After a fast start from the Gers in the capital without breaking the deadlock, youngster Mia McAulay was on hand to fire home the opener with her second goal in as many games as the away side went in at the break a goal to the good.
Substitute Rio Hardy made an immediate as she added a second moments after coming on before the youngster was on hand to fire home her second of the day as the Light Blues made their return to league action with three points.
Head coach Jo Potter named three changes from the draw in the Old Firm in the last outing, with Mia McAulay, Jodi McLeary and Sarah Ewens all coming into the side.
Rangers targeted a fast start as they looked to return to winning ways in the capital. The game quickly settled with a counter-attack lead by Rachel Rowe coming to no avail before Jane Ross registered the first effort of the match, but her shot was well wide of the target.
The Light Blues applied early pressure as they looked for an opening inside the opening 10 minutes. Kathy Hill won the ball high off Shannon Leishman before cutting the ball back for Sarah Ewens. Her lay off lead to a blocked shot before Hibs put bodies on the line again to deny Rowe as the Gers started quickly in the capital.
Michaela McAlonie tried her luck from range as the hosts looked to profit from winning the ball high. Nicola Docherty was under press from three Hibs players before they benefitted from the press, the midfielder looked to catch Jenna Fife out from distance but her effort was wide of the mark.
Fresh off international duty with Wales Rowe almost manufactured the opener for the away side. Making a darting run down the left flank her delivery almost found the head of Ewens inside the area, but the covering Joelle Murray made the intervention to divert the danger.
Hibs went close to opening the scoring through Shannon McGregor. Following a free kick on the left side the ball was worked across to Murray in the second phase. The defender sent the ball across to the back post which was met by the midfielder’s head, but her effort clipped the top of the bar and stayed out.
It was Rangers who were next to go close after taking a more direct approach towards goal. Kathy Hill sent a long ball over the top which was brought down by Rowe who had made the deep run from midfield. She took it early but Nina Wilson was equal to it and made the stop.
The Gers took the lead in the next phase of play however. It was again Rowe involved with her defence splitting pass finding the feet of Mia McAulay. The youngster took her touch inside and slotted the ball into the far corner to put Jo Potter’s side in front just before the half-hour mark.
After a period of play with few chances Hibs almost found a response. A clever free kick routine saw McAlonie find space on the edge of the area for a first time shot. It looked to be arrowing into the top corner but for a touch from Fife onto the crossbar before Kathy Hill was on hand to react first to head the rebound clear before having a nasty collision with the post.
After almost conceding at one end the away side went close to doubling their advantage at the other. Ross did well to hold the ball in before bringing the goal scorer McAulay into play. The winger worked the half yard for a shot which stung the palms of Wilson before she gathered at the second attempt.
The youngster was continuing to be the main threat for the visitors as she again went close to adding to the lead before the break. She burst into the area riding several challenges as she did well to keep her balance for a long period, but her shot was blocked and in what was the last of the first half action.
The Gers almost profited from a set piece change at the start of the second half. A clipped ball into the box from Rowe was caught amongst the bodies before Ross almost turned it over the line before a last ditch clearance from Leah Eddie was made.
In the next phase of play the Light Blues went agonisingly close once again and it was Ross who got on the end of a cross. Hill’s delivery from the right flank was met by the Scotland striker, but her flicked effort just flashed past the far post.
Rio Hardy made an instant impact as she got herself back amongst goes just moments after coming on. A long ball over the top on the left side was latched onto by the forward before she expertly dispatched the ball at the near post beyond Wilson to give the Gers breathing space in the contest.
The Gers were now in full control of the match having found the crucial second goal. Rowe’s low strike was well held by Wilson before a chance for Hardy who to follow. The striker raced through on goal and took the shot early, but the goalkeeper did well to tip the powerful effort over the top.
Rangers put the match beyond any doubt as McAulay was on hand to fire home a third. Winning the ball on counter-press Sarah Ewens acknowledged the youngster to her right, with a perfectly weighted pass she was put through on goal and put it away at the near post to ensure the Gers would be leaving the capital with three points.
Jo Potter’s controlled what remained of the contest as they comfortably seen the remainder of the contest out, as they prepare to return to the same pitch in seven days time when the two teams face off again in Scottish Cup quarter-final action.
HIBERNIAN: Wilson, Leishman (Christie 66), Baucom (Morrison 83), Eddie, McAlonie (Notley 66), Adams (Tweedie 66), McGregor, Murray, Doran-Barr (Bowie 66), Powell, Lawson
SUBS: Erhabor, Hunter
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty (Martinez 86), Hill (Austin 86), Middag, Rowe (Arnot 71), Ross (Hardy 57), McAulay, Ewens, Cornet, McLoughlin, McLeary (Hay 71)
SUBS: Esson