Report: Montrose 0-9 Rangers

RANGERS maintained their rampant start to their ScottishPower Premier League campaign with a 9-0 triumph over Montrose at Links Park this afternoon.

In doing so, Katie Wilkinson continued her ferocious goalscoring form since arriving in Glasgow, netting her third hat-trick in four league appearances.

There was also a first Gers goal for fellow summer arrival, Laura Rafferty, who got in on the act alongside goals from Mia McAulay, Kirsty Howat, Rio Hardy, Tessel Middag and Brogan Hay.

Indeed, the away side had already tightened their grip on three points inside a first half in which Wilkinson netted twice alongside Hardy, who spurned the chance to stretch Rangers’ advantage from the penalty spot.

The Gers lined up with an attacking flavour, with Jo Potter naming Howat, Wilkinson and Hardy in the same starting lineup.

And the latter got the scoring underway for the Light Blues when she swivelled neatly on the edge of the penalty area and curled a dangerous effort in which Kirsten Pratt was unable to keep out at full stretch.

Opportunities beckoned for Rangers in an opening period where they controlled proceedings but perhaps failed to work the Montrose goalkeeper often enough for Potter’s liking.

Still, one soon became two for the Gers when Lizzie Arnot jinked her way inside from the right-hand side and stood up a delightful cross to the far post for the in-form Wilkinson to nod home from close range.

The summer arrival from Southampton was then involved moments later when her legs were taken from under her and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Hardy, however, was denied by the Montrose goalkeeper who sprung to her left and got a strong hand on the forward’s strike.

Rangers quickly set about making amends for the penalty miss and they stretched their advantage further on the stroke of the half-time interval when Wilkinson collected a loose ball inside the danger area and curled a delicious effort into the top corner.

The second period began at a ferocious pace for the Light Blues who extended their advantage through the irrepressible Wilkinson. Ghosting in at the far post from another pinpoint Arnot delivery, the forward hooked the ball goalwards from a tight angle.

Less than 60 seconds later and Rangers had a fifth when the ball broke kindly to Howat from 10 yards out and the Scotland international guided the ball into the bottom corner.

It was then time for McAulay to etch her name onto the scoresheet after being introduced at the interval, drilling a lovely strike into the bottom corner after some patient approach play from the visitors.

Potter has been keen to stress the importance of being relentless in her side’s attacking endeavours and they were seven to the good shortly after when Raffety rose highest from a perfect Arnot cross and she powered an unstoppable header beyond Pratt in the Montrose goal.

There was still time for the Light Blues to embellish the scoreline when Middag and Hay, both of whom sprung from the bench in the second period, stretched Rangers’ advantage with a pair of fine finishes late in the contest.

MONTROSE: Pratt, Carter, McLaren, Guthrie (Ross, 59), Taylor (Murchie, 59), Brown, Delworth, Henderson (Stewart, 45), Robb (Bruce, 74), Codegoni (Daniel, 45), Cowper

Subs: Creamer, McHattie, Murphy

RANGERS: Esson, Docherty (Austin, 81), Eddie (McAulay, 45), Hill, Rafferty, Howat (Lafaix, 72), Hardy, Arnot (Hay, 72), Maclean (Middag, 60), McLoughlin, Wilkinson

Subs: Fife, Berry


  

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