RANGERS continued their positive momentum in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League this afternoon with a 6-0 triumph over Partick Thistle at Petershill Park.
A rampant first half showing put the game beyond doubt thanks to goals from Mia McAulay, Rio Hardy and a Demi-Lee Falconer own goal.
Further goals arrived in the second period as Kathy Hill, Kirsty Howat and Camille Lafaix added their names to the scoresheet.
In doing so, the Light Blues moved to the summit of the SWPL table on goal difference heading into the upcoming international break.
Jo Potter named one change to her side from last weekend’s emphatic victory over Aberdeen, welcoming Kirsty Maclean back into the midfield.
From the off, it was the Light Blues who were in the ascendancy as Howat passed up a glorious opportunity when Hardy picked out her strike partner in the penalty area.
Thistle had the chance to break the deadlock themselves when Tiree Burchill sprung the offside trap, but Vic Esson stood up tall to repel the home side.
The opening goal then arrived from a move of supreme quality, initiated by a pull-back from Brogan Hay and neatly finished off by a composed finish from Mia McAulay after combination play from Howat and Maclean.
The young winger had the chance to double her tally less than 60 seconds later, haring into space before drawing a smart stop from Jennifer Currie with a left-footed effort.
Rangers ought to have doubled their advantage when Wilkinson collected a pass from McAulay and dragged an effort inches wide of the post.
However, the second goal was to arrive prior to the interval when Wilkinson turned architect and fizzed a dangerous delivery across goal which Hardy provided the deftest of touches to beat Currie in the Thistle goal.
The half-time whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for the hosts, but they soon found themselves three goals behind on the stroke of the interval when Howat intelligently hooked the ball across goal and Falconer inadvertently nodded the ball over the head of her goalkeeper from close-range.
Indeed, the second period began in much the same fashion to the opening stanza as Wilkinson diverted a McAulay cross goalwards but wide of the target.
The Light Blues had the ball in the net through Wilkinson shortly after, but the linesman was quick to curb the Gers celebrations after it was adjudged that Maclean has strayed offside in the build-up.
It was only last week that Potter was at pains to emphasise the strength of her substitutes bench and the fourth did indeed arrive from a second half introduction.
A deep delivery from a Lizzie Arnot corner was met at the far post by the head of Kathy Hill who left Currie with no chance.
The scoring continued from a Gers perspective as Howat got in on the act, latching onto a Hardy through pass and, when the ball ricocheted back to the forward off the goalkeeper, she slammed into an unguarded net.
There was still for Potter’s side to add a sixth of the afternoon; Lafaix springing from the substitutes bench and sweeping home at the near post after more terrific work from McAulay on the byline.
PARTICK THISTLE: Currie, Slater, Falconer, Docherty, Boyce (McAllister, 80), Donaldson (Richardson, 67), Bulloch (Robinson, 80), Cowan (Longcake, 80), King (Gray, 45), Burchill, Sinclair
Subs not used: Ferns, McCulloch, Hay, English
RANGERS: Esson, Eddie, Rafferty (Hill, 60), Middag, Hay (Arnot, 73), Howat, Hardy, McAulay, Maclean (McLoughlin, 60), McLeary (Cornet, 60), Wilkinson (Lafaix, 73)
Subs not used: Fife, Ivarsdottir, Docherty, Berry