After being frustrated by the away side in the opening 45 minutes and the assistant’s flag denying the hosts the opening goal, they went at the break goalless. Katie Wilkinson and substitute Lizzie Arnot were then on hand to fire the Gers to victory as they maintained their unbeaten start to the league season.
Head coach Jo Potter named four changes to her starting side from midweek’s Old Firm derby draw, with Jenna Fife, Charlie Devlin, Mia McAulay and Eilidh Austin all coming into the team.
Rangers looked for a fast start much like midweek as they seeked an early opening. A delivery from the left side broke for the arriving Tessel Middag inside the area, the midfielder’s left footed shot was beaten away by Emily Mutch who managed to then gather the resulting cross.
The match remained goalless in the opening stages beyond the 15-minute mark. Attempting to work openings from the channels a cross from Leah Eddie looked to pick out top goal scorer Katie Wilkinson, but it went just beyond the reach of the Rangers number 44 inside the area.
The Gers went close for a second time through Rio Hardy. Having worked the play from the inside left position she managed to get herself a half yard at the near post, but the shot was kept out by the legs of Mutch.
The Light Blues then went the closest of either side to breaking the deadlock and it was Wilkinson once again. A Middag floated ball into the area was brought down by the forward, she worked it onto her left foot before smashing the ball off the crossbar on the turn before Sarah Gibb was quickest to react for the visitors to clear the danger.
Rangers then thought they had taken the lead through Hardy’s close range effort. A corner kick was taken by Mia McAulay and punched out by Mutch in the Motherwell goal; it fell for the striker as she fired it in at the near post but the assistant ruled out the goal for offside after one of her teammates was in the line of sight of the goalkeeper.
Eilidh Austin saw an effort hit the side netting thereafter before Wilkinson’s header landed into the keeper’s hands as the Gers were left frustrated throughout the opening 45 minutes by the visitors as the two teams went in at the break locked level.
Kirsty Howat and Lizzie Arnot were introduced at half time as Rangers looked to up their levels and find an opener. Charlie Devlin had an opportunity from the edge of the area after a loose clearance from the Motherwell backline, but she dragged the effort wide of the mark.
After probing for long spells the Gers found their breakthrough and it was top goalscorer Katie Wilkinson who found the target once again. Kathy Hill hit a pinpoint diagonal pass which was brought down by McAulay, she worked the angle for a cross before picking out the forward who dispatched it at the near post to give Rangers the lead.
The hosts looked to take confidence from finding the opener as they searched for a quickfire second. Devlin looked to turn provider as she threaded a ball through for Howat, but her effort was dragged wide of the far post with Arnot unable to reach it round the back.
The Light Blues then gave themselves breathing space on the day as they found their second through Arnot. Working the ball through midfield after Wilkinson dropped deep her pass set the winger free down the flank. She cut inside and looked to place an effort before it hit the unfortunate Chelsie Watson and wrong footed the goalkeeper to double the advantage.
Potter’s side went close to a third to round off the match after Wilkinson fired a Howat lay-off over the bar before Liv McLoughlin was denied towards the end after an impressive last ditch tackle from Rachel Todd. As the Gers returned to winnings way and can now turn attentions to an exciting clash at Ibrox next weekend.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty (Rafferty 79), Eddie, Hill, Middag (McLeary 72), Devlin (Bell 68), Hardy (Howat 45), McAulay, Austin (Arnot 45), McLoughlin, Wilkinson
SUBS: Esson, Hay, Ross, Lafaix
Motherwell: Mutch, Penman, Watson, Addie (Thomson 45, Cairns 70), Collins (Barclay 57), Rice, Todd, Inglis, Boyes, Gibb (Gillespie 80), McCartney
SUBS: Ronald