In a game with few clear-cut opportunities throughout, Kirsty Howat was the difference maker as her left-footed first half finish was enough for the Light Blues to claim three points in the clash between the Glasgow sides in Cumbernauld.
Jo Potter named three changes to the starting side that drew 1-1 with Glasgow City in their last outing, with Victoria Esson, Tessel Middag and Sarah Ewens coming in. The latter making her first start for her new club since joining earlier in the summer.
It was Partick Thistle that had the first opening at Broadwood that quickly then led to a chance at the other end. Lucy Sinclair latched onto a long ball down the right side but was unable to pick out any of her teammates in the area. After a quick change over in possession, Sarah Ewens managed to carry the ball over 30 yards into the final third, but her shot drifted wide.
It was the away side who had started the more promising inside the opening 10 minutes in Cumbernauld. Neither team had created anything clear-cut in the way of chances, but it was the visitors who settled the quickest as Potter’s team looked to work their way into the match.
Mia McAulay tried her luck after a stoppage in play in the game due to an injury. The winger cut inside of the full-back down the left flank as she looked to continue her fine early season form, but her effort flew over the bar leaving Ava Easdon untroubled.
After a period of play with still little in the way of chances, Rangers sparked into life. Kirsty Maclean did well to keep possession in a tight space on the left flank after being surrounded by several Thistle players. She spotted the run of Kirsty Howat down the line who fired the ball low across goal with the placement beating Easdon as the striker fired Rangers ahead after 20 minutes.
Tessel Middag did well to combine with Howat as the Light Blues looked to double their lead. The midfielder on her first start of the season found the forward but her left footed shot from the edge of the area was comfortably gathered by Easdon.
The theme of the match continued beyond the half-hour mark but Rangers had a great opportunity to go ahead through Rio Hardy. The Gers right side combined through McLeary and McLauchlan with the right-back picking out the striker at the back post, she opened up the goal up with her first touch but saw her shot fly over the bar with covering bodies on the line.
Moments later another chance came for the hosts this time for McLeary. The right-back McLauchlan again found herself advanced down the right channel as she clipped the ball to the back post, but the youngster couldn’t keep her header down on the stretch.
It was again Thistle who started the half brightly and on the front foot. The away side were getting into dangerous areas after the restart without testing Esson as they looked for a way back into the match.
Maclean looked to get the Gers on the front foot again and almost provided the cross to double the lead. The midfielder similarly to the opening goal worked the ball onto her left side as she delivered a deep cross to the far post, but the dangerous delivery evaded everyone as there were no takers in blue to get on the end of it.
McLeary went close to doubling the lead but her close range effort was kept out by the Jags shot stopper. McAulay’s deep cross found Hardy who used the youngster to her left but her effort was saved well by Easdon with her feet just a few yards from goal.
Linzi Taylor had an opportunity from 25 yards from a free-kick situation. Looking to place one beyond Esson the midfielder tried her luck but it was comfortably gathered by the New Zealand international.
Rangers introduced Kayla Jardine and Laura Berry into the game as they looked for another spark. As for most of the afternoon there were few chances at either end with both keepers kept relatively quiet as the game entered the final 15 minutes in Cumbernauld.
Berry got on the end of Middag’s free kick as she looked to add the finishing touch onto the set-piece delivery. The youngster managed to get her head on the ball but she lacked the desire power to beat the Thistle shot stopper with the effort.
Taylor did superbly to keep her side in the game with a goal line clearance. Howat found herself unmarked as she controlled Hardy’s cross, taking it round the keeper after her initial touch took her into the bodies as she took a shot from close range before the Thistle midfielder managed to make the block on the cover.
Kathryn Hill got on the end of another Middag free-kick but it again was gathered by Easdon. That being the last of the action at Broadwood as the Gers returned to winning ways in league action after their draw with Glasgow City seven days prior.
RANGERS: Esson, McLauchlan, Hill, Docherty, McAulay (Jardine 69), Middag, Maclean, McLeary, Howat, Hardy, Ewens (Berry 69)
SUBS: Fife, Colson, Austin, Clark
PARTICK THISTLE: Easdon, Slater, Lawton, Falconer, McGowan (McQuillan 84), Hay, Henderson, Bulloch, Taylor, Longcake (Robb 58), Sinclair (Adams 69)
SUBS: Docherty, Wright, Munro, Robinson