RANGERS marked their return from the winter break in impressive fashion after running out emphatic 12-0 winners over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup at the Caledonian Stadium this afternoon.
Eight different goal scorers were on hand to fire Jo Potter’s side into tomorrow’s fourth round draw as they continued where they left off to kick off the new year in style in the highlands.
The head coach named five changes from the team that last played domestically when they were winners over Hamilton in the SWPL on December 17. Victoria Esson, Kathryn Hill, Rachel Rowe, Lizzie Arnot and Jane Ross all came into the team for the first match of 2024.
Rangers almost got off to the perfect start in the highlands. After a quick changeover in possession after kick-off, captain Nicola Docherty found Kirsty Maclean in midfield. The youngster sent a long ball over the top to the advancing Arnot down the left flank who threaded it through to Jane Ross, the striker beat the goalkeeper to the ball but her effort went just past the near post from close range.
It was again Ross who went close to breaking the deadlock early on. Wales international Rachel Rowe found herself in an advanced area where she played in the forward, she tried a left footed shot from inside the area but goalkeeper Finella Annand did well to close the angle and make the stop.
The away side started in dominant fashion but despite having all the early play they were unable to find an early breakthrough. Rowe found herself in an advanced position and looked to cut the ball back for Sarah Ewens, but the ball was just behind the striker as the chance went begging.
The Light Blues did find their opener just moments later however. After some clever play down the right side involving Brogan Hay and Sarah Ewens the latter burst down the right flank before sending in a cross to the near post. The Caley goalkeeper was unable to gather the initial delivery as Jane Ross pounced on the error to tap home and put Rangers ahead on her first start in over 18 months.
Chelsea Cornet tried her luck from distance as the Gers looked to double their lead at the Caledonian Thistle stadium. A corner was taken quickly as the ball was worked to the edge of the area for the midfielder, but her shot was whistled past the far post and behind.
Kirsty Maclean was on hand to add a second with a fine individual effort. The midfielder picked the ball up around 25 yards from goal, she advanced forward riding several challenges before placing a left footed shot into the bottom right corner with a very well taken goal to give Rangers breathing space.
Rowe should have put the Light Blues further ahead as the constantly sustained pressure on the Caley goal. This time down the left side Lizzie Arnot was set free by Maclean as she cut the ball back. It was worked to the far side for the midfielder but she sliced her effort with the goal gaping as it flew wide of the target.
Sarah Ewens was on hand to add a third after a defence splitting move by the visitors. Maclean clipped a ball over the top for Rowe who had a midfield run into the area, she clattered into by the Caley goalkeeper but the ball broke for the forward who had the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net to put Rangers three ahead.
Rangers went close to going further in front on two occasions in two quick attacks. Firstly Hay almost converted a cross at the far post but for a superb block on the line from Isabella Viana. In the next phase of play Arnot again found herself well advanced as she played in Rowe but her effort from the angle hit the outside of the post.
The Gers fourth goal that was to arrive was arguably their most impressive so far. A superb defence splitting pass from Chelsea Cornet set Hay in behind the Caley backline. From the flank she drilled across a low ball with her teammates queuing up it was Jane Ross on hand to tap home her second of the day from close range.
Lizzie Arnot got herself amongst the goals as she had the easy task of tapping in a fifth. A cross from the right side was challenged for by Ewens and she beat Annand to the ball, it broke for Arnot unmarked virtually on the goal line to turn the ball over the line to make it five.
There was still time for Hay to find the target to make it sixth before the break. Maclean found Arnot again down her channel, the cut back looked to be a return ball for the midfielder but the pass was just out her reach before it was picked up by the winger to smash the ball low past Annand in what the last of the first half action.
Annand did well at the second attempt to deny Cornet adding to the scoreline straight after the restart. A short corner was played to the edge of the box as the Gers number 19 tried her luck. The goalkeeper initially parried the effort up before clawing the ball to safety amidst pressure from three Rangers players.
Rowe produced a moment of individual magic as another different goalscorer found the back of net for the away side. On the edge of the box she rode a challenge before expertly placing a shot into the far corner with Annand rooted as she made it seven.
After an extended period of play with continued Rangers dominance but no clear-cut openings, the Gers made it eight. Substitute Eilidh Austin who was operating in a slightly altered left centre-back role found herself further forward and she cut inside from the left channel and fired a terrific curling shot into the top right corner.
Rangers made it nine just shortly afterwards as Rowe grabbed her second of the afternoon in the highlands. A phase of play down the right side involving the Wales international and Hay saw the former pick up the loose bouncing ball in the box before her half volley found the far corner.
Substitute Rio Hardy was next to find the back of the net as she started 2024 where she left off. A corner kick routine saw Cornet find the striker on the left side of the area as she placed the ball into the far corner in a well-taken goal.
The forward’s fine scoring streak continued as she got on the end of a Chelsea Cornet delivery again from a short corner as Rangers ran rampant in a short spell as they made it 11 with just over 10 minutes to play in the cup tie.
Hardy wrapped up the scoring from the penalty spot to make it 12. Sending the goalkeeper the wrong way she rolled the ball into the bottom right corner in what the last of the action as Rangers now prepare to return to league action against Dundee United next weekend.
INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE: Annand, MacArthur (Morgan 86), Mackenzie, Deans, Gordon, Cleland (Anderson 57), Bodiam, Macrae (Ross 57), Viana, Kelly, Simpson
SUBS: Scott, Donald, Hossack, Ross, Murray
RANGERS: Esson, Hill (Colson 57), Middag, Docherty (Austin 45), Hay, Cornet, Maclean, Arnot (McAulay 45), Rowe (Bell 78), Ewens, Ross (Hardy 57)
SUBS: Fife, Berry, McLeary