After falling behind inside the opening 15 minutes to concede their first goal of the league season after Erin Rennie punished a Victoria Esson error, the response was emphatic as Camille Lafaix scored her first goals for the club as well as a Katie Wilkinson strike completing a first half turnaround as the Gers lead 3-1 at the break.
Further goals from substitute Rio Hardy, a Wilkinson second and a Liv McLoughlin strike rounded off the scoring as the Light Blues claimed a sixth win in a row at the start of the SWPL season.
Head coach Jo Potter named six changes from the side that faced Atletico Madrid in UEFA Champions League Round One qualifying third place play-off match, with Victoria Esson, Laura Rafferty, Eilidh Austin, Lizzie Arnot, Camille Lafaix, who was making her first start for the club and Katie Wilkinson all coming in. Jane Ross was also named in the squad for the first time this season having made a recovery from injury.
Katie Wilkinson had the first sight of goal for the Gers in the opening exchanges after getting the ball from Jodi McLeary, she spun inside the area but her attempted effort at the Spartans goal flew well over the top of the bar.
The two Light Blues strikers then combined as they seeked out an early opener. Wilkinson involved again acknowledged Kirsty Howat well placed inside the penalty area, but her effort on the half volley on her left side missed the target.
The Gers continued to mount early pressure as they went in search of the first goal. Brogan Hay did superbly to ride several challenges on the right flank before cutting the ball back to Howat, but she blazed the shot wide of the near post without testing Alicia Yates in the visitors goal.
It was the away side however, who took a surprise lead at Broadwood after a mistake in the Rangers backline. A back pass to her goalkeeper from defender Leah Eddie was attempted to be cleared by Victoria Esson but hit the onrushing Erin Rennie and landed in the Gers goal as the visitors opened the scoring in what was the first goal Rangers have conceded in the SWPL this season.
The hosts looked for an instant response and they got it through Camille Lafaix. Forward Kirsty Howat looked to place one in the back of the net but was denied by an impressive point blank save from Yates, the ball broke for the French-American inside the box as she dispatched it into the far corner to level up proceedings to score her first goal in a Rangers jersey on her first start for the club.
The Light Blues took a lift from getting back on terms by turning the match on its head almost straight away. Lafaix was at the double on this occasion as Wilkinson with her back to goal laid off the Gers number 20 who finished it off through the bodies to score a second goal in as many minutes to put Jo Potter’s side in front.
Leah Eddie was next to go close as the Gers looked to pull further ahead after completing the comeback. The defender found herself in an advanced position as she looked to finish the ball at the near post, but the side netting denied her a first goal in Light Blue.
Rangers did manage to grab a third to take a 3-1 lead into the break however as Katie Wilkinson picked up where she left off on goalscoring duty in the league. A Lizzie Arnot delivery was brought down well by the English forward, she composed herself to finish the ball off well into the far corner as she found the back of the net for the 15th time for her new club having joined from Southampton earlier this summer.
The Gers looked to begin the second half as they started the first but had to remain patient throughout in working openings. Charlie Devlin, who was on for her Rangers debut thought she had opened her account for the club after brilliantly bringing down a Leah Eddie cross and finishing it off, but the referee deemed the midfielder to have handled the ball before she found the back of the net.
Rio Hardy was also introduced as she looked to make an impact on the match straight away. Wilkinson looked to find the striker with a delivery into the area, but Yates was out to gather at the second attempt to clear any danger.
After a period of frustration at not being able to add to their first half lead the Gers did find a fourth goal. Wilkinson again involved she picked the ball up inside the Spartans half before spreading it to Brogan Hay, the winger’s delivery found the head of Rio Hardy who glanced it towards the far corner and found the back of the net to add a fourth.
Hardy was again involved this time to provide an assist to her strike partner. The striker clipped in a left footed cross which was met by the head of Katie Wilkinson who rose highest in the area to head home her second of the afternoon and Rangers’ fifth.
Captain to begin the day Liv McLoughlin was then on hand to round off the scoring as Rangers added a sixth late on. It was Hardy the provider for a second time for the young midfielder as she laid the ball off to her at the edge of the area, her shot then went in off the post as the Gers returned to winning ways after resuming their domestic campaign.
RANGERS: Esson, Eddie, Rafferty (Hill 45), Hay, Howat (Hardy 63), Arnot, Austin (Docherty 45), Lafaix (Middag 63), McLoughlin, McLeary (Devlin 45), Wilkinson
SUBS: Fife, Ross, McAulay, Cruft
SPARTANS: Yates, Clelland, McCafferty, Douglas, Chuter (Corey 63), Foote (Davies 45), Jordan (Reynolds 83), Rennie (Johnstone 83) , Chomczuk, Fraser, Beaton-Hill (Browning 45)
SUBS: Thomson