RANGERS picked up three points on the road this afternoon in their first away match of the Scottish Women’s Premier League season in Aberdeen.
It was another impressive performance from Malky Thomson’s team as they defeated the north-east side 8-0 at Balmoral Stadium.
A double from Lizzie Arnot and goals from Rachel McLauchlan and Kathryn Hill had Rangers 4-0 ahead at the break. Arnot scored two more in the second-half, with goals from Kirsty Howat and Dina Orschmann rounding off the scoring.
Thomson named three changes to his side from last weekend’s 14-0 opening day victory against Glasgow Women with Victoria Esson coming in for her first league start and Lizzie Arnot and Brogan Hay also named in the starting line-up.
Rangers lined-up with Esson in goal and a back four of Nicola Docherty, Hannah Davison, Kathryn Hill and Rachel McLauchlan. Kirsty Maclean, Chelsea Cornet and Jenny Danielsson were in midfield, with Lizzie Arnot and Brogan Hay supporting Kayla McCoy up front.
Gers were looking to build on their strong start to the league campaign, but faced tough opposition from Aberdeen’s young side.
Early chances for the Light Blues saw Hannah Davison’s header deflected just wide from a Lizzie Arnot corner, before Kayla McCoy fired an effort from distance just wide of Aaliyah-Jay Meach’s post.
The defending champions were dominating possession in the opening 20 minutes, but Aberdeen’s back-line was standing firm.
However, it wasn’t long before the breakthrough did come for Rangers. Rachel McLauchlan fed the ball out wide to Brogan Hay and the winger showed her pace as she took a touch beyond Francesca Ogilivie to drive towards the byline.
Hay then delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal which met Lizzie Arnot and she touched beyond Meach for her third goal in two games.
At the other end, Ogilivie tried an effort from distance as Aberdeen looked to get back level but her shot took a deflection off of Rachel McLauchlan before being gathered by Victoria Esson.
Bayley Hutchison was next to have an effort for the home side and came close as she put pressure on Chelsea Cornet to win the ball before driving towards goal and getting a shot away but her strike hit the side netting.
Rangers managed to double their advantage 10 minutes before the break. Lizzie Arnot cut inside from the left wing and curled a superb right-footed effort from distance towards goal. Meach appeared to get a touch to knock it onto the crossbar but Rachel McLauchlan was alert to tap home the rebound.
It was three before the break and it was captain Kathryn Hill who got on the scoresheet. A Rangers corner was swung into the box by Lizzie Arnot from the right-hand side and caused problems for the Aberdeen defence.
The home side were unable to clear the danger as Malky Thomson’s side pushed for another goal and the ball made its way back out wide to Arnot. She swung another inviting ball into the box, with Hill still in an advanced area the skipper showed composure to guide a right-footed finish beyond Meach.
In first-half injury time, Rangers were awarded a penalty as Kayla McCoy was taken down in the box by Donna Paterson as she looked to get a shot away at goal.
Arnot stepped up to the spot, and sent the keeper the wrong way with her right-footed penalty to send Gers in with a four goal advantage at the break.
Malky Thomson made one change to his side at the break as Sam Kerr was introduced in place of Chelsea Cornet.
Rangers were awarded another penalty on the 54th minute as Brogan Hay’s cross came off the arm of Elena Karkkainen and the referee pointed to the spot. Arnot stepped up to take the penalty and secured her hat-trick with the composed penalty.
Less than two minutes later, Arnot had her fourth goal of the afternoon. Kathryn Hill picked out the forward with a long ball, and the Scotland international cut into the box before curling a superb right-footed shot into the top corner.
On the hour mark, Thomson made a triple change as Kirsty Howat, Tessel Middag and Dina Orschmann all took to the pitch with Jenny Danielsson, Kirsty Maclean and Kayla McCoy coming off.
Rangers were not taking their foot off the gas and made it 7-0 with 25 minutes of game remaining. It was good play from Brogan Hay, as she found Kirsty Howat and the striker turned well just inside the box to slot a low shot beyond Meach.
Dina Orschmann was next to get in on the scoring as she netted her first competitive goal for the Light Blues. A good ball was swung into the box by Rachel McLauchlan and Orschmann was on hand to finish from close range for her first Scottish Women’s Premier League goal.
It was another strong performance from the Light Blues as attention now turns to the UEFA Women’s Champions League next week with Rangers taking on Hungarian champions Ferencváros in Greece on Thursday.
RANGERS: Esson, Docherty, Davison, Hill, McLauchlan, Maclean (Middag, 59), Cornet (Kerr, 46), Danielsson (Orschmann, 59), Arnot (Watson, 72), Hay, McCoy (Howat, 59).
Subs not used: Fife, Cavanagh, McLeary.
Aberdeen: Meach, Campbell, Broadrick, Paterson, Shore, Gover (Karkkainnen, 46), Hutchison, Collins (Urquhart, 65), Ogilvie (McCafferty, 65) Christie, Finnie.
Subs: McCann, Bruce, Gordon, Stewart, Thomson, Greenwood.
Referee: Joel Kennedy.
Attendance: 329
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