It was a strong display from the Light Blues as they continued their unbeaten start to the league with a 1-0 victory at the Excelsior Stadium.
Malky Thomson named one change to his side from Wednesday evening’s 5-0 victory over Motherwell with Tessel Middag coming into the starting line-up and Brogan Hay on the bench.
Jane Ross was first to have an effort at goal as she tried to lift a shot over Chloe Logan from the edge of the box but it was just over the bar.
It was a fantastic start for the Light Blues as they took the lead with just two minutes on the clock. Rachel McLauchlan put pressure on Celtic at the half-way line and was strong to win the ball back before finding the run of Jane Ross.
The Gers striker showed composure and confidence as she chipped the ball over the Celtic keeper with a lovely right-footed finish into the back of the net.
Shortly after Rangers came close again as Lizzie Arnot drove down the right before picking out Zoe Ness and her low effort was pushed behind for a corner by Logan.
Jane Ross saw a header saved by Logan from Lizzie Arnot’s corner before Charlie Wellings tried a shot from distance for the hosts but it was wide of Jenna Fife’s goal.
It was a dominant opening 20 minutes for Malky Thomson’s side and the advantage was almost doubled as a short corner saw a one-two between Lizzie Arnot and Jane Ross. The latter eventually came away with the ball just inside Celtic’s box but her shot bounced back off the crossbar.
The hosts had a chance before the break as Wellings picked the ball up inside the Rangers box and attempted a shot across goal but it was just inches wide of the target.
Into the second-half, Gers started in a similar fashion to the first as they looked to put Celtic under pressure from the whistle. With 50 minutes on the clock Kirsten Reilly picked out Jane Ross in the box and she turned well but her effort was held by Logan.
Malky Thomson’s side were pushing for a second at the Excelsior Stadium as Jane Ross whipped a ball into the box which Lizzie Arnot headed into the path of Zoe Ness but her low strike was held by Chloe Logan.
Rangers had another fantastic opportunity to double their advantage in the 70th minute. Chelsea Cornet delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal which Lizzie Arnot met at the back post but her shot from close range was blocked by the Celtic keeper before being cleared off the line by a defender.
For the second time in the game, Rangers were denied by the woodwork as Kirsten Reilly’s strike from distance came back off the bar.
In the end, the Light Blues saw out the match to take all three points in the first Old Firm Derby of the league campaign.
Rangers: Fife, Docherty, Vance, Middag (Hay, 60), Reilly, Ness (McCoy, 87), McLauchlan, Ross, Arnot, Cornet, Westrup.
Subs: Cunningham, Arnth, McCoy, Maclean, Watson, Swaby.
Celtic: Logan, Bartle, Shorts (Atkinson, 67), Jacynta (Gros, 84), Shen, Larisey, Chance, Clark, Hayes, Wellings, Bowie (Craig, 67).
Subs: Toland, Warrington, Johnstone, McGovern.
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