RANGERS claimed another vital three points in ScottishPower Women’s Premier League action with an important 3-0 win over Partick Thistle at Petershill Park this afternoon.
After a closely contested opening, the Gers struck first through Laura Berry’s header before a fantastic long range strike from Jodi McLeary saw her claim her first league goal of the season and her team take control at the break.
Mia McAulay’s first goal since February rounded off the scoring in the team’s penultimate away outing, as they now gear up for the final Old Firm league meeting of the campaign next weekend.
Leanne Crichton made five changes to the side that booked their place in the Scottish Cup final last time out. Eilidh Austin, Leah Eddie, Kim Shin Ji, Laura Berry and Katie Wilkinson all came into the team from the off.
The Gers looked for a fast start at Petershill Park in the penultimate away game of the season. Having claimed back-to-back wins, the performance was a factor highlighted by the Head Coach in the build-up as they looked to get back to their mid-season levels.
Thistle started confidently before the away side began to get in their stride. PFA Young Player of the Year winner May Cruft looked to make something happen inside the area, but her cutback was just out with the reach of off balance Laurea Berry inside the area.
Jodi McLeary was the first in Gers all white colours to have the first effort of the contest. Breaking to the academy graduate on the edge of the area she tried her luck but it flew over Jennifer Currie’s crossbar as the Light Blues seeked an early opener.
Despite shading the early possession it was a somewhat frustrating start for Crichton’s team. Isla Taylor went closest to opening the scoring as her free kick flew just past Jenna Fife’s left hand post.
Having found it difficult in the post-split fixtures Thistle were more than holding their own inside the opening 20 minutes at Petershill. Set piece chances were arriving frequently as they looked to take the lead and put the away side on the back foot in a crucial outing for the visitors to remain in the hunt for the title.
However, after a goalless quarter of the contest in Glasgow, the Gers made a set piece chance of their own count. Calliste Brookshire in swinging corner was met by the head of Laura Berry who finished beyond Currie inside the six-yard box to give the away side a much needed boost in the game.
The goal seemed to lift the Gers who gained confidence from taking the lead. Top goalscorer Katie Wilkinson got on the end of Jodi McLeary’s wide free kick, but her header was well saved by the feet of Currie to keep her side just the solitary goal behind.
A special moment did arrive for Jodi McLeary as she converted her first league goal of the season with a wonder strike from range. Picking the ball up from 25 yards she tried her luck to then see the strike go in off the underside of the bar to double the Gers’ advantage and see them go in two goals to the good at the interval.
Having the two-goal half time lead the Light Blues looked to take the initiative and secure three vital points on league duty. Leanne Crichton made a double change at the break, introducing Lily Boyce and Mia McAulay in place of Kathy Hill and May Cruft.
Introduced at the interval McAulay was right in on the action as she looked to add a third. Working a half yard inside the box she curled one towards the far corner before it came back off the post and saw Wilkinson fire the rebound over.
A confidence boosting moment then arrived for McAulay as she slotted home her first goal since February providing the finishing touches on McLeary’s through ball. As the Gers put themselves in a commanding position to claim a valuable three points in league action.
It was one way traffic in Glasgow as the visitors went in search of more goals. After a couple of dangerous crosses from the left side came to no avail, Calliste Brookshire got on the end of Wilkinson’s delivery, but saw her header clatter off the bar and stay out.
The away side continued to go in search of adding to their lead. Substitute Brogan Hay’s cross was met by the head of Wilkinson at the far post, but the striker’s effort looped over the crossbar.
PARTICK THISTLE: Currie, Handley, McCulloch, Falconer, Love (Hollis, 70), King (Turner 79), Rennie (Syriajanen, 45), Fraser (McAllister, 45) Taylor, McGoldrick, Longcake
SUBS: MacNair, Ferguson, Turner
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Eddie, Hill (Boyce, 45), Austin (Mengwen, 70), Berry, Cruft (McAulay, 45), Brookshire (Hay, 66), McLeary, Wilkinson, Shin Ji (Black, 66)
SUBS: Kelly, Sabajo, Mengwen, Arnot, Connolly-Jackson
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