RANGERS marched into the last eight of the Scottish Cup this afternoon with an empathic 9-0 victory over Dundee United at Broadwood Stadium.
The triumph extended the Gers’ unbeaten campaign in all competitions, with the Light Blues having now netted a remarkable 36 times since the start of the calendar year.
Indeed, the home found themselves five goals to the good at the half-time interval after goals from Rachel Rowe, Eilidh Austin, Brogan Hay, Kathryn Hill and Jane Ross sent the side on their way.
A second of the afternoon then followed for Ross from 12 yards, with a first Gers strike for Olivia McLoughlin, as well as goals from Lisa Martinez and Mia McAulay, rounding off the scoring.
There was a special celebration before kick-off as boss Jo Potter presented Chelsea Cornet with the shirt from her 100th Rangers appearance in last weekend’s victory over Aberdeen.
And the positivity immediately continued as the Gers broke the deadlock with only two minutes having elapsed on the clock. The ball was fizzed into Rio Hardy who showed tremendous hold-up play to allow Jodi McLeary to dart into space on the flank; the winger centred for Rachel Rowe who bundled the ball home from close range after Megan Sidey saved her initial first-time finish.
The fixture marked a start in the backline for 18-year-old Eilidh Austin, with the defender unfortunate not to double her side’s lead moments later when she swept a cut-back goalwards from the second phase of a corner.
However, she didn’t have to wait too long to find the back of the net as the home side found a second of the afternoon on nine minutes. Olivia McLoughlin’s driven effort was blocked en route from the edge of the penalty area, with the ball falling kindly to the teenager, via a deflected Tessel Middag effort, to sweep home at the far post.
The goals continued to pour in for the hosts as Brogan Hay got in on the act before the 20th minute mark. Showing tremendous composure, the winger essentially passed the ball into the bottom corner after playing a lovely give-and-go with Jane Ross on the left-hand side of the penalty area.
Everything that Rangers seemed to touch turned to gold in the opening period, with Kathryn Hill knocking in a second goal in her last three appearances when she reacted first to a rebound from Ross’ glancing header.
Four soon became five for Potter’s charges as Ross turned goalscorer on this occasion, racing through on the Dundee United goal after being released through by her striker partner, Hardy, and slotting a cool finish into the bottom corner.
Rangers began the second half in much the same manner as they concluded the first 45 minutes, with Hay drawing a smart stop from the Dundee United goalkeeper at her near post.
Indeed, Potter had rung the changes at half-time as Cornet and Lizzie Arnot were introduced, with the latter’s delivery causing havoc in the visitors’ penalty area before the ball fell kindly to McLoughlin whose driven effort was tipped around the post.
However, the January arrival only had to wait a few minutes to celebrate her first goal in Rangers colours, showing a terrific jink inside to manufacture space and arrow a wonderful strike into the top corner.
A seventh goal of the afternoon soon followed for Potter’s side, arriving from the penalty spot via the reliable Ross after Austin’s cross was adjudged to have been handled inside the penalty area.
And the afternoon got even better for Rangers as, after coming off the substitutes bench, Lisa Martinez added her name to the scoresheet on her return from injury with a finish at the far post.
There was time for a ninth goal of the afternoon when Mia McAulay looped a header over the Dundee United goalkeeper from an unerring Hay delivery, capping off an excellent afternoon for Potter’s side.
RANGERS: Esson, Docherty, Hill (Arnot, 45), Middag, Hay, Rowe (Cornet, 45), Hardy (McAulay, 58), Ross (Ewens, 76), Austin, McLoughlin (Martinez, 58), McLeary
Subs not used: Fife
DUNDEE UNITED: M. Sidey, Frew, Wilson, Jameison, Bruce, Fraser, Smith, Robb (Chuter, 74), Cusack, Christie, Knight (L. Sidey, 45)
Subs not used: Robb, Todd, Taylor, Greenwood, Tebbett