Four goals on her first competitive start for the club from Katie Wilkinson, a Rio Hardy double, a fantastic Liv McLoughlin strike, a Laura Berry finish and an own goal sent the Gers on their way as they began the new season in style.
Jo Potter’s side looked to get off to the best possible start in their SWPL campaign in the North East. There were starts for new signings Leah Eddie and Katie Wilkinson in the lineup as supporters got to see pair in Rangers colours competitively for the first time.
Rangers had the chance to make the perfect start on the opening day. A ball down the left saw Lizzie Arnot and Nicola Docherty combine before the skipper sent a delivery into the area. It evaded the bodies at the front post and almost fell for Rio Hardy inside the box, but her touch was loose which allowed Niamh Noble to clear the danger.
The away side got their reward for a positive start and it was a debut goal for Katie Wilkinson. Not for the first time in the opening exchanges the Gers got joy down their left and it was Arnot again involved as she clipped in a left footed cross towards the near post. The forward met it with her head and turned it goalwards beyond Megan Sidey to nod in the opener and put Rangers in front.
The Gers continued to dominate in the opening 10 minutes and got their rewards with a second goal. Arnot, who started brightly, got in down the side and cut the ball back for the arriving Chelsea Cornet. Her shot had beaten Sidey all ends up but came back off the post before Hardy was on hand to tap in the rebound to double the advantage.
Two almost became three just minutes later as the Light Blues were keen to wrap up the game early on. The opposite flank was used alternatively with Mia McAulay whipping the ball across, Arnot met it on the volley but fired over from the penalty spot.
Several Gers players were involved as they worked the play through the midfield efficiently. Chelsea Cornet and Liv McLoughlin combined before the latter found the feet of the first goalscorer, she combined with Kirsty Howat before Wilkinson unleashed a shot that hit the side netting at the near post.
Liv McLoughlin went close to adding to the lead and was denied by a smart save from Sidey. A ball from Cornet found the feet of Hardy who then acknowledged the run of the 19-year-old, she tried her luck at the near post but it was turned round the post well by the shot stopper.
Kirsty Howat, who was playing a slightly deeper number 10 role, was next to go close for the visitors. Wilkinson initially did well to hold the ball in for the Gers as she combined with the forward, she looked to place one in the top corner but saw her effort crash off the underside of the bar and stay out.
They did however manage to grab a third and it was Hardy at the double. Again, Lizzie Arnot provided a delivery in towards the near post which was met by the forward who turned it goalwards on her left side to make it three just past the half-hour mark.
The same combination almost provided a fourth and Hardy with a hat-trick. The winger whipped in a cross onto the head of the forward just beyond the six-yard area. She met it with her head but saw the woodwork deny her the match ball from close range.
The fourth did come in the next phase of play however with the Gers totally dominant in the opening half. Howat was initially denied by a smart save from Sidey after combining with Wilkinson before Arnot managed to bundle the rebound over the line with the goalkeeper attempting to the keep the effort out.
The Gers were continuously rampant in the first 45 minutes as they added to their advantage in the next attack. McAulay got in down the right side and fired in a dangerous cross into the box, it hit the unfortunate Chloe Gover for the Dons who couldn’t do anything about it as she turned the ball into her own net as the away side found a fifth.
There was still time for Katie Wilkinson to add her second on her first competitive start as she added a sixth for the Gers in the last of the action before the interval. A ball over the top was met by the midfield runner in McLoughlin, she worked the ball onto her left foot before being denied by Sidey. The shot fell to Wilkinson who the looped it over the top of the goalkeeper who was off her line into the back of the net to round off a ruthless first half display from the Gers.
After a spell of possession early in the second half, the Gers went close to a seventh after the restart. After switching to a back four following a double substitution at the break, Leah Eddie was operating in a right-back role and sent a dangerous delivery into the Aberdeen box. Wilkinson met it in the area as she seeked out a hat-trick, but her header was denied at point blank range by Sidey.
The Dons had their first real involvement in the match with a positive attacking piece of play just short of the hour-mark. Advancing into the final third Emily Kraft held it up well before using Hannah McInnes on the right flank. She fired an effort at goal which had goalkeeper Victoria Esson scrambling across, but she was denied by the top of the crossbar as it stayed out.
Wilkinson tried an ambitious effort on the counter-attack as she was eager to claim a hat-trick on her first start. After a changeover in play she drove forward and spotted Megan Sidey off her line. She opted against using substitute Laura Berry to her left and tried a looping effort which missed the target.
Rangers threatened to stretch their lead on several occasions but looked most likely on counter-attacks. Substitutes Tessel Middag and Berry combined as the former sent a long ball down the line which the youngster latched onto. She chopped inside onto her left foot and attempted to get herself on the scoresheet, but was denied by the covering defender who made the block.
A clever set piece superbly finished off by Liv McLoughlin saw Rangers add a seventh just shortly after. A quick corner involving Arnot and Berry saw them work the ball to the youngster on the edge of the area who superbly sent a looping effort over everyone and into the back of the net to provide a moment of real quality.
Katie Wilkinson was on hand to provide the finishing touches on another corner kick routine as she claimed a debut hat trick. Another quick piece of play saw a delivery from Arnot met inside the six-yard box by the former Southampton striker and she found the back of the net for the third time on the day.
A ninth was soon to arrive with Wilkinson grabbing her fourth of the afternoon. Middag fired a purposeful pass into the feet of the striker who found space in the box, she spun well under little pressure before composing herself and finishing the ball low into the net to add another.
Lizzie Arnot was on hand to add a 10th goal for the Gers as she got her reward for a superb days work. Middag picked the ball up on the edge of the box and acknowledged the winger to her left, stepping onto the pass she placed it into the near post.
There was still time towards the end for substitute Laura Berry to find the target. Fellow sub Eilidh Austin advanced forward from the flank and cut the ball across to the youngster who rounded off the scoring to fire the Gers to the top of the SWPL table on the opening day.
ABERDEEN: Sidey, Noble, Bruce, Gover, Emile Stewart, Finnie, Innes (Miller 78) , Robertson (McEvoy 45), Thomson, Kraft, Black
SUBS: Maclean, Edwards, MacPherson, Fraser, Adams, Elder
RANGERS: Esson, Eddie, Hill, Docherty (Black 76), McAulay (Berry 45), Arnot, Cornet (Middag 45), McLoughlin, Howat (Rafferty 45), Hardy, Wilkinson (Austin 76)
SUBS: Fife