It was a solid performance from Malky Thomson’s side tonight after beating Motherwell in the league campaign with five different goal scorers.
Thomson made three changes ahead of this evening’s SWPL match against Motherwell with Chelsea Cornet, Bogan Hay and Zoe Ness coming in to replace Tessel Middag, Chantelle Swaby and Kayla McCoy.
That meant it was a back four of Nicola Docherty, Demi Vance, Brianna Westrup and Rachel McLauchlan with Jenna Fife in goals behind them.
Chelsea Cornet, Kirsten Riley and Lizzie Arnot were in midfield with Brogan Hay and Zoe Ness supporting Jane Ross up front.
Rangers started dominantly in the early minutes of the first whistle working their way into the Motherwell final third. Zoe Ness worked her way up the left-wing towards the back post and cut a threatening ball into a quiet box, but Jane Ross was just unable to connect with the delivery and it was cleared by a defender.
In the 10th minute, Ross nearly opened the scoring for Rangers. Kirsten Riley made a dangerous cross from the edge of the box towards the back post to Ross. The striker got a touch to the ball, but it was collected by Ramsay.
A few minutes later, Motherwell were on the attack towards the Rangers final third. Joanne Addie delivered a threatening ball into a congested box, but it was comfortably cleared by Brianna Westrup.
In the 15th minute, Ross was very close to getting the first goal of the evening. A cross came in from Rachael McLauchlan and met the head of Ross whose header rattled off the crossbar.
Ramsay was unable to collect it, and the striker had another opportunity to strike the ball, but her shot was blocked by the keeper.
Ross continued her search for the opening goal. Lizzie Arnot delivered a lovely through ball to Ross down the right-wing of the Motherwell half. Ross was able to drive forward towards goal and struck the ball with power from the edge of the box, but her shot was just wide of the back post.
Rangers continued to pressurise the Motherwell final third after holding most of the possession. Arnot intercepted a pass within the opposition’s half and was switched it to Ness, but her shot was blocked.
Thomson’s side opened their scoring in the 23rd minute of the game after Brianna Westrup hit the back of the net. The skipper was picked up by Brogan Hay who delivered the ball within the box, Westrup managed to lift the ball over Ramsay to give them the lead.
The home side found their rhythm and continued to build on their momentum following their first goal. Docherty fired another threatening ball into the visitors’ box to link up with Arnot, but she was unable to send the ball in the right direction.
Just before the end of the first half, Motherwell nearly found the back of the net. The visitors worked well to get into the Rangers box, Cunningham fired the ball high towards the goal from outside the box. Her shot flew high but fell back almost crossing the line, but Fife held it safely.
The Gers were on the counter-attack after this, McLauchlan found the ball on the 18-yard line after cutting in from the right and struck it past Ramsay to make it 2-0. Only a few minutes later, the Light Blues found their third just before the half time whistle.
McLauchlan crossed the ball from the right-wing across to Arnot at the back post who tapped it to Ness waiting in front of goal. Ness calmly slotted it past the Motherwell keeper to give the squad their third.
The team carried their momentum heading into the second half of the match, driving the ball forward into the Motherwell final third and maintaining possession. Rangers were awarded a free-kick within the visitors’ half; Vance fired a low shot across the pitch and Ness was on there to get a touch, but it was blocked by an amber shirt.
Ross and Ness linked up well to create an opportunity on goal, Ness filtered an effective through ball to Ross to run on goal. The striker drove the ball forward to within the box and took a powerful strike, but Ramsay collected it safely.
The home side continued to drive forward creating as many opportunities for another goal. Docherty found the ball outside the box at the left wing, the defender took a powerful strike but fired the ball wide of the net.
They grabbed their fourth goal in the 77th minute with Kayla McCoy hitting the back of the net. Arnot cut the ball in from the right-wing to meet McCoy within the Motherwell box and the striker was able to tap it in past Ramsay.
Only a minute later, Hay nearly found the fifth for the Light Blues. Arnot made a driving run down to the goal and cut the ball back towards the penalty spot to meet her, but after making an initial touch the ball was then intercepted by a defender.
With just a minute left on the clock, Arnot found the fifth and final goal for the Gers. Emma Watson provided an excellent through ball to link up with Arnot who calmly slotted it past the keeper.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Vance (Swaby, 71)., Westrup, McLauchlan (Maclean, 84), Cornet, Reilly (Middag, 62), Arnot, Hay, Ness (Watson, 71), Ross (McCoy, 62).
UNUSED SUBS: Cunningham, Mcleary.
MOTHERWELL: Ramsay, Addie, Crosbie, Watson, Hay (Hughes, 65), Anderson, Cunningham (Gardner, 52), Crichton, Boyce, Rice, Inglis.
UNUSED SUBS: McAllister, Skelton, McDonald-Nguah, Adams, Napier.
REFEREE: Colin Whyte
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Ross Haswell and Emmanuelle Hingant
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