Vance Header Defeats Spartans In Edinburgh

by: Louise Shaw

RANGERS made it two wins from two in the SWPL with a 1-0 victory away to Spartans this afternoon.

It was a dominant performance from Malky Thomson’s side as Demi Vance’s 14th minute header secured all three points.

There was one change from the opening game against Hearts as Bala Devi came into the starting 11 with Chelsea Cornet on the bench.

Rangers started the match strong at a wet and windy Ainslie Park threatening from a corner inside the first 10 minutes.

Captain Clare Gemmell swung the ball into the box and it was punched away by Spartans goalkeeper Rachel Harrison. The ball landed at Bala Devi and the striker hit it first time but it was deflected just wide of the target.

Then on their third corner in a short space of time Rangers got the breakthrough. Clare Gemmell’s ball was cleared by Spartans but Nicola Docherty lifted the ball back into the danger area.

It was flicked on by Kirsten Reilly, and with centre-back Demi Vance still in an advanced position, the Northern Ireland international got her head on the end of it to beat the goalkeeper.

It was one-way traffic for large spells of the game as Rangers looked to add to their tally.

Bala Devi came close on the 23rd minute as Lizzie Arnot picked her out in space in the box but the striker couldn’t keep her header on target as it drifted just wide of the post.

The Gers were piling on the pressure as Brogan Hay saw an effort go just wide after good build-up play from Lizzie Arnot and Emma Brownlie.

Spartans 'keeper Rachel Harrison made a good save to deny Lizzie Arnot on the 36th minute before Bala Devi tried a shot from distance which curled just over the bar.

Arnot was again denied by the stopper just before the break as she got her head on the end of a Brogan Hay cross.

Into the second half it was more of the same from Rangers as they continued to search for a second goal.

Early in the half Gemmell saw a shot from outside the box saved by Harrison.

Demi Vance came close to her second of the game as she drilled a powerful effort towards goal but Harrison was at full stretch to tip it behind for a corner.

Around the hour mark Zoe Ness got on the end of a cross from Nicola Docherty, but her header was saved by Harrison.

It was a reasonably quiet afternoon for Jenna Fife in the Rangers goal but she was called into action in the final 10 minutes as Beth McKay tried a shot from outside the box but it was held comfortably by the Rangers number one.

Kirsten Reilly had an opportunity late in the game for the Gers but it was again blocked by the Spartans goalkeeper.

RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Brownlie, Vance, Hay (Bourma, 60), Reilly, Ness, Devi (Cornet, 52) Arnot, Westrup. Subs: Cunningham, Girasoli, Bourma, Mcquillan, Cornet, Macdonald.

SPARTANS: Harrison, Clelland, S. McMahon, D. McMahon, McAlonie, Douglas, McKay, Marshall, Gibb, McCafferty, Moulton. Subs: Yates, Todd, Beveridge, Frew, Aitchison, Reynolds.

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