Match Report: Three Points against Partick Thistle

CHELSEA Cornet’s first-half goal was the difference at Petershill Park this afternoon as Rangers picked up three points against Partick Thistle.

Despite dominating the majority of possession, the Light Blues couldn’t add to the scoring in the Park’s Motor Group SWPL as Malky Thomson’s side continued their unbeaten start to the campaign.

The Gers boss named three changes to his side from the Gers last match two weeks ago with Megan Cunningham, Janni Arnth and Megan Bell all coming into the starting line-up, with Jenna Fife, Nicola Docherty and Kirsten Reilly on the bench.

It was Arnth’s debut for the Light Blues after joining the club in the summer, while it was a welcome return to the team for Megan Bell as she made her first appearance of 2021 having recovered from injury.

Rangers started brightly and a one-two with Rachel McLauchlan and Jane Ross down the right saw McLauchlan deliver a dangerous ball into the box in search of Lizzie Arnot but Partick Thistle managed to clear the danger to deny Rangers an early opener.

However, the early pressure paid off for the Light Blues as they took the lead with 11 minutes on the clock. Chelsea Cornet turned well to find herself in space outside the box and tried a fantastic shot from distance which curled into the top corner to give Rangers the breakthrough.

Shortly after, Rachel McLauchlan picked out Jane Ross with a lovely diagonal ball with the striker taking a touch before firing a left-footed shot across goal but it bounced just wide of the target.

Despite having the majority of possession in the opening half an hour at Petershill Park, Rangers were unable to test Lauren McGregor in the Partick Thistle goal. Rachel McLauchlan saw a shot from distance drift wide before Zoe Ness dragged a shot across goal but wide of the post as the Light Blues looked to double their advantage.

In the final minutes of the first-half, Lizzie Arnot cut the ball back to Megan Bell inside the box but her curling effort was deflected just wide of the target and out for a Rangers corner .

McGregor was called into action to deny Rangers a second before the break as Bell played a lovely through ball to Lizzie Arnot but her low shot was blocked by the Partick Thistle goalkeeper.

Malky Thomson made two changes to his side at half-time as Janni Arnth and Megan Bell were replaced by Chantelle Swaby and Kirsten Reilly.

Four minutes into the second-half Rangers thought they had the second goal as Chelsea Cornet’s shot was pushed away by McGregor but fell to Jane Ross who tapped home from distance, but unfortunately for the Gers the linesman had his flag up for offside.

Chantelle Swaby saw a shot from inside the box tipped over by the Partick Thistle goalkeeper as Rangers piled on the pressure early in the second-half.

In the 65th minute, Rangers were awarded a free-kick after a foul on Kirsten Reilly at the corner of the box. Demi Vance stepped-up to the set-piece and curled a fantastic left-footed effort towards goal which hit the bar before being gathered by McGregor.

Chances were few and far between in the dying stages of the match as Rangers saw out the game to take all three points at Petershill.

RANGERS: Cunningham, Vance, Arnth (Swaby, 46), Middag, Ness (Hay, 69), Bell (Reilly, 46), McLauchlan, Ross, Arnot, Cornet, Westrup.

Subs: Fife, Docherty, Hay, Reilly, McCoy, Maclean, Swaby.

Partick Thistle: McGregor, Murphy, McCulloch, Falconer, Docherty, Mcbrearty, McGowan, Dalziel, Macdonald, Bulloch, Christie.

Subs: Magilton, Hogg, Smith, Brown.

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