Rangers 4-1 Partick Thistle: Scottish league leaders retain SWPL Cup against plucky part-timers
- Published
Rangers lifted the SWPL Cup for a second time
Rampant Rangers claimed victory over SWPL Cup final debutants Partick Thistle to retain the trophy and hand Jo Potter her first silverware as a manager.
But the SWPL league leaders were given an early fright by their part-time city rivals despite 17-year-old Mia McAulay firing the Ibrox side into an early lead.
Rachel Donaldson produced a rocket to equalise soon after as Thistle started impressively, but the wonder strike proved to be a brief flicker of hope in their first national cup final.
Wales international Rachel Rowe and Rio Hardy gave Rangers a healthy, two-goal lead by half-time to put one hand on the trophy.
And it was firmly in their grasp when on-loan Aston Villa midfielder Liv McLoughlin coolly slotted another after the break as the Ibrox side bounced back impressively from their first defeat of the season to title rivals Celtic last weekend.
A buzzing, suited and booted Brian Graham insisted his Thistle side would "go at it" from the off, with the burning pace of Imogen Longcake spearheading the attack.
The striker was presented with a glorious opportunity inside the opening 10 minutes, but as Longcake dawdled, Rangers scrambled clear.
The league leaders, though, do not need too many warning shots - and they didn't need too many shots of their own to grab the opener.
McAulay latched on to Kathy Hill's precise pass with only fellow 17-year-old Ava Easdon to beat and the midfielder did so with ease, following some indecision from the on-loan Glasgow City goalkeeper.
There was no hesitancy in Donaldson's mind, however, as the forward unleashed a thunder strike on the angle to haul Thistle level five minutes later.
It was the least they deserved from that spirited start, but the full-time holders shifted up a gear to a speed Thistle could not match.
From a well-worked corner, orchestrated by Rowe, the midfielder released a 35th-minute rocket into the far top corner to regain Rangers' lead.
A one-goal margin at half-time would have offered optimism for Thistle, but they could not hold on.
Hardy and Jane Ross ripped the defence apart with a wonderful one-two and the former slotted through the legs of Easdon to deal the hammer blow before the break.
In a show of no mercy, Rangers picked up exactly where they left off.
McLoughlin capitalised on a defensive switch-up seconds after Hardy missed an open goal following another disaster at the back.
With the wind firmly taken out of their sails, it turned into a damage-limitation exercise for Thistle.
Rangers, comfortable with their four-goal afternoon, rung in the changes to rest key players with the hectic title race very much still on.
Player of the match - Rachel Rowe (Rangers)
A superb striker from Rachel Rowe (left) put Rangers 2-1 ahead and on route to victory. An impressive performance all round from the midfielder, who controlled the game all afternoon.
What they said
Rangers head coach Jo Potter: "It is a special moment for me and a special moment for the club. I think it'll take a moment for me to reflect, but I am super proud of the girls.
"I think it was big for us to win this game and to have the performance as well. We knew we were going to have to get rid of the butterflies, get it out our system, but I think the girls dealt with it really well. Some super goals and some super performances."
Partick Thistle manager Brian Graham: "It is disappointing at the moment, but at the same time, you have got to be proud of the group. I thought in the first half they were excellent. It was an uphill battle after Rangers went 3-1 up.
"We tried to change the shape in the second half, but once it got to 4-1, I didn't want my girls to be embarrassed given the performance they put in in the first half. It was small margins when you don't take chances - you have got to want it again and hopefully go one better. I think the message is you are good enough and we go again."
Line-ups
Rangers: Esson, Docherty, Hill, Middag, Hay, Rowe, Hardy, Ross, McAulay, Cornet, McLoughlin.
Substitutes: Fife, Howat, Bance, Arnot, Austin, Ewens, Martinez, McLeary.
Partick Thistle: Easdon, Slater, Lawton, Falconer, Docherty, Henderson, Donaldson, Bulloch, Taylor, Longcake, Sinclair.
Substitutes: Logan, McCulloch, Hay, Adams, McAllister, Wright, Robinson, McQuillan.