RANGERS sealed progression in the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup with a 7-0 win over Montrose at Broadwood Stadium this afternoon.
Back on home soil for the first time since the turn of the year the Light Blues took a step closer to retaining the trophy they won for their first time in their history last season with a convincing display in Cumbernauld.
Rangers looked to make a fast start in their first time in front of their home fans in 2025. They created a chance in the opening exchanges as the two strikers combined, Kirsty Howat worked the ball to fellow forward Jane Ross, but her left footed effort was comfortable for goalkeeper Rowena Armitage who gathered.
Brogan Hay took the first Rangers corner of the afternoon shortly afterwards. She worked it to Tessel Middag who provided support and then to Mia McAulay in a short routine. Jodi McLeary then picked it up on the edge of the penalty area but her shot flashed over the top of the bar.
The hosts best chance to open the scoring came via a delivery from a wide free kick. Captain Nicola Docherty sent it into the box and it was met by the foot of fellow defender Leah Eddie who caught it on the volley from close range, but she could only find the hands of the Montrose goalkeeper.
Montrose got involved in the game in an attacking sense for the first time through their captain. On the counter Holly Daniel didn’t give up on a loose ball as she beat Eddie to it, working it eventually to Jade McLaren she tried her luck from range but it left Jenna Fife in the Rangers goal untroubled.
Rangers did find their opener shortly afterwards and it was Mia McAulay who took the credit with her effort heading goalwards finding the back of the net with the help of a deflection. Teammate Camille Lafaix picked her out on the left side before she cut in and fired the ball towards the target, it was unfortunately flicked on by Cassie Cowper in the Montrose defence as it wrong footed the goalkeeper and looped over her into the net.
The Light Blues seemed to up their levels after finding the target as they got the chance to double their advantage from the penalty spot. Eddie cleverly changed over the possession midway inside the Montrose half as she set Lafaix free, the French-American clipped a ball to the back post before Howat retrieved it and beat Georgia Carter to the ball before she was tripped by the defender inside the area.
The number nine stepped up and dispatched the ball home from 12-yards to give Jo Potter’s side breathing space in the cup tie and in a commanding position on the day.
A second was soon to be a quickfire third as the Gers put clear daylight between themselves and their fellow SWPL opponents. Ross collected the ball outside the box and sent a ball towards goal which seemingly looked to hit the head of Howat last and find the target as the home side found a third to take a 3-0 lead into the break.
Shortly after the interval,, it was four as substitute Chelsea Cornet made an immediate impact off the bench. From another corner kick routine Hay sent a delivery into the box as the midfielder was well placed to turn the ball home with her head from just beyond the penalty spot to put the tie beyond any doubt.
The Gers continued to probe with the match beyond reach of the visitors. McAulay received a short corner and picked out teammate Cornet inside the area, she looked to place one into the far corner but this time it was beaten away by Armitage in the Montrose goal.
Enjoying a productive afternoon it was McAulay who was on hand to make it five with her cross-come shot finding the far corner. She beat the full-back and worked the ball onto her left foot before clipping it into a dangerous area, it evaded everyone and found the back of the net as the Gers were really dominating in the second 45 minutes.
The 18-year-old almost turned provider as substitute Rio Hardy looked to get on the scoresheet. A ball down the side brought the goalkeeper well out of goal as the winger rounded her, she looked to find the striker who turned it goalwards towards the empty net but the covering Cowper did well to stop the striker getting on the scoresheet.
She wasn’t to be denied though as Hardy found the back of the net moments later as the same pair combined. McAulay squared the ball to the 28-year-old who brilliantly smashed it into the far corner on her left foot to make it six.
Rangers continued to mount pressure towards the end and there was still time for top goalscorer Katie Wilkinson to grab her first Scottish Cup goal of the season. She picked it up inside the area and patiently worked an opening on her left foot before rolling it into the net as the Gers booked their place in the next round in style.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Eddie (Cornet 45), Hill, Middag, Hay (Arnot 78), Howat, Ross (Hardy 70), McAulay, Lafaix (Cruft 70), McLeary (Wilkinson 78)
SUBS: Ivarsdottir
MONTROSE: Armitage, Carter, McLaren, Daniel, Taylor (Murchie 71), Brown (Murphy 84), Martin (Guthrie 58), Henderson, Robb, Pollard (Bruce 71), Cowper
SUBS: Pratt, Ross, Delworth, Codegoni