The Gers got off to the perfect start in the capital thanks to Jodi McLeary’s finish before Rio Hardy doubled the lead as the away side took a two goal advantage into the half time interval.
Lauren Berman did halve the deficit for the hosts at the start of the second half before Jo Potter’s side responded quickly through McLeary’s second goal of the afternoon. A brace from Chelsea Cornet and a Laura Berry strike were to follow as Rangers ran out comfortable opening day winners in Edinburgh.
Head coach Jo Potter named two of her summer signings in the starting line-up, with Rachel Rowe and Rio Hardy making their league debuts for the club.
Rangers got off to the perfect start in the capital inside just three minutes at Ainslie Park. Rachel Rowe did well to combine with winger Mia McAulay with some clever combination play down the channel. The latter’s pass found Kirsty Howat inside the area who’s cross fell to the arriving Jodi McLeary to tap the ball home as the Gers went ahead.
The away side continued to threaten in the opening stages as they looked to add to their early lead. Rio Hardy did well to retain possession down the left channel as she used the supporting midfielder in Rowe, but her shot was well blocked by Dion McMahon to divert the danger.
It was relentless pressure inside the opening 15 minutes from the away side in the capital. Kirsty Maclean played a fantastic cross field ball to find the advancing McAulay, the ball then broke for the overlapping Rachel McLauchlan who’s shot was blocked before Rachel Harrison denied Maclean who had made up the ground to try fire home the rebound.
The away side somehow didn’t go further ahead just two minutes later. Maclean again found herself in acres of space this time on the left side of the area as her cross found Hardy, the striker looked to scramble the ball home at the second attempt but was kept out by a brilliant close-range stop from Harrison.
The hosts started to get themselves into the game without creating any real threat. Jenna Fife in the Rangers goal had yet to be called into action as the game approached the half-hour mark with the Light Blues looking increasingly likely to stretch their lead.
Hardy not for the first time in the contest made a clever run down the left flank and almost created a second goal for Jo Potter’s side. The striker advanced deep with the ball as she pulled it back for Kirsty Maclean at the edge of the area but she saw her shot sail over the bar.
Rangers doubled their lead as they latched onto a defensive error from the hosts to double their lead. Kathryn Hill’s long clearance was chased down before Ronaigh Douglas’ short back pass was latched onto by Hardy. The striker rounded the onrushing Harrison and fired the ball into the empty net from the angle as the Gers went two in front.
The goal scorer of the Gers’ second almost added a third in quick succession. The long throw-in from McLeary down the left channel allowed Howat to flick the ball onto her striker partner, but she saw her effort on the half-volley sail over the top.
Just moments later it was Rowe’s turn to try her luck this time from 25-yards out. Her curling shot looked to be whistling into the top corner but Harrison did brilliantly to somehow turn the ball round the post and keep it out.
Chances were coming thick and fast for the visitors before the break as they went agonisingly close to a third once again. Howat protected the ball well around 25-yards from goal as she worked space to try her luck, the shot looked to be heading for the far corner but the striker was denied by the outside of the woodwork as it stayed out.
The hosts with their first real chance of the match halved the deficit at the start of the second half. A ball down the left side was met by Alana Marshall, the midfielder drove down the channel as she fired home a cross which was met by the arriving Lauren Berman who tapped the ball beyond Fife as Spartans got themselves back into the game.
The Gers responded in impressive fashion as they extended their two goal advantage once again just minutes later. Cornet combined with Howat as the midfielder found half a yard of space deep inside the Spartans box, she clipped the ball to the back post which was met by the head of McLeary who headed home her second of the afternoon and Rangers’ third.
Spartans did still look a threat themselves when they did get the chance to go forward. Rebecca Galbraith managed to beat Fife to a long ball with the keeper well out of her goal, but her cross looking for teammates was dealt with by the Gers backline.
After a spell in the game without any real clear cut chances the Gers put the game beyond any doubt through Chelsea Cornet. The midfielder picking the ball up around 25-yards from goal unmarked as she fired a shot which found the bottom left corner, beating Harrison for power as she added a fourth of the afternoon for the away side.
The Gers went in search of more goals after a period of possession at Ainslie Park and they found a fifth through Cornet’s second of the afternoon. The midfielder getting on the end of Docherty’s cross from the left side to volley the ball past Harrison as the Light Blues added a fifth.
Substitute Kayla Jardine provided McLeary with a great chance to fire home a hat-trick on the day. The two youngsters combined but the winger was denied from close range at the far post as she went close to claiming the match ball.
There was still time at the end for the Gers to add a sixth as substitute Laura Berry got herself on the scoresheet. McLeary again went close to bagging a hat-trick but saw her shot blocked before the striker was there to tap home the rebound before the end.
SPARTANS: Harrison, McMahon (Bates 70) , Berman (Clelland 84), Browning, Douglas, Birse (McMahon 70), Marshall, McCafferty , Galbraith, Jordan (Mason 84), Ross (McCafferty 84)
SUBS: Yates, Henderson, Sleator
RANGERS: Fife, McLauchlan, Hill (Colson 77), Docherty, McAulay (Jardine 62), Cornet, Maclean, McLeary, Rowe (Austin 84), Howat (Berry 63), Hardy
SUBS: Esson, Inman, Laird, Clark