The Gers got off the mark through a well-taken Kirsty Maclean finish as they took a one-goal lead into the break. They started the second half in promising fashion and got their reward with quick fire goals through Rio Hardy and Rachel McLauchlan as they took control of the game.
Carla Boyce’s finish brought a goal back for the away side late on before Kirsty Howat rounded off the scoring to add a fourth for the home side as the Light Blues claimed the win as they now prepare for their final fixture before the international break.
Jo Potter named one change to the team that ran out convincing 8-1 winners over Dundee United three days prior, with Kayla Jardine making her first start of the season in place of Mia McAulay.
The Gers had a great opportunity to take the lead inside just two minutes. A wide free-kick delivery was sent in by Tessel Middag which hit Laura Berry at the back post. The ball rolled across the six-yard box with Rio Hardy looking to tap it in but pressure from the defender saw her effort go over the top.
After a period of possession for the away side, it was the hosts that had another chance from a set-piece to break the deadlock. Middag whipped in a corner kick which was met by the head of Kathryn Hill, her effort was blocked before it broke to Jodi McLeary but her left footed shot went over.
Kaela McDonald-Nguah stood over a free-kick opportunity in what was Motherwell’s first effort of the contest. The midfielder struck an effort from range which looked to be troubling Victoria Esson in the Rangers goal, but the keeper saw it go behind.
Nicola Docherty went the closest to opening the scoring for either side on the 17-minute mark. The Rangers captain received the ball inside the opposing half and tried her luck from distance, but the shot clipped the top of the crossbar and stayed out.
Rangers almost capitalised on a Chelsie Watson error and went close once again to going ahead. The defender played a loose pass which was pounced upon by Rio Hardy. The forward found her strike partner in Kirsty Howat and her effort looked to be heading for the near corner but it came back off the post.
Kayla Jardine almost turned provider on her first start for the club. She worked the ball well onto her left foot down the left channel and fired a dangerous ball across goal. It looked set to reach Howat for a tap-in at the back post but for a well-timed interception by Hannah Cunningham to divert the danger.
The Gers broke the deadlock and it was Kirsty Maclean with her second goal in as many games. Middag took a short corner which found Laura Berry, the striker acknowledged the midfielder well placed inside the area. She turned and fired a low powerful shot which beat Emily Mutch in the Motherwell goal as the hosts went in front.
Rachel McLauchlan tried her luck from range as Rangers looked for a second shortly after. Howat found the full-back in an advanced position 25-yards from goal, but her shot flew wide of the right post with Mutch well aware of her surroundings.
Combination play from the two Gers strikers almost resulted in them doubling their lead. Howat made a clever run down the left flank as she got on the end of a long ball. She crossed it in for Berry who tried a cushioned volley on the instep but her effort sailed over.
McLauchlan had a great opportunity to double the advantage after getting on the end of a long through ball. The right-back found herself in an advanced position behind the Motherwell backline as she broke through one on one, but her effort at the near post was well saved by Mutch.
The full-back was involved again in the play in the next attack. She found herself deep inside the Well half as she clipped a ball to the far post, the initial effort was almost met by Berry before it broke to McLeary, but she fired her shot over from close range with several bodies on the goal line.
The Gers started the second period on the front foot as they looked to give themselves breathing space in the contest. Hardy had a goal ruled out for offside right after the restart before a Middag free kick tested Mutch but the keeper managed to keep hold of the effort from distance.
The Light Blues did manage to double their lead and it was Rio Hardy who continued from where she left off after her hat-trick in the previous outing. McLauchlan again found herself advanced down the right and it was her cross that found the striker who headed home from close range to make it two.
Howat almost turned provider as McLeary made her way round the back post to get on the end of her cross. The striker hit the touchline and fired an expert delivery round the back but the ball was slightly out of reach for the youngster who headed over.
Rachel McLauchlan was on hand to add a third before the hour-mark as the Gers took complete control of the contest. Howat did well to hold the ball up before her initial cross broke to the edge of the area. The full-back did well to withstand pressure as she composed herself with a touch into the area before sliding the ball expertly into the corner to make it three.
Watson almost got a goal back for the visitors as they looked to give themselves hope in the game. A corner was met at the near post and the flick fell to the centre-back, but she couldn’t divert the ball beyond Esson from close range.
Berry latched onto a loose ball by Gillian Inglis as she had a chance to make it four. The striker charged in on goal with Howat perhaps better placed but she went alone as her left-footed strike was comfortably gathered by Mutch.
Amy Anderson went close for the away side to get on the scoresheet as the game entered the final 10 minutes in what would have been a terrific goal from range. Her shot from over 30-yards out had Esson backpedalling but the effort came back off the crossbar and stayed out.
Motherwell did get themselves on the scoresheet in the final five minutes of normal time. Substitute Carla Boyce latched onto a loose ball inside the Rangers half and then fired a shot with Esson out of her goal into the near post as they made it 3-1 on the night towards the end.
Megan Bell almost provided a moment of brilliance on her return. The midfielder stood over a free-kick on the edge of the area, she looked to have beaten Mutch with the keeper scrambling across goal but her effort came back off post and stayed out.
There was time late on for Kirsty Howat to get on the scoresheet as she rounded off the scoring at Broadwood. Mia McAulay was picked out deep down the left side as she picked out a cross for the striker who volleyed home from close range to add a fourth on the night.
RANGERS: Esson, McLauchlan (Clark 75), Hill (Colson 75), Docherty, Jardine (McAulay 45), Middag, Maclean, McLeary (Bell 62), Howat, Hardy (Austin 62), Berry
SUBS: Fife, Laird
MOTHERWELL: Mutch, Addie, Gibb, Anderson, Watson (McGongie 61), Collins (MacPhail 83) McDonald-Nguah, Inglis, Cunningham (Boyce 61), Canavan (McCartney 83), Boyes
SUBS: Rafferty, Cunningham, Cameron, Rice