The Light Blues were ruthless throughout as several different goalscorers helped them mark a dominant display as they now turn their attention to the Old Firm in the Sky Sports Cup semi-final next weekend.
Rangers were back on the pitch for the first time in 2025 following the winter break as they looked to put things right in league action following back-to-back defeats to end the year.
The Gers looked to signal their intent early on as they went on the front foot in the opening stages. Brogan Hay and Kirsty Howat combined from a corner, the winger then pulled the ball back for Leah Eddie who had the first chance of the game, but fired wide at the near post.
The best chance in the opening five minutes was to arrive in the next phase of play as Chelsea Cornet somehow didn’t break the deadlock. A clever through ball from Lizzie Arnot picked out the midfielder furthest forward, she rounded goalkeeper Lauren McGregor and went to put the ball into the empty net, but stumbled under the pressure of the covering Ciara Bonner as the ball went wide of the mark.
The opening goal was soon to arrive thereafter however as Arnot fired in the first goal of the new year for the Light Blues as they took the lead. Her cross into the box looking to seek out Rio Hardy turned into a shot as it evaded everyone and went all the way through to fire in the opener.
One quickly became two, Arnot again involved as this time she picked out Mia McAulay well-placed as her left footed shot was dispatched into the bottom corner to double the advantage.
Potter’s side continued to mount up the pressure as they took complete control of the contest with a third goal. Hardy’s through ball found McAulay all on her own inside the box, she opted against a shot and instead acknowledged teammate Liv McLoughlin alongside her as she squared the ball which allowed her to roll it into the empty net.
The persistence continued as McLoughlin should have doubled her sole advantage and Rangers’ three-goal lead. Arnot’s delivery broke out to McAulay whose header was saved, Hay kept it alive before it broke to the youngster, but she fired over the top of the bar from close range.
Arnot’s cross again was met by a teammate this time in Laura Rafferty, who headed over the top before there was time for Rangers to find a fourth before the break. They worked the ball to the edge of the box before Cornet’s cross found the head of Hardy as she was on hand to score her first goal of the year and put the Gers in a healthy position heading into the interval.
Rangers started the second half exactly the same way they began the first. Coming out the traps so quickly Arnot was again involved as she burst into space down the flank, her cross took a deflection and landed at the feet of McAulay who turned the ball home to add her second of the afternoon and the Gers’ fifth.
A sixth was then to arrive quickly afterwards. Some brilliant work from Hay saw her ride several challenges before picking out McLoughlin in the area, the 20-year-old collected the ball and turned it into the far corner as the Light Blues continued their positive momentum in the game and threatened to score whenever they came forward.
The goals continued to flow for the Gers as Katie Wilkinson made an instant impact off the bench. Her cut-back seeking out a teammate was turned into her own net by Ciara Bonner as the away side added a seventh on the day.
The ruthless approach carried on as strikes eight and nineth were soon to arrive shortly afterwards. Firstly, Wilkinson combined with McLoughlin who made a run down the flank before her cross picked out Hay where she volleyed home from close range to beat McGregor from close range, before Wilkinson met Hay’s delivery as she found the target for the first time since the turn of the year.
A corner turned home by Wilkinson after Jane Ross’ shot was saved made it 10, before Camille Lafaix headed beyond McGregor as she made a mark off the bench.
Further strikes from Hill, a second from Lafaix and a Jane Ross finish rounded off the scoring as the Gers marked their return from the winter break in emphatic fashion, as they now prepare for a crucial Sky Sports Cup semi-final against their rivals next weekend.
QUEEN’S PARK: McGregor, Hay, Cunningham, Bonner, Callaghan, Brown, Daly, MacDonald (Wright 45), Molley, McQuillan, Robertson
SUBS: Nagle, Quigley, McFadyen, McLintock
RANGERS: Esson, Docherty (Hill 45), Eddie, Rafferty, Hay, Howat (Ross 58), Hardy (Wilkinson 58), McAulay (Lafaix 75), Arnot, Cornet, McLoughlin (Middag 75)
SUBS: Cunningham, Bell, Ewens, McLeary