A moment of brilliance was to separate the sides as Kirsty Howat’s second-half strike from the edge of the area was the difference as the Light Blues came out in top in the Old Firm derby.
Malky Thomson made three changes from their weekend outing against Hearts, with Tessel Middag, Emma Watson and Brogan Hay come into the starting line-up as they replaced Kirsty Maclean, Jodi McLeary as well as the injured Jenny Danielsson.
Rangers started on the front foot in Airdrie as they created several early openings in the contest. Brogan Hay found her striker in Kirsty Howat whose pass then found the arriving Sam Kerr with her attempted cross diverted behind for the first corner. The initial ball was cleared before Maddie Nolf tried her luck from distance but her shot looped over the top in the first effort of the night.
Chances at the Excelsior Stadium were few and far between inside the opening 15 minutes as the home side started keeping possession and getting a foot hold in the match. Rangers were making use of the ball without creating anything clear cut themselves in a close opening period.
It took up until just short of the 20 minute mark for the hosts to register their first effort of the evening. Jacynta picked the ball up in a promising position down the right channel as she managed to get past Nolf and inside the area, however her shot was safely gathered by Victoria Esson.
Howat found herself in plenty of space around 25 yards from goal, she acknowledged Emma Watson in space down the opposite flank but decided to go for goal herself as her right footed effort from range flashed wide.
Caitlin Hayes thought she had opened the scoring for the hosts as she got her head on a Jacynta corner, but Natasha Flint seemed to be impeding Esson in the Rangers goal as the referee blew for the foul after the ball had hit the back of the net.
Gers went closest of the two sides to going in front with a cross come shot from Brogan Hay. Midfielder Kerr did superbly to ride multiple chances deep down the right flank, she cut the ball back to the winger whose delivery to the far post was dipping in but for Pamela Tajonar to turn the ball away before it crossed the line.
A Tessel Middag corner was initially cleared by a Celtic head before it was picked up on the edge of the area by Rachel McLauchlan. The right-back struck a superb shot on the half volley which was heading for the far corner but the Celtic goalkeeper did well to deny the defender from opening the scoring before the break.
Middag was again on set piece duties as her well struck free kick was tipped over the top from Tajonar as Gers knocked on the door before the break.
The theme of the night continued at the start of the second period although the Light Blues had slightly edged the contest at that stage. Captain Kathryn Hill sent a long ball over the top that was latched onto by Howat but the striker couldn’t get the required power from the angle as it rolled into the keeper’s hands.
It took past the hour mark for the next real opening in what was a cagey affair in Airdrie. Natalie Ross latched into Esson’s kick out inside the Rangers half, she slipped the ball through for Flint who worked the ball onto her left side but saw her shot drift wide of the near post.
A moment of brilliance was to arrive curtosy of Kirsty Howat who superbly fired Rangers in front in the derby. After initial clever play down the left side involving Hay and Watson then saw the former pick out the striker on the edge of the area, trying her luck from range her well struck shot came back off the far post and into the back of the net as her solo effort broke the deadlock.
Claire O’Riordan got on the end of a corner kick delivery as the hosts looked for a quick response. Her glancing header looked to be heading for the far corner but Esson did well to turn the effort away before Kelly Clark couldn’t divert her shot on the rebound in at the angle.
The Light Blues were comfortable in their shape as they were holding firm and withstanding anything Celtic tried to throw at them as they went in search of an equaliser with just under 10 minutes remaining in Airdrie.
Emma Watson did brilliantly to carry the ball over 50 yards down the right channel having swapped wings as the Gers relieved the pressure in stoppage time. Celtic were unable to find a late equaliser as Rangers saw the game out superbly to claim a vital three points in the title race with Howat’s strike the difference in Airdrie.
RANGERS: Esson, Nolf, Davison, Hill, McLauchlan, Middag, Cornet (Maclean 48), Kerr, Watson, Hay (Arnot 77), Howat (McLeary 85).
SUBS: Fife, Docherty, Cavanagh, Bell, McAulay, Berry.
CELTIC: Tajonar, O’Riordan, Ross, Gallacher (Loferski 68), Jacynta, Mengyu, Clark (Craig 77), Kerner, Hayes, Flint, Menglu
SUBS: Logan, Otto, Robertson, Fergusson, Bowie, Goldie, McAneny
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