Jane Ross netted a double with Chelsea Cornet also on the scoresheet as a strong team performance from the Light Blues saw them pick up all three points at Rangers Training Centre.
Malky Thomson named three changes to his side as Nicola Docherty, Rachel McLauchlan and Tessel Middag came into the starting line-up with Emma Brownlie, Kirsten Reilly and Brianna Westrup on the bench.
Early in the match, Tessel Middag found Lizzie Arnot in space in midfield and the Scotland international spotted Rachel Harrison off of her line and tried to loop the ball over the Spartans goalkeeper but she recovered well to hold the effort.
With 8 minutes on the clock, Rangers got the breakthrough with some fantastic build-up play. Jane Ross started the move as she linked-up with Zoe Ness who fed the ball out wide to Rachel McLauchlan. The right-back drove to the byline before picking out Ross in the box and she flicked the ball beyond Rachel Harrison with a lovely finish for her fourth goal in three league appearances.
The Light Blues were dominating possession at Auchenhowie and almost had a second as Lizzie Arnot drove towards goal before releasing a powerful shot which beat Rachel Harrison but bounced back off the post before the danger was cleared by the visitors.
The pressure paid off for Malky Thomson’s side as they doubled their advantage in the 34th minute. Demi Vance picked out Zoe Ness with a ball from the left but her header was pushed away by Harrison. However, it landed at Brogan Hay on the edge of the boc who drilled a low shot into the back of the net.
It was a busy first-half for Harrison as she was forced into a double save shortly after as Lizzie Arnot looked to add a third before the break.
Nicola Docherty, who was captaining the side this evening, picked out Zoe Ness in the box in the final minutes of the half but her effort was just wide of the post.
Into the second-half, Chantelle Swaby saw an effort go just wide before Rachel McLauchlan’s shot from distance dipped over the bar.
On the hour mark, Rangers had their third as Brogan Hay broke down the right before delivering a ball into the box which was cleared by Spartans but only as far as Jane Ross. The striker took a touch onto her left foot before lifting the ball beyond Harrison for her second goal of the match.
The visitors got a goal back as a free-kick was delivered into the box by Simone McMahon and a mix up in the Rangers defence saw Caley Gibb manage to get a touch on the ball for Spartans.
However, the Light Blues had an instant response as Jane Ross played in Chelsea Cornet from the restart and she made a strong run into the box before shooting across goal and into the back of the net.
Rangers made it five in the 83rd minute, Lizzie Arnot’s corner fell in the box before being tapped home by Brogan Hay.
It was a hat-trick for Hay in the final stages of the game. Emma Brownlie’s throw-in was fed into the path of Hay by Emma Watson and she showed composure to guide the ball into the corner.
Harrison pulled off two fantastic saves in added time as she denied Kirsty MacLean and Kirsten Reilly.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Vance, Swaby (Reilly, 70), McLauchlan (Brownlie, 84), Middag, Arnot, Cornet (MacLean, 86), Hay, Ross (McLeary, 84), Ness (Watson, 86).
SUBS: Cunningham, Westrup.
SPARTANS: Harrison, Mason, Clelland, S. McMahon, Ryan, Frew, Reynolds, Mcquillan, McCafferty, Galbraith, Smart.
SUBS: Yates, D. McMahon, Douglas, Marshall, Gibb, Reilly
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