RANGERS are the Glasgow Cup winners after a dramatic 2-1 victory over rivals Celtic at Broadwood Stadium this afternoon.
Amy Gallacher’s goal from the penalty spot in the opening stages of the game fired Celtic in front after a fast start to the match.
After seemingly looking like holding out to claim the trophy Kirsty Maclean was on hand to fire home an equaliser in early stoppage time. The game looked destined for spot kicks before Kirsty Howat stepped up to score from the penalty spot as Rangers claimed the trophy for the second season running.
Head coach Jo Potter named two changes to the starting side that were 11-0 winners over Queen’s Park in midweek, with Tessel Middag and Rio Hardy coming into the team in place of Michelle Colson and Laura Berry.
Celtic almost went ahead inside three minutes after a period of possession at the start of the match. Amy Gallacher latched onto a short back pass by Nicola Docherty, driving in on goal she looked to square it to the far post but Tessel Middag did brilliantly to divert it behind for a corner.
They did have the chance to go ahead from the spot just moments later however, Jenny Smith managed to get a touch on the ball ahead of Jenna Fife following the next phase of play after the corner, the keeper bringing her down on the left side of the box. Amy Gallacher stepped up from 12 yards and dispatched the ball into the top left corner as Celtic went ahead early on.
Rangers did start to settle after a frantic start in Cumbernauld. Kirsty Maclean did well on two occasions to turn over possession and break up play but the Light Blues were yet to threaten in the final third past the 10-minute mark in the contest.
The Gers started growing into the match just past the quarter-hour mark. Rio Hardy did well to carry the ball beyond defender Caitlin Hayes down the left flank, cutting inside the striker was bundled to the ground but the referee deemed nothing to be wrong with the challenge.
The match turned cagey in the next 10 minutes at Broadwood but it was Rangers who started applying more pressure between the two teams. Megan Bell sent a wide free kick delivery deep round the back post but the arriving Chelsea Cornet could turn the back goalwards from a tight angle on the volley.
An opportunity fell the way of Kirsty Howat after a promising counter-attack from Potter’s side. Cornet drove well through midfield and set the striker on her way but her effort 25-yards from goal looped over Rylee Foster’s crossbar.
Clear-cut chances remained few and far between at Broadwood in what was a closely fought encounter between the sides as the match approached the interval with the early Gallacher penalty the difference.
Rangers had their best chance of the half just as the game entered stoppage time. Bell made a clever midfield run as she found with a well-placed over the top through ball by Howat, the midfielder taking the ball in her stride she charged through on goal but could only fire her effort over the top in what was the last of the action before the break.
The Gers started the second half on the front foot by winning a succession of corners. An opportunity presented itself to Hardy from a tight angle but Foster turned it round the post as Rangers looked for a response after the restart.
Openings started to appear for the Gers more regularly this time Howat almost getting on the end of a Cornet cut back inside the area. The midfielder drove from deep inside the area and opted to use the striker but the ball across goal was just beyond the reach of the 26-year-old.
Kirsty Mclean did brilliantly to ride several challenges through midfield as she found Hay in space down the channel. The winger’s deflected cross fell the way of Hardy at the back post but she was unable to keep her header down and on target.
Celtic went close through substitute Clare Goldie to doubling their advantage. Finding space in behind the Gers defence down the left her shot across goal whistled past the far post in what was their first real opening since the restart as the game reached the hour-mark.
Rachel McLauchlan tried her luck with a well-struck shot from distance which looked to be threatening the top corner but Foster was across quick enough to gather, as Rangers continued to up the intensity in search of an equaliser.
Hardy again had an opportunity with her head as she got on the end of McLeary’s cross to the back post. The striker rising highest as she found a yard of space but the delivery was just too high for her to turn it goalwards, with the game heading into the final 15 minutes with Celtic still narrowly ahead.
The Gers finally got their reward for their second-half pressure as the game entered stoppage time. The fourth official signalled for an additional eight minutes to be played at the end of the contest, just moments later Kirsty Maclean found herself with space in the box, she turned and placed a shot into the bottom right corner as Rangers found an equaliser.
Just as the game was heading for penalty kicks, Rangers had a golden opportunity to win the match right at the death. Seconds remained in Cumbernauld as substitute Rachel Rowe was bundled over in the area by Natalie Ross as the referee pointed to the spot.
Kirsty Howat stepped up and superbly dispatched the ball home as Rangers won the trophy with virtually the last kick of the game as they claimed silverware and retained the Glasgow Cup at Broadwood.
RANGERS: Fife, McLauchlan, Middag, Docherty, Cornet, Maclean, McLeary, Hay (Rowe 71), Bell (McAulay 71), Howat, Hardy
SUBS: Inman, Austin, Colson, Berry, Clark, Ferguson, Hill
CELTIC: Foster, Barclais (Ross 63), Gallacher (Agnew 75), Smith (Partido 75), Cavanagh (Imane Addi 78), Clark, Hayes, Loferski, Menglu (Burchill 63), Florencia Munoz, McAneny (Goldie 45)
SUBS: Johnstone, Cusack, Sharkey