AN inspired triple half-time substitution from Leanne Crichton propelled Rangers into the Scottish Cup final with a 2-0 win over Montrose at Hampden Park this afternoon.
A brace from Katie Wilkinson in the second period proved the difference, with the introduction of the forward at the interval, alongside Kim Shin Ji and Leah Eddie, helping Rangers motor into a fourth successive final in the competition.
Her first goal arrived just six minutes into the interval, while the second was struck from the penalty spot in stoppage time, and it means the Gers will face Celtic on Sunday, May 31 in search of a third Scottish Cup triumph in a row.
Crichton named six changes to her side from the midweek league triumph over Hibernian, with the likes of Mia McAulay and Jodi McLeary returning to the starting lineup.
Montrose have shown their quality throughout this campaign, and it was no surprise that the Gers found clear-cut opportunities at a premium in the opening exchanges.
Indeed, Brogan Hay was another who returned to the team for this last four clash and it was her endeavour which fed a pass into Calliste Brookshire, but the winger lacked support inside the penalty area in Rangers colours.
It was a cagey contest being largely played in the centre of the pitch, with Montrose threatening for the first time when Demi Taylor dovetailed with Kaela McDonald-Nguah on the left before firing over the top of Jenna Fife’s goal.
A quick free-kick from the Links Park outfit then engineered a shooting opportunity for Sophia Martin, although her strike from distance was always sailing high and wide of the Gers goal.
McAulay attempted to inject some quality into the contest when she received a pass from Hay on the edge of the penalty area, but after dancing between several Montrose challenges the Scotland international could only scoop her effort way off target on her unfavoured left side.
Rangers certainly looked the side in the ascendancy as the first-half wore on, with May Cruft teed up by Sabajo on the edge of the penalty area before watching her driven strike deflected out for a corner.
The half-time interval prompted a triple substitution from Crichton as Katie Wilkinson, Kim Shin Ji and Leah Eddie entered the fray.
The latter was immediately involved in the action when she found herself in an attacking position on the edge of the penalty area and curled goalwards, but Lauren Perry in the Montrose goal was equal to her effort.
And the impact from the bench engineered the opening goal for the Gers inside six minutes of the second period.
It was a corner of the inswinging variety which unlocked what had been a stubborn Montrose defence, with McLeary’s delivery sailing into the six-yard box where Wilkinson beat Perry to the ball to nod into the back of the net.
The Gers suddenly had a spring in their step as a sweeping move saw Hay pick up possession in an advanced area on the right-hand side, but after chopping inside she was guilty of getting too much purchase on her delivery.
Two minutes later, Crichton’s side produced a move of such incision that it merited an end product. The impressive Shin Ji latched onto a neat lay-off from Brookshire through the heart of the Montrose defence, but the midfielder’s delivery across the face of goal was just overhit in search of Wilkinson.
Opportunity beckoned for Brookshire to kill the game as a contest on the counter-attack when she burst forward down the left-hand side, but after a wonderful stepover to lose her marker she could only watch her left-footed strike clip the top of the crossbar.
The Greek international later went close with a header, before Rangers had the chance to double their tally in stoppage time when Laura Berry was fouled inside the penalty area.
Wilkinson assumed spot-kick duties, dispatching confidently beyond Perry to put the game beyond doubt.
RANGERS: Fife, Mengwen (Berry, 75), Pegram (Eddie, 45), Hill (Boyce, 69), Docherty, McLeary, Cruft, Sabajo (Shin Ji, 45), Hay, Brookshire, McAulay (Wilkinson, 45)
Subs not used: Kelly, Austin, Connolly-Jackson, Black
MONTROSE: Perry, Carter (Robb, 67), McLaren, Ross, Guthrie (Gover, 67), Martin (Innes, 87), McDonald-Nguah (Murray, 78), Taylor, Brown (Henderson, 87), Cowper, Robertson
Subs not used: Holden
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