The Scottish Women’s Cup holders Glasgow City reached their fifth consecutive final as their hunt for a domestic treble continued.
Rangers defended brilliantly, and frustrated City for the majority of the game and could count themselves unlucky not to take the lead when Chelsie Watson’s free-kick possibly crossed the line.
With their mind on the Champions League, Scott Booth rested several of his key players, and when he introduced them, City finally broke down Rangers.
They took the lead when lovely interplay played Clare Shine into the box and she placed the ball into the bottom right corner. Their second goal came when a Leanne Ross corner came off an unfortunate Rangers defender and into the net.
City dominated the early stages, but struggled to break down the disciplined Rangers defence and often relied upon long distance. Susan Fairlie was the first to see her long-range effort go wide, but Kerry Montgomery’s dipping volley nearly crept in.
Rangers knew they could not afford any errors, and it was one that nearly handed City the lead. Keeper Rachel Halbert mishit her goal-kick straight to Abbi Grant, but her effort lacked the power to punish the goalkeeper.
Slowly, Rangers built in confidence and started to threaten the City box. Katey Turner saw her shot deflected just wide of the near post, and then from Clare Gemmell’s resulting corner, Kirsty McLaughlin fired wide.
Then Rangers nearly took the lead, from a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Chelsie Watson curled her effort towards the near post where City Megan Cunningham caught it, but there were appeals that the ball had crossed the line.
But, on the edge of the first half, City should have taken the lead. Megan Foley’s missed interception allowed Grant space down the right, and she crossed to Fairlie who somehow shinned wide of the right post.
Fairlie could have given City the lead early in the second half as she was played into the box by Montgomery, but her left-footed shot curled wide of the far post.
City kept on pressing, but everything they threw at Rangers, they dealt with. But, the introduction of Hayley Lauder and Leanne Ross seemed to spark City’s creativity to take the lead. Quick, incisive passing dissected the Rangers defence and played Clare Shine into the box, and she calmly placed the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Rangers could have immediately equalised as Lisa Swanson broke into the left side of the box, but she was left frustrated as her shot smashed off the near post.
But City kept on pressing for the vital second goal and nearly gained it as Ross’ cross picked out Erin Cuthbert, but her volley was superbly saved by Halbert. However, from the resultant corner, City got their second as Ross’ corner came off a Rangers’ defender, and into the net.
In the closing stages, City nearly found a third as Cuthbert’s through-ball was deflected by Foley into the path of Shine, but her shot was saved at close range.
Teams:
Rangers: Rachel Halbert, Gillian Sloey (Stephanie Knox 87), Megan Fisher, Chelsie Watson, Megan Foley, Leeanne Hughes, Clare Gemmell, Kirsty Howat, Kirsty McLaughlin, Lisa Swanson, Katey Turner.
Glasgow City: Megan Cunningham, Rhonda Jones (Leanne Ross 64), Rachel Corsie (Nicola Docherty 73), Cheryl McCulloch, Georgie Rafferty (Hayley Lauder 64), Lauren McMurchie, Courtney Whyte, Abbi Grant (Erin Cuthbert 77), Kerry Montgomery, Susan Fairlie (Sarah Crilly 80), Clare Shine.
Goals: Clare Shine 67, Own Goal 79.
Booked: Rhonda Jones 44.
Image courtesy of Glasgow City FC
