Report: Gers Up And Running With Accies Friendly Win

RANGERS ran out 14-1 winners over Hamilton Academical in their first pre-season friendly at the Rangers Training Centre this evening.

Nine different goalscorers were on hand for the Light Blues as they dominated throughout and got valuable gametime for the players having been back in training since the end of June.

Head coach Jo Potter named a mixture of youth and experience in the lineup, as they continued their preparations ahead of the start of the SWPL campaign on August 11.

Rangers took an early deserved lead in Milngavie having dominated the early exchanges. Clever combination play down the right side involving Eilidh Austin and Tessel Middag saw the latter cut the ball back inside the area, the pass was met by Jodi McLeary who dispatched the ball beyond the goalkeeper to put the Gers in front.

They almost doubled the lead on two occasions just minutes later. Firstly, Lizzie Arnot’s delivery was met by the head of Rio Hardy but for a fantastic point blank save from India Marwaha to turn it onto the bar.

The next chance fell for Middag after a mistake in the Accies backline. A diagonal attempted pass from Liv McLoughlin fell through to the versatile midfielder, but her shot went the wrong side of the near post.

It was McLoughlin however who did double the advantage, a chance presented itself after work down the left side, as she finished the ball off well on her left foot at the near post to make it two just short of the 15-minute mark.

Two quickly became three courtesy of Kirsty Maclean’s goal. Laura Berry made a well-timed run down the side and cut the ball back for the midfielder, who finished it well on her left side beyond the goalkeeper to make it three as the Gers started in impressive and comfortable fashion.

Berry was then on hand herself to score the fourth after creating the third. A clipped ball over the top from Leah Eddie allowed the striker to cut inside, before dispatching the ball at the near post as Rangers were in early rampant form.

It was quickly to become five and it was Berry who was continuing her fine goal scoring form of last season into this. A ball over the top from Maclean was met by the youngster whose touch was good before she took it round the goal keeper and finished it off on the half volley.

The Gers continued to probe and reaped their rewards with a sixth. Middag found the midfield runner in McLoughlin who brought down the ball well inside the area. She could have gone for goal herself but unselfishly laid it on a plate for Berry who rolled it into the net to complete her hat-trick.

There was still time for a seventh before the break and it was a fourth of the night for Laura Berry. Clever build-up play down the left saw a delivery across the box met by the striker, who put it away well on the half volley in clinical fashion.

Rio Hardy got herself amongst the scoring just seconds after the restart. Mia McAulay was involved straight away after coming on, she played in Arnot who helped it on to the English forward, who finished it across goal on her left foot.

Brogan Hay provided the assist as Berry found the back of the net for the fifth time of the evening. Fresh off Scotland duty she sent the ball into the box which was met by the youngster on the half volley as she dispatched the ball home from close range.

Hamilton did however, get themselves on the scoresheet from the penalty spot. Forward Josi Giard was brought down inside the area by Kathy Hill after initially getting the better of Austin. Freya MacDonald stepped up and sent goalkeeper Megan Cunningham the wrong way.

Rangers then responded to add another minutes later. Fresh off her first cap for her country Kirsty Howat, who had just been introduced into the match, turned the ball home at the near post with several players thinking the ball had gone out of play as she added a 10th goal.

The two strikers combined as Howat found the back of the net once again. Wilkinson did well to press the backline before the ball broke for her strike partner, who dispatched it smartly into the far corner.

McAulay was next to find the scoresheet as she combined with Wilkinson to continue the scoring. Playing in the number 10 role her pass towards Wilkinson was cleverly returned to the youngster before she finished it well on her right side.

Hill was next to get on the scoresheet for the Gers. Arnot’s delivery was met by the experienced defender who volleyed home from close range as the Gers continued their ruthlessness in front of goal in the final exchanges.

There was still time towards the end for a first Rangers goal for Katie Wilkinson. Arnot again the provider as the English forward headed home from inside the six-yard box to give fans a taste of what she can provide in the upcoming season.

RANGERS: Cunningham, Middag (McAulay 45), Hill, Eddie (Boyce 73), Austin (Paton 81), McLoughlin (Black 81), Maclean (Hay 45), McLeary (Cruft 81), Arnot, Hardy (Wilkinson 61), Berry (Howat 61)

SUBS: N/A

HAMILTON: Marwaha, MacDonald, McGuire, Giard, Townsley, Reid, Ritchie, Trialist, Kerr, Docherty, Tobin

SUBS: Trialist, Quinn, Trialist, Strain, Love, Strain, Reid, Stoddart, Trialist


  

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