RANGERS were defeated 2-1 in the final Old Firm derby of the SWPL season this afternoon.
The visitors opened the scoring midway through the first-half through Kelly Clark before Rangers responded quickly as Rachel McLauchlan netted her first goal for the club. An 82nd minute header from Sarah Ewens proved to be the difference late in the second-half.
Malky Thomson named three changes to his side from the side that beat Hibernian 3-0 in midweek, Kirsten Reilly returned from injury with Chantelle Swaby and Rachel McLauchlan also in the starting line-up.
Rangers took control of the ball in the opening stages of the game, a Lizzie Arnot corner fell for Sam Kerr in the box but the midfielder’s shot was blocked by a Celtic defender.
Shortly after, Zoe Ness put Celtic centre-back Caitlin Hayes under pressure in the box with the Gers striker coming away with the ball at the byline to deliver a cross into Lizzie Arnot, but her shot was cleared off the line by Chloe Warrington.
In the 20th minute Lisa Roberston swung a free-kick into the box for Celtic which met Mariah Lee but Jenna Fife got a hand to the effort to deny the Celtic forward.
From the resulting corner, the ball was delivered into the box and Kelly Clark headered home to give the visitors the lead.
Just six minutes later Rangers were level, Zoe Ness played the ball into Rachel McLauchlan and the right-back hit a shot from distance which looped over Celtic keeper Chloe Logan and into the back of the net for her first goal for the club.
McLauchlan tried another shot from distance shortly after which was held by Logan, before the Celtic keeper turned behind Sam Kerr’s strike as Rangers looked for a second.
Sam Kerr drove down the right in the final stages of the first-half before picking out Brogan Hay but her powerful effort was tipped wide by Logan.
Chances for either side were few and far between in the second-half as neither keeper was called into action in the opening stages.
Rachel McLauchlan and Zoe Ness both had efforts off target as heavy rain made for difficult conditions at Rangers Training Centre.
In the 82nd minute Jenna Fife pulled off a great save as she tipped Caitlin Hayes’ header over the bar. However, from the resulting corner the visitors netted their second of the game as Sarah Ewens headed home the set-piece.
Rangers: Fife, Docherty, Hay (Brownlie, 64), Reilly (O’Neill, 86), Ness, McLauchlan, Arnot, Cornet, Kerr, Westrup, Swaby (Girasoli, 86).
Subs: Cunningham, Bourma, Devi, Gemmell.
Celtic: Logan, Bartle, Lee (Pollard, 84), Galabadaarachchi (Nicolson, 46), Robertson, Ewens, Donaldson (Atkinson, 79), Clark (Craig, 77), Hayes, Filbey, Warrington.
Subs: Pollard, Bowie, McAllister, Johnstone.
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