On a day they had to be patient, a goal in each half by the two academy graduates helped the Gers continue their positive momentum and head into the international break on a high, as they ready themselves for their post-split fixtures beginning upon their return.
Leanne Crichton named two changes from her team’s convincing cup win last weekend, with Mia McAulay restored to the starting lineup in place of Katie Wilkinson and Laura Rafferty in for Kathy Hill.
It was Rangers who looked to get into the early ascendancy. After a closely contested opening at Broadwood, it was the returning McAulay who had the first effort of the contest six minutes in, but it was sliced wide of the target.
Montrose made an encouraging start themselves and were more than holding their own in the opening 10 minutes. They had top-six ambitions in their sights, as they had to match or better Partick Thistle’s result to sneak in for the first time in their history.
Crichton’s side had their best opening moments later. January player of the month winner Eilidh Austin got in down the right and looked to pick out Camille Lafaix inside the area, the French-American improvised with a back heeled finish which was well kept out by Lauren Perry in the Montrose goal, before McAulay dragged the rebound wide.
After a crucial defensive header from captain Nicola Docherty at one end, Rangers broke on the counter. Calliste Brookshire brought forward the ball with purpose and found May Cruft well advanced, she slid it across for McAulay who finished well on her left side to put Rangers ahead.
In blustery conditions, the Light Blues looked to take advantage with the wind behind them, Austin’s dangerous delivery found the back post area but whad no takers before they should have doubled their lead in the next phase.
Laura Berry did brilliantly to cut inside Cassie Cowper but was then was caught in two minds to give it to Brookshire or go alone, she overran the chance which allowed Perry to gather and smother the chance. Leah Eddie then scooped a chance from a corner over the bar in the end of the first half action, as she looked for her second goal in as many games.
Brookshire and McAulay switched sides at the break and to good effect with the Greece international looking lively down the right. After a good run from the winger she slipped in Berry, but not for the first time in the contest she was denied well by Perry from close range.
Brookshire herself was next to go close but her right footed effort was turned round the post well. From the resulting corner, McAulay sent the ball into a number of bodies, and the goalkeeper did well to deny her with an instinctive save to her left side.
It was starting to look like it wouldn’t be Berry’s day in front of goal as she was denied by the woodwork after getting it from McAulay, as the hosts continued to probe without finding the crucial second.
Substitute Brogan Hay almost made an immediate impact after winning it high, but her pass to Berry saw the striker miss the target at the near post again.
Montrose were still in the contest at 1-0 and had a set piece chance fly just wide of the target. The cross from the left was met by the head of sub Georgia Carter, but Jenna Fife saw it past her right hand post.
In Rangers’ best piece of second half play they almost doubled their lead through Shin Ji Kim. Several players were involved in combination play down the left before it presented itself to the South Korean, but she fired over on the stretch.
After a frustrating personal afternoon all round persistence paid off for Berry as she deservedly found the target to double the Rangers lead. Homing on in goal on the right side she slide it goalwards and despite Carter’s best efforts to deny her on the slide as she collided with the post, the ball crossed the line to add the vital second.
The hosts remained defensively sound from there on in as they await their post-split fixtures fate in their next fixture in 3 weeks’ time as the first international break of 2026 beckons.
RANGERS: Fife, Austin, Eddie (Boyce, 81), Hill, Docherty, Cruft, McLeary (Shin Ji, 61), Lafaix (Sabajo, 66), McAulay (Hay, 66), Brookshire (Wilkinson, 61), Berry
SUBS: Kelly, Pegram, Black
MONTROSE: Perry, Murray (Carter, 56, McDonald-Nguah, 75), Gover (Elliott, 75) , Ross, Martin, Taylor, Brown, Innes (Guthrie, 56), Cowper, Robertson, Robb
SUBS: Milne, McLaren, Henderson
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