A Rachel McLauchlan strike in first-half stoppage time was enough to separate the two teams as they remain joint top of the pile on goal difference with two matches remaining.
The result also marks the return to Champions League football for Rangers next season, as they secured a top-two finish in the table with the victory as they prepare to make their return to the prestigious competition.
Head coach Jo Potter named five changes to the side that played out a goalless draw with their rivals on Monday afternoon, with Kathy Hill, Rachel McLauchlan, Brogan Hay, Jodi McLeary and Jane Ross all coming into the team.
There was also a welcomed boost prior to kick-off for the Gers, as Kirsty Maclean was named in a matchday squad for the first time since the end of January after making a full recovery from injury.
Rangers came out of the traps quickly at Petershill but there were chances at both ends early on. Firstly, several Gers players were involved as Rachel McLauchlan combined with Brogan Hay on the flank, the winger delivered the ball which was met by the head of Jane Ross, but the striker’s header was comfortable for Lee Gibson in the City goal who held.
Quickly at the other end, Emily Whelan was on hand to pick up the ball on the right channel before chopping inside, but her shot at the angle was gathered at the near post by Victoria Esson as both goalkeepers were called into action early on.
It was a bright start from the Gers, with Jodi McLeary who was operating in the number 10 role picking up clever positions. The youngster spun away in the midfield well as she looked to tee up Jane Ross, but the covering Charlotte Wardlaw was able to prevent the danger as the away side seeked an early opener.
Lizzie Arnot was next to go close for the Light Blues as they mounted up the early pressure. The winger took up a more central area for the time being as she tried her luck, the initial shot was parried by the City shot stopper before McLeary looked to create a chance from the rebound, but Chloe Warrington was well placed to clear the danger.
Carlee Giammona went agonisingly close to opening the scoring as she went the closest to either side breaking the deadlock. Warrington did well initially deep down the right side before the ball was worked to the midfielder. Opting against a right footed effort she chopped back before unleashing a strike that thundered back off the crossbar before bouncing close to the line and staying out with 16 minutes on the clock.
Mairead Fulton combined with Whelan was well placed on the left side as another chance popped up for the hosts. The play was switched to the winger who cut inside McLauchlan, but her shot was too close to the New Zealand international between the Rangers posts who held with comfort.
After a prolonged period in the game without any real chances, the away side looked to up the intensity. Chelsea Cornet, as she so often is, was proving to be the driving force in the Rangers midfield. After a corner came to no avail McLeary was next to test Gibson. The midfielder picked up the ball on the left flank before trying a looping right-footed effort, but the goalkeeper was on hand to tip it over the crossbar.
Glasgow City somehow didn’t find themselves in front after a phase of play down the left side. Fulton sent Whelan down the side once again as she drove to the touchline. Her cutback was intercepted by the sliding Kathy Hill with the ball coming back off the post and rebounding into the hands of Esson much to the relief of the away side as the ball stayed out.
Just as the chances had dried up and were few and far between heading to the interval, the Gers took the lead in first-half stoppage time. A quick throw-in taken by substitute Mia McAulay was turned around the corner by Kirsty Howat. The touch allowed Rachel McLauchlan to latch onto the ball as she took a touch to set herself before expertly finishing the ball into the top corner with a looping finish over Lee Gibson to give the away side the advantage going into the break.
Jo Potter’s side looked to take a lift from the timing of the opening goal heading into the second period. Both teams enjoyed their fair share of possession at the beginning of the half with a next goal proving crucial with how the contest was going to play out.
It was a frantic beginning to the start of the second 45 minutes. Neither side had quite settled with both goalkeepers involved very little. Rangers looked to settle in to try to build on their lead.
In the meantime, it was the hosts who went close with the first effort on goal since the restart. A cross after the second phase of a corner fell to Carlee Giammona, she met it on the half volley which needed saving as Esson turned it over the crossbar.
That effort seemed to spark the game into life again. The Light Blues had a chance of their own on the counterattack. McLeary did well to hold the ball up as they broke from a corner, Chelsea Cornet was the midfield runner as she homed in on a goal at a tight angle, but the shot on her left side couldn’t beat Gibson.
The away side was inches away from doubling their advantage through McAulay. Lizzie Arnot burst down the flank before her pass inside looked for substitute Rio Hardy. The forward’s touch was a little loose but it worked out as a pass for the arriving youngster on the opposite wing, but her cushioned left-footed effort flashed just wide of the far post.
It was again the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year winner who had an effort on her left side after coming in from the channel. A throw-in on the near side was taken in her stride as she skipped to the edge of the area, but the shot lacked the desired power to beat Gibson who gathered.
The game reached the final ten minutes with the Gers still that goal to the good through McLauchlan’s strike. A scramble in the box from a corner fell to Libby Bance inside the area, but her shot was blocked by several City bodies in front of their goalkeeper as they stood firm in their attempt to stay in the game.
A fantastic opportunity then again fell the way of Rangers which would have surely wrapped up the game. A corner was met by the head of Cornet before Hardy was able to spin inside the six-yard box but was denied by a point-blank save from Gibson before Hill fired over the rebound.
There were few real openings towards the end as the Gers remained defensively sound throughout to see out the victory and keep pace at the top as they prepare for a trip to the capital on Wednesday evening to take on Hibs in their final away fixture of the season.
GLASGOW CITY: Gibson, Warrington (Forsblom 82), Muir, Fulton (Love 45), Whelan, Kozak, Moore, Wardlaw, Forrest (Gambone 45), Oscarsson (Foley 67), Giammona
SUBS: Clachers, Sullivan, Colvill
RANGERS: Esson, Docherty, McLauchlan (Middag 62), Hill, Hay (McAulay 34), Howat (Hardy 62), Ross (Ewens 74), Arnot (Bance 74) , Cornet, McLoughlin, McLeary
SUBS: Fife, Austin, Martinez, Maclean