KATIE WILKINSON’S first-half penalty was the difference as Rangers secured a hard-fought three points in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League this evening.
It was a crucial win for Leanne Crichton’s side as top scorer Wilkinson once again showed her composure from the sport to seal the victory with her fifth goal against Hibernian this campaign.
There were three changes from the team that faced Hearts on Friday night as Laura Rafferty, Kathryn Hill and Laura Berry all came into the starting line-up with Jess Pegram, Brogan Hay and Jodi McLeary on the bench.
Rangers started with Jenna Fife in goal, behind a back four of Eilidh Austin, Rafferty, Hill and captain Nicola Docherty. It was the same midfield as in the Hearts match, with May Cruft, Kim Shin Ji and Camille Lafaix lining up there, while Laura Berry and Calliste Brookshire provided support for striker Katie Wilkinson.
Hibernian were looking to put Rangers under pressure in the opening minutes and almost found an opening as former Gers midfielder Ciara Grant nicked the ball in a dangerous area, but it was dealt with by the home side.
The first real chance fell for Rangers with 10 minutes played as Katie Wilkinson and Camille Lafaix worked an opening, with the ball breaking for Brookshire inside the box but her effort bounced just wide of the left-hand post.
Laura Rafferty, who went down earlier in the match for treatment, was unable to continue as she had to be replaced with 15 minutes played. Jodi McLeary came on in her place, taking up the right-back slot, with Eilidh Austin moving into centre-half.
Brookshire was involved again in another opportunity as she showed her attacking quality, doing well to cut inside from the right, and carve space for a shot on her left foot but it was gathered by the Hibernian goalkeeper.
At the other end McGovern turned a Papadopoulos ball towards goal, but she didn’t get the connection she was looking for as it was gathered comfortably by Fife before an Eilidh Adams shot took a deflection off Austin and trickled wide of the post.
As the game approached the half hour mark, Rangers were awarded a penalty with Scarlett Herron taking down Camille Lafaix inside the area. It was Katie Wilkinson who stepped up to the spot, and the top goalscorer made no mistake in converting the spot-kick as it snuck in low to the keeper’s right.
There was a big save from Jenna Fife just five minutes later as Hibs looked for a quick response. Rosie Livingstone swung a ball into the box from the left, with Tiree Burchill getting a shot away from close range, but Fife matched the strike with a good block.
At half-time, there was one change at the break with Mia McAulay introduced in place of Camille Lafaix which saw a reshuffle in attack. Katie Wilkinson occupied the number 10 role for the second-half, with Laura Berry stepping in as striker and McAulay taking up position on the right flank.
The half started pretty much the same as the first, with openings for both teams in the early stages. A corner provided an opportunity for the visitors, but Kathryn Hill came up with a big clearance to deny an equaliser.
At the other end, Shin Ji released Laura Berry with a neat pass to send the striker one-on-one with Noa Schumacher, but she got a crucial touch as Berry opted to take the ball around the goalkeeper. Schumacher took a knock as she cleared the ball and had to be replaced by Armitage.
With 63 minutes played, and a good hour under her belt in her first start since February, Kathryn Hill was replaced by Lea Eddit for the final half an hour at Broadwood.
Hibs were next to try and find the second goal in this evening’s match, as the visitors enjoyed a period of possession midway through the second-half. The ball fell for Eilidh Adams just inside the box, and with space she struck a low effort towards goal but dragged it just wide of the target.
Brookshire, who had been threatening all evening, came close again as she took advantage of a loose ball in the Hibs box, but her shot was gathered by the goalkeeper.
Mia McAulay broke forward from a late Hibernian free-kick, but the winger couldn’t keep her shot on target, however it was the final action of the match, as Rangers held out for a vital victory at Broadwood.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Hill (Eddie, 63), Rafferty (McLeary, 15), Austin, Berry (Hay, 89), Lafaix (McAulay, 46), Cruft, Brookshire, Wilkinson, Shin Ji. Subs: Kelly, Pegram, Sabajo, Mengwen, Black.
Hibernian: Schumacher (Armitage, 58), Herron, Hunter, Papadopoulos, Grant (Morrison 76), Fitzgerald, Adams, McGovern, Livingstone (Jordan, 76), Doran-Barr, Burchill. Subs: Gibb, Bryson, Notley, Boyle, Ramsay
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