After a lively start, Katie Wilkinson’s header gave the away side a deserved lead early on but after periods of dominance they were unable to build on their single goal advantage. The match became cagey throughout the second 45 minutes but the Light Blues remained defensively sound to claim a big three points ahead of their away clash with Glasgow City this weekend.
Jo Potter named five changes to the side that ran out dominant Scottish Cup winners on Sunday afternoon. Jenna Fife returned between the posts, whilst their were also starts for Laura Rafferty, Charlie Devlin, Mia McAulay and top goalscorer Katie Wilkinson.
Rangers created an opening inside 30 seconds as they broke down the Motherwell left from the off. A long ball down the side by captain for the night Kathy Hill was latched onto by Mia McAulay, the young winger drove to the touchline and cut the ball back for the arriving Charlie Devlin, but she fired over the top of the target.
The Gers again went close after a real promising start in East Kilbride. Lizzie Arnot, making her second start in a row, found herself in an advanced area on the left flank as she floated a ball towards Katie Wilkinson. The striker took it first time in the volley from just wide of the target but it sneaked by the far post.
The same combination linked up once again but this time to good effect as the Gers took the lead. Arnot again the provider, her cross was met by the head of Wilkinson who glanced the ball into the corner beyond Emily Mutch to put the visitors in front.
Jo Potter’s side were in the mood and asserted their dominance from the off as they again went close. Devlin picked up the ball in space inside her own area and acknowledged the run in behind by Wilkinson, but the forward’s left footed effort across goal flashed wide of the mark.
A goal behind, Motherwell had their first spell of the game beyond the quarter-hour mark as they looked to make their own stamp on the contest. Rachel Tood had an ambitious effort fly over Jenna Fife’s crossbar before a corner kick opportunity for the hosts came to nothing.
After a spell with few clear-chances and the hosts grew into the match further but it was the Light Blues who were denied by the woodwork from doubling their lead. A counter-attack started by McAulay allowed Kirsty Howat to set Wilkinson free. The English forward drove towards the box and cut the ball back for her strike partner, but her right footed effort came back off the far post and stayed out.
Wilkinson was central to everything positive Rangers were doing as she went close herself to adding a second of the evening. Picking the ball up 25-yards from goal she spotted Mutch slightly off her line as she tried her luck, the keeper looked beaten but did superbly to turn the dipping effort onto the crossbar and keep it out.
Frustrations mounted for the Gers and Wilkinson in particular as the away side were denied by the woodwork for the third time in the first half. All her own making the forward picked the ball up inside the Motherwell half and tried her luck from distance but the crossbar stood in the way of a second.
The hosts came out the traps quickly as they looked to level up proceedings at K-Park. After Rangers lost possession inside their own half a ball was clipped over the top towards Louisa Boyes, but the striker fired over the top after bringing the ball down in the area.
The game went stale beyond the hour-mark with few clear-cut chances at either end for the two teams. Constantly probing and remaining a threat, the Gers continued to go in search of what would be a crucial second goal to put them in control of the contest, with the hosts remaining firmly in it just a goal behind.
Motherwell were still looking a threat themselves as they too went in search of the next goal in the match. Working the ball from the left flank it was collected by substitute Sarah Gibb on the edge of the area who tried her luck, but her shot didn’t test Fife in the Rangers goal.
The game was still nicely poised heading into the final 10 minutes as the Gers looked to see it out. Wilkinson almost turned provider as she clipped the ball over the top which was latched onto by substitute Jane Ross, but the forward was kept out by Mutch on her left side as she narrowed the angle well.
Lucy Barclay had a chance towards the end as the second ball landed to the substitute inside the Rangers area. A free kick was sent long to test the Gers backline before it fell for the number 43, but she couldn’t beat Fife with the effort as the goalkeeper held on with the Gers seeing the contest out for a big three points.
MOTHERWELL: Mutch, Penman, Watson, Addie, Gardner Rice, Todd (Collins 59), Inglis, Sharkey (Barclay 67), Boyes, McGoldrick (Gibb 59), McCartney
SUBS: Cameron, Ronald
RANGERS: Fife, Hill, Rafferty, Devlin (Middag 60), Howat (Hardy 74), Bell (Ross 74) , McAulay (Hay 60), Arnot, Cornet, McLeary, Wilkinson
SUBS: Esson, Austin, Ewens, Lafaix