RANGERS booked their place in next month’s Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup final with a comfortable 5-0 win over Aberdeen at Hampden.
A Jane Ross hat-trick, as well as goals from both Rio Hardy and Lizzie Arnot set them on their way as they returned to winning ways in domestic action to seal their place in the final at the end of May.
Jo Potter named several changes to her starting XI from their last league outing, with the likes of Tessel Middag, Laura Rafferty, Jane Ross as well as youngster May Cruft coming into the team, with the 15-year-old making just her second start for the club.
Rangers looked to assert early dominance at the national stadium against the side they had scored 21 goals against in the previous two meetings so far this season. Tessel Middag, brought into the back three for the day, found herself well advanced down the right flank as she seeked out Lizzie Arnot round the back post, but she couldn’t make the desired contact on the stretch.
The first big chance of the contest arrived shortly after for Potter’s side. The ball was worked across to Arnot once again, she shifted it onto her right foot inside the area, but her shot was well saved by the feet of Annalisa Mcann in the Aberdeen goal.
The Gers looked to make the most of a quick free kick as Katie Wilkinson didn’t mess around, Middag had an initial swing at it with Jane Ross close by, it broke for the Dutch midfielder but she lashed it over the top from inside the area.
Rangers did get their opener however and it was Jane Ross making the most of her starting opportunity who found the back of the net. A great defence splitting pass from Kirsty Maclean set Mia McAulay free down the right, she rolled the ball across the box as the striker had the simple task of rolling the ball into the goal to put the Light Blues in front.
They continued to dominate for large spells without doubling their lead. Another chance fell for Arnot as striker Wilkinson picked it up before sending the midfield runner in Maclean in behind. McAulay again looked to be the provider as her cross found Arnot round the back, but she volleyed over on her left side.
After a stale period in the game Rangers did double their lead and it was the two strikers who combined to make it two. Another fantastic through ball by Maclean set Ross away, she acknowledged Hardy in space to her right as she found her which allowed the forward the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net to give Rangers breathing space.
A third brilliant Maclean pass set Hardy away as she looked to earn a deserved assist, but the forward lashed at the chance as it flashed wide as the Gers took a two-goal advantage into the break.
Jo Potter introduced trio of Chelsea Cornet, Brogan Hay and Jodi McLeary at the break with the latter making her 100th appearance in the club in the process and the head coach having one eye on Wednesday evening’s massive league clash against Glasgow City at Ibrox.
Not long after the restart it was three as Ross doubled her tally for the day and put the game out of sight. A delivery into the box looking for Hay broke for the striker who brought it down well inside the box before firing it with her right foot beyond McCann and into the back of the net for the second time.
Cornet looked to get involved in an attacking sense for the Gers as she found herself well advanced down the right. She had options across the box but opted for a shot herself but didn’t make the desired contact as McCann gathered.
Aberdeen, who had very few moments in the match had arguably their best chance just after the hour-mark. Kerry Beattie picked the ball up on the left and looked to pick out substitute Emily Kraft round the back post, but her header off balance flew wide of the target.
McAulay created another moment for Arnot who volley was just too central for McCann. Initially doing well down the right the two wingers combined but the effort was to straight as the goalkeeper collected it.
Further goals were to follow for the Gers as Jane Ross was on hand to grab her hat-trick towards the end and Lizzie Arnot grabbed herself a deserved goal after she threatened to find the back of the net all afternoon as the Light Blues comfortably booked their place in next month’s final against Wednesday night opponents Glasgow City.
RANGERS: Esson, Docherty (Eddie, 57), Rafferty (Hill, 74), Middag, Hardy (McLeary, 45), Ross, McAulay, Arnot, Maclean (Cornet, 45), Wilkinson (Hay, 45), Cruft
SUBS: Fife, Howat, Lafaix
ABERDEEN: McCann, Mendez (Innes, 73), Noble (Kraft, 60), Stewart (Miller, 81), Ogilvie, Finnie, Ilijoski, Thomson (McEvoy, 73) , Black, Beattie, Finnegan
SUBS: Jameison, Holden, Murray, Gover
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