Rangers 5 Aberdeen 0
Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup Semi-Final
Hampden Park
Sunday 27th April 2025
Aberdeen Women travelled to Hampden Park for the semi-final of the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup where they faced Rangers, with the winner facing Glasgow City in next month’s final.
The Dons made two changes to the side that started last weekend’s 5-2 win over Queen’s Park. Niamh Noble and Aimee Black came in to replace Jessica Broderick and Ellie-May Cowie, both of whom were cup tied and hence unable to feature.
Report
The Dons got proceedings underway in the Sunday afternoon Hampden Park sunshine, with both sets of supporters making their voices heard prior to kick off.
Rangers started brightly when Mia McAulay swung a ball into the area that found its way to Lizzie Arnot at the back post. She did well to work the space for a shot, forcing a great save from Annalisa McCann to prevent the opener.
Moments later from a short free kick, the ball fell to Tess Middag in the penalty area who on the turn fired the ball over the crossbar, in what was a big let off for the Dons.
Rangers took the lead on 8 minutes when McAulay was released on the right in behind the Dons defence before she swung the ball across goal to Jane Ross who was there to tap home into an empty net.
The Dons responded well to going behind however, with Kerry Beattie being released in behind the Rangers defence. She held the ball up well before looking to slip in Francesca Oglivie, who was well tracked down by the covering defender meaning Rangers were eventually able to clear.
Rangers were limited to very few chances as the half wore on, causing some frustration for the side in the lead. However, in the 34th minute, Kirsty MacLean laid it off to McAulay who crossed into the box. The ball travelled all the way through to the back post to Arnot, who looked certain to score, though the defender could not divert her effort on target on the half volley as the ball sailed out for a goal kick.
Arnot then turned provider for Katie Wilkinson as she picked out the striker in the penalty area, whose glancing header fooled the Rangers half of Hampden who thought it had hit the back of the net, though McCann was equal to it, getting down well to her right to hold comfortably.
Just as it looked as if the Dons were going to make it to half time at one nil down, Rangers struck on the counter, right on the stroke of half time. A long ball forwards caught McCann in no man’s land, allowing Ross to lay the ball on a plate for Rio Hardy who had the freedom of Hampden Park to double Rangers’ lead.
Rangers had a few half chances to increase their lead in the few minutes that followed, though those opportunities came to nothing as the half time whistle was sounded, with the Dons trailing by two at the interval.
Rangers started the second half with a point to prove following a triple substitution at half time and added a third on 52 minutes, with Ross grabbing her second of the match. Nicola Docherty’s ball to the back post was nodded down by Brogan Hay to Ross, who chested it down before poking the ball past McCann.
The Dons continued to show intent in their play and looked dangerous in the forays into the final third that they had. Beattie’s curling ball into the area picked out substitute Emily Kraft at the back post though she mistimed her header, sending the ball wide of target.
Rangers should have added a fourth in the 75th minute through Arnot once more. Good work from McAulay in the middle-found Hay in space out right, who stood the ball up to the back post. Arnot met it sweetly on the volley with her right foot though her effort was straight at McCann who held comfortably for the Dons.
The Dons’ attack had put in a tireless amount of work all afternoon, with the fresh legs of Emily Kraft providing Kerry Beattie with some needed support in the attacking third. They nearly got their reward for their efforts when a Kathy Hill mistake gave the ball to Kraft about 30 yards out. The striker saw goalkeeper Vic Esson off her line and attempted the spectacular though her effort fell comfortably wide of target.
Rangers scored their fourth on 84 minutes through Jane Ross, who completed her hattrick for the afternoon. McAulay wriggled past Aimee Black before cutting back for Arnot whose initial effort was well saved by McCann though the ball fell to Ross who was able to tap home into an empty net.
Five minutes later and Ross turned provider for Rangers’ fifth of the afternoon. From the throw in, Ross used her body well to turn away from Black before cutting the ball back for Arnot on the six-yard line who tapped home to make it 5-0.
Rangers looked certain to add a sixth in stoppage time had it not been for the brilliance of McCann in the Dons goal. Jodi McLeary picked out McAulay who slid in, diverting the ball goalward forcing a great save from McCann to tip the wide of the post.
That proved to be the last action of note in the match as despite a battling performance from Scott Booth’s side, the Dons came away from Hampden Park defeated by five goals to nil.
STATS:
Rangers: Esson, Docherty, Rafferty, Middag, Hardy, Ross, McAulay, Arnot, Maclean, Wilkinson, Cruft
Subs: Fife, Eddie, Hill, Hay, Howat, Cornet, Lafaix, McLeary
Aberdeen: McCann, Black, Finnie, Ilijoski, Mendez (Innes 73’), Finnegan, Thomson (McEvoy 73’), Oglivie, Noble (Kraft 61’), Stewart (Miller 82’), Beattie
Subs: Jamieson, Holden, Murray, Gover
GOALS – Rangers: Ross 9’, 53’, 85’, Hardy 44’, Arnot 89’
