The Light Blues were punished for a sluggish first half performance as a brace from Celtic forward Natasha Flint brought the side’s remarkable run to an end, with the away side ultimately running out of time after Jane Ross halved the deficit in the latter stages.
Jo Potter’s side, who remain atop the SWPL table despite the defeat, will now quickly shift their attention to next weekend’s Sky Sports Cup final at Tynecastle as the Gers look to get their hands on silverware.
There was a welcome boost for Rangers prior to kick-off as Kirsty Howat made her return to the matchday squad after a lengthy injury absence.
However, the early optimism was quickly extinguished in the Gers ranks as the hosts came flying out of the traps to open the contest.
There was an early warning sign inside the first 90 seconds when Kit Loferski spun smartly, racing clear of Tessel Middag before pulling a dangerous delivery across goal that captain Nicola Docherty was fortunately on hand to clear.
It was certainly a let-off for Rangers, and they paid the price for Celtic’s bright start three minutes later as the home side took the lead. The ball made its way into midfield where Loferski, who had threatened moments earlier, was afforded the time and space to slide a pass through the heart of the Gers defence to Natasha Flint, who stabbed the ball home at the second attempt after Jenna Fife produced a terrific stop to deny the forward initially.
Rachel Rowe looked for an immediate riposte when she blazed a speculative effort over the crossbar from 25 yards, although the reprieve was only brief for Jo Potter’s side as Celtic went close to doubling their advantage moments later.
Lucy Ashworth-Clifford was the recipient on the left-hand side as she flashed a menacing delivery across the face of goal in search of Loferski who steered her finish wide from close range.
Indeed, it took Rangers until the quarter-hour mark to establish somewhat of a control on proceedings, with the lively Rowe shooting straight at Kelsey Daugherty in the hosts’ goal from distance.
It was the Welsh midfielder who appeared the most likely to find the leveller for Rangers, producing a neat give-and-go with Rio Hardy on the edge of the Celtic penalty area before her subsequent dangerous effort was headed away en route by Chloe Craig.
Although Rangers had gradually grabbed control of the possession column, they still lacked a spark in the final third as Celtic’s three-player backline stood firm.
And then, just three minutes prior to the interval, the home side doubled their advantage and left Rangers with an uphill climb to preserve their unbeaten record.
A raking switch pass out to Ashworth-Clifford put the visitors on the back foot, with the Celtic wing-back whipping a wicked delivery into the penalty area that wreaked havoc and allowed Natasha Flint to volley home her second goal of the afternoon from close range.
Rangers emerged for the second period with it all to do, testing their luck from distance when Docherty strode forward into midfield and lifted a long-range effort over the crossbar.
Tensions appeared to boil over by the right touchline when a late challenge on Mia McAulay only warranted a yellow card in the eyes of the referee, who was, moments later, waving Rangers appeals away for a possible handball in the Celtic penalty area.
Moments later, space opened up for fellow substitute Libby Bance as she carried forward into the attacking area, who duly obliged but failed to trouble Daugherty in the Celtic goal.
The away side then carved out perhaps their most promising opportunity of the match with 20 minutes remaining as McAulay latched onto a neat slide rule pass from Liv McLoughlin, although she could only steer her finish wide of the target.
And an improved second half showing from Potter’s side engineered a goal to set up a tasty final 12 minutes. Docherty was the architect down the left-hand side as her delivery floated all the way through to McAulay at the far post, whose errant touch fell kindly for substitute Jane Ross to slam home and halve the deficit.
Rangers continued to push forward in search of the leveller, threatening briefly with two minutes remaining of normal time when Lisa Martinez rose to meet Rowe’s corner but she could only steer her header straight down the throat of Daugherty.
Five additional minutes were signalled by the fourth official, with Rangers going ever so close when they crashed an effort over the crossbar, before time eventually ran out on the away side in their bid to salvage a point.
CELTIC: Daugherty, Ross (Goldie, 90), Craig, Gallacher (Cavanagh, 63), Mengyu, Clark, Hayes, Partido, Loferski (Agnew, 73), Ashworth-Clifford (Menglu, 73), Flint
Subs not used: Logan, Barclais, Cummings, Smith, McAneny
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Middag, Hay (McAulay, 56), Rowe, Hardy (Ross, 71), Arnot, Ewens, Cornet (Bance, 56), Martinez, McLoughlin
Subs not used: Esson, Howat, Austin, McLeary