Match Report by Campbell Finlayson.
Glasgow City secured their place in the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup Final against Hibs with a well fought win over Rangers at Stirling Albion’s Forthbank Stadium.
Goals from Eilish McSorley, Sam Kerr and a Rachel McLauchlan double cancelled out Carla Boyce’s opener to earn the SWPL 1 leaders a 4-1 victory.
City thought they had an early lead when Clare Shine slid the ball home from close range but the referee’s whistle denied them the opener, after Kirsty Howat had handled the ball.
Shine had a great chance of her own minutes later when Howat won back possession, but her effort from the edge of the box was pushed behind by Jade Baillie.
There was a short delay in play for Leanne Crichton to receive treatment after she was scythed down by Chantelle Brown, her second heavy foul in a matter of minutes, who picked up a booking for her troubles.
Crichton was replaced by Jenna Clark but from the resultant free-kick the game was stopped once more as McSorley was clattered by Jade Baillie as she collected the ball in the air.
Glasgow City had a great chance to take the lead on 26 minutes when Hayley Lauder’s cross found the head of Shine, although she could only head over.
Despite City having the majority of the play it was Rangers who took the lead just past the half hour mark when Emma Brownlie’s corner to the back post was headed home via the underside of the bar by Boyce.
Leanne Ross should have equalised when the ball broke to her in the box at a corner, but her half volley flew over the bar, before McLauchlan shot wide as City pressed forward again. Nicola Docherty was next to go close when she let fly from distance, her strike fizzing wide of the target.
The whole stadium seemed certain that City would level the scores when Shine raced through on goal before rounding Baillie but Jade Gallon managed to get back to clear the striker’s shot off the line. Baillie was then called into action herself to tip Love’s effort over the bar but it was 1-1 from the corner, Ross’ cross being nodded into the net by McSorley.
City had a double chance right before the half-time whistle but Baillie stood up to both efforts, denying Howat and Shine as the sides went in level at the break.
At the start of the second half, Brown went on a surging run before shooting straight at Erin Clachers before Shine was denied by Baillie at the other end as both sides began where they left off.
It wasn’t long though before the third goal of the game came and it went the way of City as Baillie got caught under the ball at a corner, with the ball deflecting into the net with Kerr getting the plaudits.
City somehow failed to add a third from two quick-fire corners, the first being forced wide after a scramble in the box before Clark shot against the post from the next as Rangers survived.
With 20 minutes to go though they did find that goal with Docherty’s ball down the left freeing Lauder who squared for the onrushing McLauchlan to slide the ball into the net.
McLauchlan grabbed her second and Glasgow City’s fourth when Howat broke through before finding the former Hibs player who diverted the ball beyond Baillie.
That was the last of the action however and it’s City who will be in the final at Tynecastle on Sunday 24th November.
Rangers: Baillie; L. Gallon, Watson, Dalgliesh; Brownlie, O’Hara, Gemmell, Campbell (J.Gallon, 54), Bourma; Brown (Napier, 79), Boyce
Glasgow City: Clachers; Ross, McSorley (Girasoli, 64), Love (Paton, 87), Docherty; McLauchlan, Kerr, Crichton (Clark, 15’), Lauder (Sinclair, 75); Shine (Foley, 57), Howat
Attendance: 351
Glasgow City Head Coach, Scott Booth:
Rangers WFC Head Coach, Gregory Vignal:
Glasgow City Midfielder, Rachel McLauchlan:
Glasgow City Midfielder, Sam Kerr:
