RANGERS ran out 2-1 winners over rivals Celtic to go top of the table as they overcame their rivals in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League at Excelsior Stadium this afternoon.
A close encounter in the opening 45 minutes saw the two teams go in locked level at the break before the restart burst the match into life. The hosts went ahead through a Caitlin Hayes header before the Gers replied through Kirsty Maclean to level up proceedings.
The Light Blues pressed for a winner and got one in the final 10 minutes as Rio Hardy was on hand to head home the winner on her Old Firm league debut as the Gers now sit top of the table heading into the international break.
Jo Potter named two changes to the side that ran out dominant 7-0 winners over Hibs at Ibrox last weekend, Mia McAulay and Megan Bell came into the side in place of Jodi McLeary and Rachel Rowe.
Both sides settled in the opening period of the top of the table clash in Airdrie. The hosts had an early corner which was dealt with by the Rangers backline. Kirsty Howat set free Mia McAulay with a quick throw down the right, the youngster carried the ball well down the flank before the Celtic defence sussed out the danger.
The hosts started to probe without threatening the Rangers goal. Murphy Agnew found herself in a promising area on the left flank. She looked for the arriving Amy Gallacher inside the area but the covering Kathryn Hill did well to divert the half chance away on the cover.
The opening 15 minutes passed without any real opportunities for either side in the derby. The Gers had settled into possession after a frantic start but weren’t able to make inroads towards the opposition's goal.
Maclean registered the first effort for the away side on the day just moments later. Rio Hardy did well to hold the ball up down the flank before Chelsea Cornet picked the ball up in the second phase. The two midfielders combined with the youngster trying her luck from the edge of the area, but the effort went past the far post.
It was again the 18-year-old that had another half chance but this time was gathered by Kelsey Daugherty after a deflection. Rachel McLauchlan carried the ball brilliantly down the flank before it broke for Maclean, but her shot hit Kelly Clark and it allowed the keeper to gather.
The Light Blues had the best chance of the match so far which fell to Rio Hardy. Celtic midfielder Colette Cavanagh was caught on the ball inside her own half which was pounced upon. Howat burst through and slipped in her strike partner to the right, the forward looked to slip the ball beyond Daugherty but the goalkeeper made the save.
The hosts had a chance of their own just minutes later. A long ball down the right from Chloe Craig saw a mix-up in the Gers backline. Agnew had latched onto the pass in behind with Jenna Fife out her goal, but the angle was tight as the effort flew across the box with McLauchlan there to sense any danger.
A high through ball almost caused a mix-up in the Celtic backline this time. Chelsea Cornet closed down the goalkeeper with Kelly Clark close by, the ball broke for Howat on the edge of the area but her shot was blocked by the defender. A half chance then followed for the forward again moments later who tried her luck from the edge of the area, but her shot was held by Daugherty as the game reached 10 to the interval.
Cavanagh tried her luck from over 30 yards which was seen past the post by Fife. The midfielder’s left footed shot was ambitious and the keeper was level to it as the sides looked set to go in at the break locked level.
There was a positive run of play from the Gers as they looked to break the deadlock deep into the opening 45 minutes. Maclean created an opportunity for Howat after a clever turn and through ball. The striker recycled the play finding her strike partner before the ball was worked over to the edge of the area. Cornet came onto it but her half volley whistled past the near post and went behind.
A couple of efforts from Howat burst Rangers into life at the start of the second half. Libby Bance was introduced at the break and started well as she skipped past multiple players on the right flank before finding Maclean. The midfielder found the striker on the edge of the area but a shot on either foot was blocked by the Celtic defence.
Craig registered the hosts’ first shot on target since the restart in what was a lively beginning. The wing-back cut inside and fired an effort on her left foot which was claimed by Fife. Gallacher was next to try her luck this time from the edge of the box but again the goalkeeper was level to it.
Celtic took the lead courtesy of a set piece which was headed in by Caitlin Hayes. Shen Mengyu sent across a corner kick to the far post with the centre-back rising highest to head the ball over Fife at the far post to put the hosts ahead at the start of the second half.
Rangers responded in the best way possible as they got themselves on level terms through Kirsty Maclean. Striker Howat found herself well placed close to the touchline as she cut the ball back to the penalty spot. The midfielder composed herself with plenty of time as she picked her spot and slotted the ball beyond Daugherty to level up the derby.
The away side seemed to take confidence from finding the equaliser as they looked the more likely of the two to go ahead. Finding themselves in promising areas in the final third they continued to look threatening to find the second goal to turn the match around. A period of play down the right flank saw the ball worked to Cornet on the edge of the box, but the effort from distance looped over the top.
The away side remained on top in the final quarter of the contest as they continued to threaten. A set-piece almost resulted in the Gers turning the match around, a ball to the far post found defender Kathryn Hill, her effort was heading goal bound but was cleared off the line and away to safety.
Rangers got their rewards for the response as they found a deserved second goal through Rio Hardy. After a period of sustained pressure they finally added a second, substitute Lizzie Arnot clipped a ball into the box from the left side with the striker well placed in the box she headed the ball beyond Daugherty from close range to give the Gers the lead.
Howat almost wrapped up the contest in the final minute of original time. A ball over the top was met by the striker, from a tight angle she looked to fire the ball beyond Daugherty but the keeper made a smart stop to turn it round the post.
The hosts looked to respond in injury time but were unable to find a leveller as Jo Potter’s side leapfrogged their rivals to go top of the table heading into the international break.
CELTIC: Daugherty, Cummings, Craig, Gallacher, Smith (Partido 86), Mengyu, Cavanagh (Addi 59), Agnew (Loferski 74), Clark, Hayes, Menglu (Ross 74)
SUBS: Logan, Burchill, Goldie, Sharkey, McGoldrick
RANGERS: Fife, McLauchlan, Hill, Docherty, McAulay (McLeary 59), Cornet (Middag 84), Maclean, Hay (Arnot 59), Bell (Bance 45), Hardy, Howat
SUBS: Esson, Austin, Colson, Ewens, Berry