A DOMINANT performance saw Rangers beat Hamilton 5-0 in the Scottish Women’s Premier League this afternoon.
A Jenny Danielsson double and a superb strike from Rachel McLauchlan had Rangers 3-0 ahead at the break before Kayla McCoy and Jodi McLeary added to the scoring in the second-half.
Malky Thomson named five changes to his side, with Lisa Martinez in the starting XI for her first appearance since rejoining the Rangers in the summer. Sam Kerr, Jenny Danielsson, Brogan Hay and Kayla McCoy were also named in the starting line-up this afternoon.
Rangers started with Jenna Fife in goal and a back four of Nicola Docherty, Lisa Martinez, Hannah Davison and Rachel McLauchlan.
Sam Kerr was in midfield with Emma Watson and Jenny Danielsson, while Kayla McCoy was supported up front by Lizzie Arnot and Brogan Hay.
The Light Blues had two corners in the opening couple of minutes as they looked to get off on the front foot in this match. Kayla McCoy tested Chloe Nicolson in the Hamilton goal with an early header but it was held by Nicolson.
In a well-worked move from the Gers they came close again as McLauchlan played a nice ball forward to Jenny Danielsson who broke away in space down the right to deliver a ball which Lizzie Arnot turned towards goal but her effort was wide.
The early pressure from Rangers paid off and they had the breakthrough with just 9 minutes on the clock. Nicola Docherty delivered a ball into the box which was cleared by the Hamilton defence but only as far as Jenny Danielsson who picked it up just on the edge of the area.
The Finland international released a powerful strike towards goal which hit off the crossbar and bounced on the floor of the net before out of the goal but the ball had crossed the white line and the referee awarded Rangers the opening goal.
It was a dominant start to this match from the Light Blues as McCoy came close to doubling the advantage as she headed just wide from an Emma Watson cross.
The second goal came on 22 minutes, and it was a fantastic strike from Rachel McLauchlan. The right-back picked the ball up in space and curled a superb effort towards goal from around 30 yards out which went in off the post.
A quick-fire double saw Rangers increase their lead as Jenny Danielsson got her second of the afternoon. Sam Kerr lifted a lovely pass over the top off the Hamilton defence to pick out the run of Danielsson who had beaten the offside trap and she showed her composure to chest the ball down before placing a right-footed shot in the back of the net.
As the half was coming to a close, Lizzie Arnot headed wide from a Rachel McLauchlan cross before Kayla McCoy saw a shot from inside the box held by Nicolson.
In her return to action, Lisa Martinez almost got on the scoresheet before as her header was cleared off the line by the Hamilton defence.
Malky Thomson made three chances to his side at half-time as Kirsty Howat, Dina Orschmann and Eilidh Austin were introduced in place of Brogan Hay, Lizzie Arnot and Rachel McLauchlan.
It was a league debut for 17-year-old Austin, who featured once last season in the Scottish Cup.
The full-back delivered a good ball into the box early in the second-half in search of Dina Orschmann and it was almost a fourth goal for Rangers but Nicolson managed to hold the effort at the second attempt.
In the 57th minute, Nicola Docherty picked out the run of Kayla McCoy with a great forward pass but McCoy’s looping effort rattled the crossbar before the danger was cleared.
However, it wasn’t long before the striker had her name on the scoresheet as just seconds later the ball was returned into the box by Danielsson, with Dina Orschmann flicking it into the path of McCoy. The Jamaican international rounded the keeper before placing a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
As the game passed the hour mark, Thomson made two further changes to his side with Georgia Gray making her debut and Jodi McLeary was also introduced to the field.
Jenna Fife was called into action as Hamilton broke from a Rangers free-kick with Josi Giard getting a shot away at goal but Fife was alert to the danger to hold the shot.
In the 78th minute the Light Blues further increased their lead as Jenny Danielsson picked out the run of Orschmann who cut the ball back across goal from the byline with Jodi McLeary on hand to finish for her second Scottish Women’s Premier League goal of the season.
It was another strong display from Malky Thomson’s side as they picked up another important three points on the road. With an international break next week, the Light Blues are next in action at home to Spartans on September 11.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Martinez (Gray, 62), Davison, McLauchlan (Austin, 46), Kerr, Watson, Danielsson, Arnot (Orschmann, 46), Hay (Howat, 46), McCoy (McLeary, 62).
Subs: Esson, Middag, Cornet, Maclean.
Hamilton : Nicolson, Muir, Quinn (Evans, 62), Coakley, Martin, Gaird, Potter, Christie (Gardiner, 77), Sinclair, Hay (Mitchell, 62), Molley.
Subs: Rhind, Quigley, Scott, Pagliarulo, Gardiner, McGonigle.
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