An early first-half goal from Chelsea Cornet and second-half header from Kayla McCoy provided the Gers with another win to continue their unbeaten run in the league campaign.
From the team that faced Motherwell in the Sky Sports Cup on Sunday afternoon, Thomson made five changes to his starting line-up as the Light Blues hosted the Edinburgh side at a chilly Broadwood Stadium.
Nicola Docherty returned to the defending backline with Rachel McLauchlan, Hannah Davison, and Lisa Martinez whilst Victoria Esson was given the nod to replace Jenna Fife between the posts behind them.
Brogan Hay and Tessel Middag joined the midfield again alongside Chelsea Cornet, with Sam Kerr and Emma Watson supporting Kayla McCoy up front.
It didn’t take long for Thomson’s side to fall into a dangerous rhythm as McCoy looked eager to engineer the first chance of the match with less than a minute of the clock.
Kerr threaded a superb ball over the heads of the defensive line to meet the on-running striker breaking into the final third area. McCoy made a deft first touch to latch onto her delivery, but Robyn McCafferty read the danger well and cleared her threat.
This early persistence from the Gers was rewarded as the squad opened the scoring with only six minutes elapsed. After several passages of play created towards the Spartans goal, Middag floated in a threatening cross from the corner flag.
Her delivery met the head of Cornet patiently waiting at the back post who steered an intelligent header over the line to give her side the early advantage.
The squad built from this positive momentum with an immediate desire to double their lead. Docherty and Kerr linked up well down the right side to break past the visitor’s backline, but the defence were alert to intercept their threats.
Kerr continued to cause persistent angst within the middle of the park to cause Spartans issues. The versatile midfielder intercepted a pass and darted towards Rachel Harrison in goals.
She did well to find her way into the box, but Nicola Jamieson made a key tackle before she could get her shot away. The deflection then fell invitingly to Hay at the back post who fired a strike from within the box, but her effort was smothered by Harrison.
At the other end, the visitors looked to counterattack and began to create threatening passages of play to weave around the Light Blues and push towards the box.
Rosie McQuillan found space to fire a strike from inside the Rangers final third, but it flew just over the crossbar to give the Gers a single-goal lead at halftime.
As the two sides returned for the second half, the Light Blues carried a forward attacking threat and hunger to secure another goal quickly in the second 45.
Watson did well to thread a fantastic through ball past the defending line to link up with McCoy advancing closer to the goal, but the striker was unable to latch onto her delivery.
The young Ger continued to be a thorn in the final third area for the Light Blues as the squad eagerly looked to add to their tally.
In a similar fashion to the opening goal, Watson curled in a flying effort from outside the Spartans box to meet McCoy at the back post who was then able to stretch her side’s advantage. The striker made a positive connection with the youngster’s delivery and fired it through the arms of Harrison to net the second of the evening.
In the final embers of the match, Thomson’s side continued to show desire and momentum to push towards the Spartans goal.
Substitute Kirsty Howat found herself in dangerous positions as she looked to slot the third over the line. She collected the ball within the opposition’s box and stabbed a powerful effort on target, but it stung the hands of Harrison to deny Rangers a third of the night.
RANGERS: Esson, Docherty, McLauchlan, Davison, Martinez, Middag (Nolf, 78), Hay (Maclean, 78), Cornet, Kerr, Watson (Cavanagh, 70), McCoy (Howat, 62).
UNUSED SUBS: Fife, Orschmann, Austin, McLeary, Jardine.
SPARTANS: Harrison, Mason, Clelland, Jamieson, Douglas, Birse (Galbraith, 69), Reynolds, McQuillan (Bates, 59), McCafferty, Jordan (Smart, 59), Robinson (Sidey, 69).
UNUSED SUBS: Yates, McMahon, Frew, McCafferty, Ross.
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