebrate in front of the Ibrox faithful.
Rio Hardy was on hand to fire in a second just shortly after with two goals in quick succession for the Gers. Howat was again heavily involved as she took a shot from an acute angle across the area, the goalkeeper could only pary the effort with the striker on hand to tap home the rebound to make it two.
The hosts certainly turned up the intensity after the goals as they went in search for more. Hardy did superbly to work the ball onto her right for a shot in the area, striking at goal Fraine produced a smart save before Jodi McLeary closed in for the rebound, but again the shot stopper was on hand to match it as she turned it behind.
Two soon became three as Rangers really upped the intensity at Ibrox. A cross from Brogan Hay from the left flank was dropped by the Hibs goalkeeper and it was again Howat on hand to pounce as she was given the easiest of tap-ins at close range to add a third.
The Gers began the second period on the front foot as they went in search of more goals, Rowe had a couple of opportunities blocked as the hosts continued to pile on the pressure. That pressure paid off on 53 minutes as Howat was on hand to fire home her hat-trick and Rangers’ forth, the two strikers once again combined as Hardy cut the ball back to the number nine who was well placed to turn the ball home at the near post.
It was soon to be five and a second in as many games for Kathryn Hill. A long ball from the back from McLauchlan found the centre-back unmarked inside the area as she flicked the ball beyond Fraine with the keeper rushing out to add a fifth as Rangers continued to dominate.
Hill almost turned provider this time as her rampaging run forward almost resulted in a sixth of the afternoon. The defender carried the ball through midfield before slipping in Howat inside the area, but the forward’s left footed effort flashed past the far post.
Substitute Rosie Livingstone tried an effort from distance as Hibs looked to get themselves on the scoresheet on the day. The winger cut inside on the left flank and tested Fife with a shot but the keeper was able to hold.
A handful of changes were made by either side. The hosts still looked the more likely to add to their advantage but remained in comfortable control throughout as they look to see the game out in the remaining 10 minutes in front of the Ibrox crowd.
Megan Bell produced a moment of real quality as she fired home a superb free kick from the edge of the penalty area. The northern Ireland international stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner as her effort made it sixth on the day.
Howat was on hand to round off the scoring in the last kick of the game to mark a brilliant individual day for herself, she sneaked in behind the Hibs backline close to the touchline before squeezing the ball in at the near post to make it seven and mark a fantastic afternoon’s work for the Light Blues.
RANGERS: Fife, McLauchlan, Hill, Docherty (Colson 71), McLeary, Cornet (Middag 61), Maclean (Bance 61), Hay (McAulay 61), Rowe (Bell 71), Hardy, Howat
SUBS: Esson, Austin, Arnot
HIBERNIAN: Fraine (Wilson 45), Christie, Baucom (Adams 61), Eddie, Ferguson, McGregor, Notley, Doran-Barr (McAlonie 77), Bowie (Livingstone 45), Nunn (Leishman 77), Lawson
SUBS: Hunter, Tweedie, Powell, Nevin