On a frustrating day for the away side, it was Natalia Wrobel’s hat-trick that made the difference as the hosts leapfrogged their opponents to the top of the table to inflict the first domestic defeat of the season for the Gers.
Jo Potter’s side headed into the clash a point clear at the top after their midweek win over Motherwell, with a positive result putting them in a strong position heading into the final fixture of the calendar year before the winter break next weekend.
The former lioness’ squad was boosted prior to kick off, with captain Nicola Docherty, Leah Eddie, Liv McLoughlin and Kirsty Maclean all back involved and in from the off.
Both teams settled into some early possession from the off on a windy afternoon in Glasgow. The Gers remained comfortable in possession inside their own half with City looking to assert themselves on the contest in the opening stages. Early chances were minimal in the first five minutes, as Chelsea Cornet looked to pick out the run of Katie Wilkinson who made a clever dart in behind, but the pass was overhit and came to nothing.
It was a scrappy affair inside the first quarter of an hour. Jodi McLeary found herself in an advanced position on the right flank and looked to pick out teammate Wilkinson inside the area, but her delivery landed into the hands of Lee Gibson via the aid of a deflection.
Glasgow City had the first real effort with purpose in the match as Natalia Wrobel tried her luck from the edge of the area. After the ball broke the midfielder looked to place one beyond Fife on her left side, but it flew over the top.
The hosts were beginning to grow into the game in the midst of the blustery conditions. A ball from Wrobel looked to pick out Nicole Kozlova, she brought it down well and fired a dangerous ball across goal but there were no takers after the far post to turn it home.
The theme of the match continued with both chances struggling to create opportunities in a game of few chances throughout the first half. The conditions weren’t helping either side as they created very little in a cagey affair inside the opening 35 minutes.
After very little chances, Glasgow City punished a mistake from goalkeeper Jenna Fife. A ball over the top seeking out Brenna Lovera saw the shot stopper hesitate in her clearance as it broke to Wrobel from the mis-kick as the midfielder put the ball into the empty net with Kathy Hill doing her best to scramble it off the line as the hosts took the lead heading into the interval.
Rangers looked to respond at the start of the second period and tried to assert themselves in the match after the restart. Lizzie Arnot, who was introduced at the break, swung in a left footed delivery from a corner which was met by the head of Rio Hardy, but the effort went over from close range.
After the away side had started the brighter it was the hosts who made the most of an opening and doubled their advantage. A delivery from the flank was only half cleared by the sliding Hill on the cover, Wrobel was quickest to react as she fired it towards goal with Fife unable to keep it out as the home side put themselves in a strong position in the game.
Two quickly nearly became three as City were looking dangerous in the final third. They latched onto an error in the left-back position as Lovera cut the ball back for Wrobel who was well-placed again, but this time she didn’t make the desired contact on her left side as it flashed wide of the mark.
The day belonged to Natalia Wrobel as she was on hand to tap home her third and surely put the game beyond any doubt. A scramble inside the area fell to the midfielder as she fired it into the net to put clear daylight between the two sides.
Rangers looked to get themselves on the scoresheet and give them some hope on a frustrating day in Glasgow. Half time substitute Charlie Devlin did well to work a left footed shot inside the box, but the effort lacked the desired power as it was comfortably kept out by Gibson.
It should have been four but for a brilliant point blank save from Fife in the Gers goal. A delivery from Emily Whelan on the left side was met on the volley by Lovera, the close range effort was kept out to stop the day getting worse for the visitors.
City held firm and were determined to keep a clean sheet despite some late Rangers pressure, as they held strong to go back to the top of the SWPL standings heading into the final fixture of 2024 next Sunday.
GLASGOW CITY: Gibson, Warrington, Muir (Evans 68), Lauder (Forrest 86), Lovera (Fulton 86) , Wrobel (Lockwood 75), Whelan, Gambone, Smit, Kozlova, Van Diemen
SUBS: Easdon, Love, Forsblom, Anderson, Foley
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Eddie (Rafferty 72), Hill, Hay (McAulay 66), Hardy, Cornet, Maclean, McLoughlin (Devlin 45), McLeary (Arnot 45), Wilkinson (Howat 66)
SUBS: Esson, Middag, Ewens, Lafaix