After going one down through an early Brenna Lovera goal, the response from the Gers was an impressive one with Kirsty Howat scoring a fantastic equaliser before Rio Hardy found what proved to be the winner just beyond the hour-mark.
The Gers headed into the contest trailing their opponents by a solitary point at the summit of the SWPL table as the league campaign enters its defining period, with an away fixture at Hibs rounding off their three-game week this Sunday.
Jo Potter made two changes from the Old Firm derby draw three days ago on their return to action. Jodi McLeary replaced Lizzie Arnot on the flank whilst Rio Hardy was back in the side in place of Katie Wilkinson.
The away side looked to put an early stamp on proceedings at in Glasgow in a match that could have huge implications on where the SWPL title ends up this campaign. Clear openings in the first five minutes were few and far between as both sides looked to settle into the contest.
However, with the first real opening of purpose for either side, it was the hosts who took the lead. After Rangers pressed high a long ball down the outside realised Katie Lockwood down the flank. She fired a pass across goal as Nicola Kozlova touched it inside to Brenna Lovera. The striker, as she has done all season, composed herself well inside the area before firing the ball beyond Jenna Fife into the top corner to give her side the lead.
The Light Blues looked to respond to the setback as they went in search of a quick equaliser. Brogan Hay, who started on the left hand side of midfield, clipped a ball into the box for SWPL player of the month winner Kirsty Howat, but the striker’s effort at the near post was kept out by Lee Gibson with her feet at the second attempt.
An early tactic from the visitors was trying to win the ball high and they almost profited from doing so. Howat nicked it before sending it wide to Jodi McLeary on the right, she acknowledged the run of Camille Lafaix inside the area, but the number 20’s volley was seen wide of the post by the City goalkeeper.
It was the French-American who had Rangers’ best chance of the evening with their response to the setback a promising one. Hardy did well down the channel to create a half yard to delivery a cross which was met by the head of the midfielder inside the area, but her effort just went wide of the target at the near post.
Despite not offering much in attacking sense since going ahead, it was the hosts who almost doubled their advantage with a chance of their own. Lisa Evans got in down the right as she cut the ball across to the arriving Lockwood, but her curling left footed shot sneaked past Fife’s right hand post.
Rangers found their response on the 32nd minute-mark and what a way to do it. After some attacking play from the Gers the ball broke kindly for Howat on the half volley who found the top corner from range superbly to level up proceedings.
The Gers were having to remain defensively resolute amidst City pressure with Lovera posing a constant threat. Centre-back Kathy Hill was standing up to the challenge on many an occasion with the fixture finely poised heading towards the interval.
After the restart, it was the away side who posed the early threat as they went in search of the crucial second. Kirsty Maclean, who was enjoying a fine game in midfield, picked the ball up on the edge of the box and worked an opening, her effort was looping goalwards but was matched by Gibson who tipped it over the top.
The away side introduced Mia McAulay on proceedings as they looked to take a foothold in the game. Operating in the number 10 position she popped up on the flank and whipped a dangerous looking cross to the back post, but Chelsea Cornet couldn’t make any contact on the stretch.
Rangers got their reward for being the better team since the restart at they went ahead through Hardy. Winger Hay did brilliantly to win the ball high and press down the channel, she flicked it inside to the striker who expertly finished off the chance low and into the far corner to give the away side the advantage.
City looked for an instant response themselves and almost got it following a Rangers mistake. Leah Eddie got caught on the ball inside her own half as it was moved across to the right, Lockwood struck it but the Gers number three did well to recover and make the block, making amends for the error.
The home side still went in search of the next goal and were starting to look a real threat on the counter-attack. Kozlova managed to work herself a half-yard on the right flank as she cut inside, looking for the far corner she tried her luck but Fife was comfortably able to see it past the post.
City thought they had found their equaliser with just four minutes remaining but for a fantastic Fife save from close range. A clever quick free kick put Lovera through on goal, but she was denied by the feet of the shot stopper who produced a crucial stop in the latter stages to secure the points ahead of their trip to the capital.
GLASGOW CITY: Gibson, Muir (Walsh, 84), Lauder (Fulton, 62), Lockwood (Mothalo, 71), Lovera, Whelan (Maata,62), Gambone, Evans, Smit, Kozlova, Van Diemen
SUBS: Easdon, Warrington, Love, Anderson, Foley
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Eddie, Hill, Hay (Arnot, 90+2), Howat (Ross, 90+2), Hardy (Wilkinson, 70), Cornet, Lafaix (McAulay, 56), Maclean, McLeary
SUBS: Esson, Rafferty, Middag, Berry, McLoughlin