A vastly improved second half showing saw Katie Wilkinson add to Laura Berry’s leveller to edge the hosts ahead, before an equaliser from Saoirse Noonan looked destined to ensure a share of the spoils.
But on a bitterly chilly evening in Glasgow, McAulay stepped forward to curl an unerring finish into the top corner with just six minutes remaining to deliver all three points.
Crichton named just the solitary change from Sunday’s Sky Sports Cup success over Partick Thistle, welcoming 16-year-old May Cruft back into the midfield in place of Camille Lafaix.
Just over 90 seconds had elapsed on the scoreboard nestled above the Gordon Ramsay Suite when Rangers suffered an early setback.
The visitors moved possession down the left-hand side with purpose, creating the space required for Morgan Cross to lift her head and deliver a low delivery across the face of goal that fell invitingly for Jennifer Smith to stroke beyond Jenna Fife.
It was less than an ideal start for the home side who immediately went about attempting to restore parity when Quinty Sabajo picked out Mia McAulay at the edge of the penalty area from a short corner and the Scotland international’s effort looped into the arms of Lisa Rodgers.
Saoirse Noonan then went close for the visitors when she swivelled inside the Gers penalty area from another Cross pull-back, with Fife producing an impressive stop with her feet.
An Amy Gallacher free-kick sailed off target moments later, before a scramble inside the six-yard area dropped to Lisa Robertson 30 yards out who blasted over the top.
Rangers were having to ride a wave of Celtic attacks as Noonan nodded over from close-range after Maria McAneny lofted a deep delivery towards the far post which the visiting forward met on the rise.
Down the opposite end, the hosts pieced together a promising moment when they shifted possession across the pitch, allowing Wilkinson to feed the overlapping Eilidh Austin whose low effort forced Rodgers to turn around for a corner.
From the subsequent set-piece, Rangers were level.
McAulay’s delivery was floated into a congested penalty area and headed back into the stramash of bodies by Emma Lawton where the ball ricocheted off Austin and into the path of Berry who slammed home.
The momentum suddenly swung in the Gers’ favour, with Crichton turning to her substitutes bench and introducing Kim Shin Ji who has enjoyed such an impressive campaign.
Opportunity knocked nine minutes after the restart when McAulay shimmied dangerously inside from the left-hand side, teeing up Austin whose first-time effort looked destined for the far corner before a last-ditch goalline clearance.
The shift in the flow of the game was evident, and on the stroke of the hour in the turnaround in the scoreline was complete.
McAulay’s threat on the left-hand side was causing Celtic headaches once again, lifting her head and lashing a dangerous delivery into the penalty area where Wilkinson glanced a clever header into the bottom corner and out of the reach of Rodgers.
The Gers support spread across the Sandy Jardine Stand rose in appreciation, with whatever the contents of Crichton’s team talk certainly paying dividends.
A third goal – which would have provided an almighty cushion – almost arrived moments later when the impressive Austin hit the byline and stood up a delightful cross which Jodi McLeary met on her head but was deflected wide for a corner.
The hosts were duly made to pay with 20 minutes remaining when a deep delivery from the left-hand side fell invitingly to Noonan who slammed a finish into the bottom corner to haul Celtic back on level terms.
However, the final say belonged to Rangers as McAulay delivered another memorable derby goal when she skipped inside, set her sights on the far corner, and curled an unstoppable finish beyond Rodgers with just four minutes remaining.
RANGERS: Fife, Austin, Pegram, Eddie, Docherty, McLeary (Lafaix, 82), Cruft, Sabajo (Shin Ji, 45), Berry, McAulay, Wilkinson
Subs not used: Ivarsdottir, Rafferty, Connolly-Jackson, O’Brien, Coyle Morrow, O’Donnell
CELTIC: Rodgers, Walsh, Robertson, Gallacher (McGoldrick, 82), Smith, Clark, Cross (Nakao, 44), Luke, Noonan, Lawton, McAneny
Subs not used: Gay, Richardson, Knox, Duncan, Dawson
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