RANGERS Women ended their SWPL Cup group stage with another win against Boroughmuir Thistle in Edinburgh this afternoon.
Debut competitive goals from Light Blue youngsters, Jodie McCleary and Emma Watson saw the Gers end their SWPL Cup group stage with four wins from four matches as they transition into the next stage of the competition.
Rangers started well straight from the first whistle of the game by maintaining possession and developing their play right across all areas of the pitch.
The Light Blues had a few threatening opportunities within the Boroughmuir final third, but the Thistle defensive backline did well to clear on each occasion.
Rangers’ early play resulted in a corner in the early minutes of the first half. Lizzie Arnot swung in a superb delivery and found Brianna Westrup whose header hit off the crossbar.
The Gers continued to pile the pressure into the home side’s penalty box, but the purple shirts did well to defend their goal-line by clearing away the Light Blue efforts.
Demi Vance delivered an excellent through ball to Arnot within the box but her cut across was deflected away by a defender.
Arnot had another fantastic opportunity to break the deadlock before the end of the first half. McLeary sent a header over the heads of the Boroughmuir Thistle players to meet Arnot at the edge of the box, but the Thistle keeper made a good challenge to safely collect the ball.
The Gers began to fall into a dominant and consistent rhythm, building momentum and creating numerous chances.
Kayla McCoy struck the crossbar after a strong header from an Arnot cross but was ruled offside by the assistant referee.
Rangers were awarded a penalty after Arnot was brought down by Elise Macara inside the box. She stood at the penalty spot and took a powerful shot that flew past the Thistle keeper, Ciara Duff.
Only a few minutes later, Jodie McLeary made it two for the Light Blues after a powerful strike within the box. Docherty and Arnot did well to work together to intercept the ball back within the home side’s final third, where Arnot crossed the ball to meet the foot of McLeary.
Demi Vance nearly made it a third after the ball fell to her feet in the Thistle box, but her strike was saved well by substitute keeper, Katie Moodie.
Rangers kept their momentum as the game headed into the second half, and after only a few minutes in Rachel McLaughlan made it a third for Teds after a half volley from inside the box that hit the bottom left corner of the net.
Not long after, Emma Watson found the fourth for Rangers after a lovely strike from the left-hand side, with the keeper unable to get a hand to it.
Jane Ross also netted for the Light Blues after a sensational cross from McLaughlan from the right wing, but she was ruled offside.
The Gers maintained the pressure into the dying moments of the game, making several dangerous crosses and passages of play to continue to challenge the Thistle players. Almost on the final whistle, the Gers were awarded a free kick at the edge of the box. Arnot delivered a powerful shot, but the Boroughmuir keeper made a great save to deny a fifth and final for the Gers.
RANGERS: Cunningham, Docherty, Vance, McCoy (67), McLaughlan, Arnot, Cornet, McLeary, Westrup (C), Watson, Swaby. SUBS: Fife, Reilly, Ness, Ross (67).
BOUROUGHMUIR THISTLE: Duff (40), Gibson, Macara, Wilkinson, Davie, Anderson, Templeton (58), Macleod, Novou Torrente, Duncan, Todd (44). SUBS: Moodie (40), McLean (44), McCabe (58), Murray, Lynch
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