RANGERS were knocked-out of the SWPL cup this afternoon as they lost 1-0 in the Old Firm quarter-final.
It was a tight match at Rangers Training Centre, but Chloe Wellings’ second-half goal saw the visitors progress to the next round of the competition.
Malky Thomson named two changes to his side from the last match against Glasgow City, as captain Brianna Westrup returned to the starting XI with Kayla McCoy also starting the match.
Prior to kick-off, both sides paused for a minute’s silence in memory of former Rangers manager, chairman and club legend, Walter Smith.
It was a fairly even start to the match, as both sides looked to settle into this cup tie. The visitors had the first sight of goal with 10 minutes on the clock as Charlie Wellings darted into the box with Jenna Fife coming off her line in an attempt to deny the forward a shot at goal.
Despite Fife getting a touch on the ball the clearance broke for Wellings who tried a shot but it was blocked by captain Brianna Westrup.
Shortly after, Kayla McCoy picked up on a loose ball inside the Celtic half and took a touch to set-up a shot for herself from distance but her left-footed effort was held by Chloe Logan.
Rangers were beginning to find their rhythm and had a good spell of possession around the half-hour mark. Kirsten Reilly found the run of Rachel McLauchlan on the overlap and she picked out Lizzie Arnot in the box but she couldn’t get a clean connection on the ball.
It fell to Demi Vance on the edge of the box and the Northern Ireland international curled a shot towards goal but it was blocked by a Celtic defender.
It was a positive spell for Malky Thomson’s side as Brianna Westrup saw a header held by Logan before Jane Ross tried a speculative effort from distance as she spotted the Celtic keeper off her line but she got back to save the shot.
Another Gers corner saw Demi Vance deliver a dangerous ball into the box which was headed down by Lizzie Arnot into the feet of Kirsten Reilly who managed to turn in the box and get a shot away but Chloe Logan held well.
In the final stages of the first-half, Jane Ross saw an effort from inside the box held by the Celtic goalkeeper with the match remaining goalless at the break.
Malky Thomson made one change to his side at half-time as Kayla McCoy was replaced by Zoe Ness.
Early in the second-half the visitors had an opportunity to break the deadlock as substitute Tegan Bowie was involved straight away as she broke down the left before delivering the ball into the box in search of Wellings but she touched the ball just wide of the target.
It was a lively start to the first half as from a short Rangers corner, Brianna Westrup picked up the ball in the left wing area and whipped a ball into the box but Zoe Ness’ shot trickled wide of the target.
Despite Rangers dominating large spells of this cup tie, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock just before the hour mark. Charlie Wellings drove towards goal and from the edge of the box fired a left-footed shot towards goal which slipped through the hands of Jenna Fife to give the visitors the advantage.
The Light Blues looked for an instant response as Jane Ross ran through on goal and with Logan coming off her line, Ross lifted the ball over the Celtic goalkeeper but it was just wide of the post.
Malky Thomson turned to his bench as Rangers looked for a route back into the game with 20 minutes remaining as Brogan Hay came on in place of Tessel Middag.
Chelsea Cornet came close to an equaliser as she found space 25-yards out and fired a fantastic shot towards goal which was heading for the back of the net but Chloe Logan managed to get a touch on the ball to tip it onto the crossbar.
Despite their efforts the Light Blues couldn’t find the all-important equaliser with their SWPL Cup journey coming to an end.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Vance, Middag (Hay, 70), Reilly, McCoy (Ness, 46, (Watson, 90), McLauchlan, Ross, Arnot, Westrup, Swaby (Cornet, 65).
SUBS NOT USED: Cunningham, McLeary, Watson.
CELTIC: Logan, Bartle, Shorts, Galabadaarachchi (McGovern, 75), Shen (Gros, 84), Larisey, Chance, Donaldson (Bowie, 46), Clark, Hayes, Wellings.
SUBS NOT USED: Craig, Toland, Warrington, Johnstone.
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