Aberdeen Women travelled south to face third-placed Rangers Women at Broadwood Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
A hattrick from Katie Wilkinson, braces for Rio Hardy and Olivia McLoughlin as well as goals for Kirsty Howat, Laura Berry and an own goal from Megan Sidey gave Jo Potter’s side a convincing 10-0 victory.
The home side began the brighter of the two sides and very nearly took the lead early on, when Rio Hardy got across the defender at the front post though her shot was deflected wide of target.
Rangers’ early pressure paid off inside ten minutes when Katie Wilkinson was picked out by Rio Hard just inside the penalty area. The forward kept her composure to blast past Megan Sidey.
The home side very nearly doubled their lead moments later when the ball fell to Hardy in the penalty area though the deflection took the ball kindly into the grasp of Sidey.
Rangers continued their early dominance and had the ball in the net for a second time only for the offside flag to be raised. McAulay’s ball into the area was met by the head of Wilkinson whose effort was saved brilliantly onto the crossbar with the rebound falling to Hardy only for the linesman to deny the hosts their second.
They would not have to wait much longer before doubling their lead though, as Kirsty Howat found herself in space in the penalty area before firing across goal and into the bottom right corner of the net.
Megan Sidey was on top form moments later in the 21st minute when Hardy was slipped through one on one before being thwarted excellently by the Dons’ stopper. Rangers continued to press high up the pitch though and added a third through Katie Wilkinson, scoring her second of the game on 24 minutes. An excellent cross from the right wing was met well by the striker who glanced the ball into the corner of the net.
Over the next ten minutes or so the Dons began to gain more of a foothold in the game, enjoying some goof spells of possession, though they were hit with a sucker-punch on 37 minutes when a McAulay cross was deflected goalward by Wilkinson forcing an excellent save from Sidey though this time Hardy was onside as she tapped home the rebound.
The half time whistle was sounded by referee Steven MacDonald with the Dons trailing by four goals to nil.
Rangers began the second half as they had finished the first and added a fifth goal on 48 minutes. Wilkinson grabbed her hattrick following an excellent turn and finish that evaded the dive of Sidey.
Moments later and Rangers added a sixth. A teasing ball from McLeary into the area looked to be comfortable enough for Sidey though the ball squirmed through her legs and rolled into the net.
The hosts showed no signs of letting up despite their already hefty lead and added a seventh through Hardy on 62 minutes. A long ball from Maddag found Hay in the right channel who laid it on a plate for Hardy to tap home.
Scott Booth turned to his bench moments later, first introducing Madison Finnie before sending on Grace Elder moments later. They replaced Hannah Stewart and Alix Mendez.
The Dons kept battling though the home side were ruthless. A ball across the face of goal was excellently controlled by Mcloughlin who kept her composure to poke home for Rangers 8th of the afternoon. Just minutes later and McLoughlin grabbed her second, firing home on the volley from a Lizzie Arnot cross to make it nine for the hosts.
Rangers’ ruthlessness continued in the dying embers, and they made it double figures on 85 minutes when Berry was the quickest to react to a deflected cross ball to slot the ball past a helpless Sidey. Despite the Dons evident fighting spirit in the second half, Rangers just had too much quality particularly in the attacking third as the hosts ran out 10-0 winners on a cold afternoon in North Lanarkshire.
STATS:
Rangers: Esson, Eddie, Hill, Rafferty, Hay, Howat, Hardy, McAulay, McLeary, Wilkinson
Subs: Fife, Ross, Arnot, Berry, Lafaix MacLean, McLoughlin
Aberdeen: Sidey, Mendez (Elder 72’), Jamieson, Gover, Ilijoski, Kraft, Thomson, Oglivie, Murray (McEvoy 57’), Noble, Stewart (Finnie 67’)
Subs not used: McCann, MacLean, Holden, Miller, McEvoy, Finnie, Elder
GOALS – Rangers: Wilkinson 9’, 24’, 48’, Howat 18’, Hardy 38’, 63’, Sidey (Own Goal) 52’, McLoughlin 80’, 84’, Berry 86’
