Frustrated for large spells of the contest the away side were limited to few clear chances in the opening 45 minutes. Brogan Hay was introduced at the break and the winger proved to be the difference as she produced the match winner with the only goal of the game, volleying home from close range just past the hour mark.
Malky Thomson named one change to the side that won 5-0 over Partick Thistle in midweek, Colette Cavanagh coming into the team in place of Emma Watson.
Rangers started on the front foot in Edinburgh, Colette Cavanagh played a clever through ball in the opening stages which found Jenny Danielsson in an advanced position inside the area. Her initial touch was good but Dion McMahon did well to make the challenge before she got a shot away as Gers looked for an early breakthrough.
The first real chance of the contest came just short of the quarter-hour mark. Danielsson did well to spin and find Kayla McCoy who had made the run in behind the Spartans backline, latching onto the ball inside the area her first effort was denied by Rachel Harrison in goal before the covering defender did well to make the second block as she tried to squeeze the ball in at the angle.
The match turned scrappy with several injuries for the home side bringing multiple stoppages in play as the Gers looked to ramp up the pressure but hadn’t created any further openings as the game approached the half hour mark.
A half chance presented itself for Jodi McLeary as Cavanagh’s deep cross found the winger at the far post. Taking the ball on the half volley she could only fire wide on her right side on the stretch.
Chelsea Cornet tried her luck from range as the captain for the day struck an effort around 25-yards from goal but it fizzed past Harrison’s left-hand post as she saw it wide.
Spartans were holding their own in the game as they frustrated the Light Blues to few chances throughout the opening 45 minutes, as the match approached the interval.
Cavanagh struck a left footed effort from distance which was calmly claimed by Harrison in what was the last of the first-half action.
The visitors introduced Brogan Hay for McLeary as they looked to make a fast start to the second period. The winger was involved straight away down the right flank with her cross clearly initially by the Spartans defence before Rachel McLauchlan latched onto the loose ball but her strike from range went over the top.
Hay again was involved this time linking with fellow substitute Lizzie Arnot down the left flank. Taking the ball on she cut inside but her shot was comfortably held by Harrison on the ground.
Arnot went close with an effort herself after a promising individual run, carrying the ball down the left channel evading several challenges she cut inside and her shot took a slight deflection but the keeper did well to readjust and keep the effort out.
Moments later Rangers got their breakthrough. Arnot was the provider as her left-footed cross was turned in by Hay at the back post on the volley as she cushioned the ball past Harrison to give the Gers the lead just past the hour mark. The substitutes combining to good effect for the away side as they broke the deadlock in Edinburgh.
The goal scorer almost turned provider as her cross from the right channel was met well by McCoy inside the area but she saw her header fly just over the top of the crossbar.
An opportunity fell the way of Maddie Nolf as she found herself in a forward position at the edge of the area. After some good work down the right side by Arnot her cross was half cleared before the left-back latched onto the loose ball but her shot was fired over the top.
McCoy had a great chance to finish the game with just over five minutes left of the contest, played in behind by McLauchlan she found herself in behind the host’s backline but dragged her shot across goal wide of the far post.
The away side were able to see out the match with the strike just past the hour mark proving to be the difference.
SPARTANS: Harrison, McMahon, Douglas, McCafferty (Birse 81), Reynolds, Gibb (Mason 50), McCafferty, Galbraith, Jordan (Ross 81), Robinson (Clelland 66), Smart (Marshall 50).
Subs not used: Yates, Jameison, Frew, McQuillan.
RANGERS: Fife, McLauchlan, Davison, Martinez, Nolf, Cornet, Cavanagh (Arnot 50), Maclean, Danielsson (Kerr 63), McLeary (Hay 45), McCoy (Berry 88).
Subs not used: Esson, Docherty, Middag, Watson, Ferguson.
REFEREE: Sean Duff