ON Mother’s Day this afternoon those inside Ibrox were treated to a spectacle as Rangers produced a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Hearts in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League.
Two goals in either half proved the difference for the Gers, propelled by a brace apiece from Brogan Hay and Rio Hardy.
In doing so, Jo Potter’s side continued their positive momentum and signed off on the highest of notes ahead of the upcoming international break.
Indeed, the question heading into the game was always centred around Rangers’ ability to park the high of last weekend’s cup final success, and any fears of exactly that were quickly allayed inside 40 seconds when the opening goal of the game was foreshadowed.
Hearts goalkeeper Rachael Johnstone was guilty of being too clever on the ball inside her own penalty area and Kirsty Howat almost profited when sprung to intercept her attempted pass.
The forward is certainly enjoying a rich vein of form infront of goal and she went close to striking the opener moments later when Hay’s delivery from a short corner routine was cleared only as far as Howat by Dominique Ypema, but her first-time effort prompted a smart stop from Johnstone at her near post.
Rangers, it appeared, were still riding the crest of a wave from last weekend’s Sky Sports Cup final triumph. Chelsea Cornet was next to test her luck from a Kirsty Maclean pull-back, although the midfielder was unable to steer her finish inside the frame of the Hearts goal.
However, Johnstone in the visitors’ goal failed to heed the warning of the opening minute as she gifted the Light Blues the opening goal inside six minutes.
There was no immediate danger from a Hearts perspective as they were forced all the way back to their goalkeeper from a corner, but the pressure of Hay just inside the away side’s half panicked Johnstone who was robbed of possession and the Gers winger had the simplest of tasks, unchecked, to carry the ball forward and slot the ball into the empty net.
The game was being played at 100 miles per hour and almost entirely in the Hearts half, yet the away side fashioned their first opportunity of the contest when Georgia Timms advanced down the right and Bayley Hutchison stung the palms of Jenna Fife with a first-time strike.
Hearts began to take the sting out of a relentless opening period from Jo Potter’s side either side of the quarter of an hour mark; Howat firing beyond the near post from a smart Maclean slide rule pass.
The only aspect absent from Rangers’ first-half showing was the engineering of a second goal. With seven minutes remaining before the interval, they rewarded themselves with a second goal of the contest.
This time, Hardy was both the instigator and executioner, finding Hay on the left-hand side after patient play from Rangers before the winger returned the favour by clipping a delicious delivery to the back post for Hardy to smartly nod home.
Hearts were then struck with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu just four minutes after the restart.
Caught on their heels from another Rangers short corner routine, Hay fed Howat and the forward’s enticing delivery made its way to Hardy who, much like she done before the interval, glanced a header into the back of the net.
The belief had been sapped from the away side who were soon counting the cost of a fourth goal of the afternoon from a potent Rangers outfit.
It was Cornet’s persistence by the near-side corner flag which made goal possible; the midfielder robbing Eilidh Shore of possession before teeing the ball back to Howat.
The forward’s delivery was punched high into the air by Johnstone in the Hearts goal, falling invitingly to Hay who planted a first-time volley under the Jambos goalkeeper.
Potter turned to her substitutes bench in introducing both Tessel Middag and top goalscorer Katie Wilkinson, who flicked a Maclean delivery goalwards but off target minutes after taking to the pitch.
Still, the hard work had already been done from a Gers perspective and, as the sun cast over the far side of the Ibrox pitch, those in royal blue could soak in a good day’s work.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Eddie, Hill (Middag, 59), Hay, Howat (Wilkinson, 59), Hardy (Berry, 75), Cornet, Lafaix (Ross, 75), Maclean, McLeary (Arnot, 83)
Subs not used: Esson, McAulay
HEARTS: Johnstone, Brownlie, Robertson, Shore (Powell, 74), Timms, Wade (Handley, 60), Waldie, Ypema, Jardine (Adamolekun, 45), Hutchison (Andrews, 74), Husband (Forsyth, 60)
Subs not used: Parker-Smith, Young, Slattery
REFEREE: Ross Birrell