Rangers kept their undefeated streak alive after capitalising on four clinical strikes to condemn Motherwell to defeat at a windswept Broadwood Stadium.
Lizzie Arnot prodded home the opener midway through the first half, before Kirsty Howat doubled Rangers’ advantage minutes after half time. Brogan Hay tucked home the third seven minutes later before Kayla McCoy secured all three points with the final kick of the game.
Motherwell looked to frustrate the hosts from the off, narrowing the play and making it difficult for Rangers to break through the resolute Motherwell backline.
Rangers were certainly the likelier of the two sides to find the opener after controlling much of the early exchanges. Tessel Middag’s low enticing delivery was superbly controlled by Kerr deep into the Motherwell penalty area, but the midfielder couldn’t apply the finishing touches.
The hosts continued to threaten and almost netted the opener soon after. A magnificent piece of skill from Brogan Hay allowed her to effortlessly break through the Motherwell defence before picking out Kirsty Howat lurking at the back post, but the forward couldn’t convert what was a gilt-edged opportunity.
Motherwell continued to deflect wave after wave of attacking threat in the opening 30 minutes, but the hosts quality eventually prevailed as they found the breakthrough midway through the first half.
Debutant Maddie Nolf was left in acres of space on the right of the Motherwell penalty area before curling an excellent delivery across the face of goal, and Arnot was on hand to prod her effort beyond the reach of Emily Mutch.
As the second half resumed, Rangers added a second. A quick interchange of play at the edge of the box somehow found its way through to the feet of Howat, who looked as if she had strayed into a clear offside position, but the referee waved play on and the forward calmly dispatched her strike into the bottom left corner.
Seven minutes later, Rangers had their third. An exceptional piece of individual skill from Hay allowed her to skip past several Motherwell players, before shifting the ball onto her right foot and curling a precise effort into the bottom corner.
Motherwell toiled late on in search of a late consolation. Substitute Kaela McDonald-Nguah’s long-range attempt had Jenna Fife scrambling in the Rangers goal, but the experienced stopper got enough of a hand to divert around the post.
Rangers sealed victory with the final kick of the game and in the strangest of circumstances. McCoy was flagged for offside as she raced through on goal, and whilst Mutch prepared to take the resulting free kick, the striker nipped in and passed the ball into the empty net.
Despite the Motherwell protests, the referee overruled his assistant and granted the goal much to the bemusement of the Motherwell players
Paul Brownlie will certainly have several positives to take from today’s contest, as the women of steel limited Rangers throughout much of the afternoon. Motherwell will now move on to face Dundee United in the SWPL Cup next month.
