Having been the only team the Light Blues hadn’t beaten in the league this season, a Rio Hardy penalty on the stroke of half-time looked to be the difference before the striker added her second of the game in stoppage time to wrap up the match and open up an 11 point gap over their Sunday opponents in the table, in what was a controlled all-round display from Jo Potter’s side.
The head coach named four changes to the team that ran out 7-0 winners over Boroughmuir Thistle last weekend, with Jenna Fife, Rachel McLauchlan, Chelsea Cornet and Brogan Hay all resorted to the starting lineup.
It was a lively opening to the contest as Rangers started on the front foot. An interchange of play down the left side saw the ball head towards the feet of Kirsty Howat, but the striker mis controlled the pass as the chance went begging.
Clear chances at either end were minimal in the opening 10 minutes at Petershill. The Light Blues had certainly settled in well as they continuously won the ball high but were unable to engineer any early efforts on the City goal.
Rachel Rowe sent in a wicked corner kick that flashed across the face of goal. Rio Hardy was close to getting on the end of the delivery but the ball was just beyond her reach as she tried to divert it on target.
Glasgow City started to settle in the game themselves. The hosts looked at their most dangerous down the channels on the counter-attack but the wide Rangers defenders were holding firm to suss out any danger that came their way in the opening 15 minutes.
Lauren Davidson made inroads deep down the right flank for the hosts. Driving down the line she looked to cause a threat as she entered the box but the covering Tessel Middag did well to cover and see out the danger as her intervention fell into the hands of her goalkeeper.
The City forward had a free kick opportunity to test Jenna Fife in the Rangers goal. Davidson from 25-yards out tried her luck with a low effort but got the shot all wrong as it hit the Gers well which allowed them to quickly clear any danger from the second ball.
The contest in Glasgow neared the interval with the match remaining a cagey affair in the opening 45 minutes. Chances at both ends were few and far between with both teams cancelling each other out up to that stage.
Rangers tried to spark the game into life after a few clever pieces of play in the final third. Rowe had an effort from outside of the area blocked before the second phase on the left side saw Lizzie Arnot and Nicola Docherty combine but again the chance was cleared to safety.
The Gers had a glorious opportunity to take the lead as they were awarded a penalty with two minutes of normal time to play at the end of the first half. They worked the ball across to the left side before Rowe tried to flick a ball through to the front line.
Her pass was blocked by the use of an arm from Anna Oscarsson in the City back line, with the referee initially hesitating against giving the decision he consulted with his assistant before pointing to the spot. Rio Hardy stepped up from 12 yards and dispatched the ball into the bottom right corner to fire Rangers ahead before the break.
Jo Potter’s side looked to start the second half the way they ended the first. Rowe had a chance on the edge of the box which was blocked before Hay sent a cross over, the initial ball evaded Howat before it fell for Hardy but the deflection took it into the hands of Lee Gibson in the City goal.
Kirsty Howat had a great chance to double the Rangers lead. The ball worked its way towards the forward from the left side, one on one with Gibson she tried to cushion the bouncing ball past her on the stretch but the goalkeeper matched the effort to keep it out and prevent her team from going further behind.
Chelsea Cornet tried her luck from range after a clever phase of play down the left side. Howat’s cross at the second attempt fell to the midfielder on the edge of the area, with her effort parried by the City shot stopper before Hardy fouled the covering Abbie Larkin to bring the attack to an end.
Kinga Kozak found herself well positioned in the Rangers box as the hosts went in search of an equaliser. City worked the ball down the right side with the cross almost picking out the number 16, but her touch let her down as the chance went astray.
Rangers still looked dangerous at the other end as they looked to double their advantage. A clever exchange involving Howat and Rowe saw the latter set free down the left side. Her initial cross was blocked but after a throw-in the Wales international sent a delivery into the area which was almost met by the head of Hardy but for an intervention Kenzie Weir.
The away side were continuing to hold firm as they game headed towards the final 10 minutes. Potter’s side remained defensively sound but had rarely been threatened throughout the second half as they looked to see out the contest with what they had.
Rangers looked to be seeing the game out with comfort and they sealed the deal in additional time as Rio Hardy fired in her second to claim all three points for the away side. Midway through the seven additional minutes the striker burst through on goal after a pass from Rowe down the left side, her initial shot was saved before she smashed in the rebound to wrap up the game and claim a massive three points for Jo Potter’s side in the SWPL.
GLASGOW CITY: Gibson, Lauder, Larkin, Lovera (Forrest 64), Whelan (Muir 75), Davidson, Kozak (Motlhalo 64), Moore (Foley 90+7), Weir, Wardlaw, Oscarsson
SUBS: Clachers, Fulton, Gambone, Sullivan, Martin
RANGERS: Fife, McLauchlan, Middag, Docherty, Arnot, Cornet, Maclean, Hay (McLeary 90+2), Rowe (Bell 90+7), Hardy, Howat (Ewens 73)
SUBS: Esson, Austin, McAulay, Colson, Bance, Berry
REFEREE: Connor Ashwood