RANGERS’ league season concluded with a 1-0 home defeat to Glasgow City in the Park’s Motor Group SWPL at Ibrox this afternoon.
In what was set up to be a thrilling final day in a three-way race for the title in Glasgow, the contest was evenly fought throughout with chances at either end proving few and far between for the majority. The match was heading for a 0-0 stalemate before striker Lauren Davidson fired home a stoppage time winner to fire the away side to the title.
Malky Thomson named the same starting side that ran out impressive 6-0 winners over Hearts seven days prior as he looked for more of the same from his team in an attacking sense on the final day.
It was a cagey opening five minutes in front of over 11,000 supporters inside Ibrox. Captain Kathryn Hill sent a long diagonal towards the back post as she looked for Lizzie Arnot who had held her run, but the pass was overhit and went behind.
It took until the seventh minute of the contest for the first effort of the afternoon as the opportunity fell the way of the hosts. Sam Kerr made a clever run from midfield as she found herself behind the City back line down the right flank; her initial cross was cleared before the rebound fell for Brogan Hay, she opted to use Kirsty Howat better placed but the striker fired her effort over the top of the bar.
Clear-cut opportunities were few and far between at Ibrox as the game approached the quarter-hour mark. The Light Blues were comfortably keeping safe possession through midfield, but the away side were remaining solid defensively and looked to play on the counter-attack in the early stages.
Tessel Middag sent a free-kick delivery from the left channel into the area which was met by Hill, but her downward header was pushed behind by Lee Gibson in the Glasgow City goal for a corner as the hosts started to raise the tempo.
Defender Hannah Davison went the closest to opening the scoring just after the 20th minute following a corner. Arnot’s cross was headed half clear before it fell for the centre-back on the half volley, but her right footed effort whistled just past the far post.
Maddie Nolf was next to try her luck after some clever play down the right side from the hosts. Rachel McLauchlan picked out Hay down the flank before her cut-back at the second attempt found Howat. After an interchange at the edge of the area, it broke for the left-back as her shot stung the wrists of Gibson who gathered at the second attempt.
Priscilla Chinchilla registered City’s first effort on the day just shy of the half-hour mark. Linda Motlhalo did well to beat the offside trap and make a run in-behind the Gers backline; she found the winger with a cut back but her shot was comfortably gathered by Jenna Fife in the Rangers goal who was called into action for the first time.
The Gers had a golden opportunity to go ahead on the 35th minute mark after a well-worked opportunity initially down the right side. The ball was held up well by Howat as she brought Kerr into play, driving through midfield she found Kirsty Maclean in space who was able to release the advancing Nolf down the opposite flank. Driving towards goal, the chance looked to have gone initially as Jenna Clark held her up, but she managed to pull the ball back for Howat who had re-joined the attack and fired her effort over the top of the crossbar from the around the penalty spot.
Lauren Davidson tried her luck from the edge of the area after receiving the ball from Chinchilla; she cut across it as it flashed wide as the game approached the interval with the two teams remaining level.
Hayley Lauder was first to try her luck in the effort since the restart. Motlhalo did well to combine with Chinchilla before the latter teed up her captain at the edge of the area, but her left footed effort lacked any real power as Fife gathered.
The Gers started growing back into the match as they created a few half chances themselves. McLauchlan did well to win the ball high down the right flank as she worked it inside to Kerr. The midfielder spotted Howat unmarked just inside the area but the striker scuffed her effort as it was seen wide by Gibson.
The away side were starting to grow into the game themselves as they initiated more of a threat in an attacking sense. Chinchilla proving to be a real threat down the left channel as she had done all afternoon as they started playing higher up the pitch and creating chances after failing to do so throughout the opening 45 minutes.
It was the Gers, however, who went close again but were unable to convert the chance that fell for Kerr from close range. After Maclean’s corner from the right channel the hosts worked the ball back into the box in the second phase. Howat lashed at a shot as it then broke for the midfielder but she couldn’t get the desired contact to turn it past Gibson and break the deadlock.
The cagey theme remained in front of the Ibrox crowd as there was little in the way of chances at other end before City game to life with just under 10 minutes to play. Chinchilla, who was the danger all afternoon, tried her luck which was kept out by Fife and gathered at the second attempt. Davidson had a chance from inside the box on the right side but her low effort was held by Fife as both sides went in search of a late winner in Glasgow.
Substitute Chelsea Cornet’s shot from outside the box was gathered by the City shot stopper with four minutes of normal time remaining as frustrations grew around Ibrox with the conclusion of the season heading for a stalemate.
The season looked to be heading to its conclusion before Lauren Davidson was on hand to fire home a winner in stoppage time to slam home what looked to be the goal the away needed to win the title. Mothalo picked the ball up deep in the opposing half after a throw-in as she laid the ball across to the striker who calmly slotted past Fife right at the death.
The Gers almost found a response through Sam Kerr but her effort was turned away as Glasgow City held on to secure the title at Ibrox.
RANGERS: Fife, McLauchlan, Hill, Davison, Nolf, Middag (Cornet 62), Maclean, Kerr, Hay (Bell 70), Arnot (Watson 62), Howat
SUBS: Esson, Docherty, Cavanagh, McLeary, Berry, McAulay
GLASGOW CITY: Gibson, Muir, Lauder (Love 90+1), Walsh, Fulton, Mothalo, Whelan (Colvill 77), Clark, Davidson, Chinchilla (Kozak 84), Oskarsson
SUBS: Clachers, Warrington, Love, Prades Insa, Foley, Forrest, Martin
REFEREE: Calum Scott