A DOMINANT performance saw Rangers beat Hamilton 5-0 in the Scottish Premier League this afternoon.
A brace from Jenny Danielsson and a superb strike from Rachel McLauchlan gave Rangers a 3-0 lead at the break before Kayla McCoy and Jodi McLeary added to the score in the second half.
Malky Thomson has named five changes to his side, with Lisa Martinez in the starting XI for her first appearance since joining Rangers in the summer. Sam Kerr, Jenny Danielsson, Brogan Hay and Kayla McCoy were also named in the starting lineup this afternoon.
Rangers started with Jenna Fife in goal and a back four consisting of Nicola Docherty, Lisa Martinez, Hannah Davison and Rachel McLauchlan.
Sam Kerr was in midfield with Emma Watson and Jenny Danielsson, while Kayla McCoy was supported up front by Lizzie Arnot and Brogan Hay.
The Light Blues had two corners in the opening two minutes as they looked to start on the right foot in this game. Kayla McCoy tested Chloe Nicolson in the Hamilton goal with an early header but she was held off by Nicolson.
In a well-worked move from the Gers they closed in as McLauchlan played a fine ball towards Jenny Danielsson who broke away into space on the right to deliver a ball which Lizzie Arnot turned towards goal but her effort was wide.
The initial pressure from Rangers paid off and they made the breakthrough with just 9 minutes on the clock. Nicola Docherty sent a ball into the box which was cleared by the Hamilton defense but only to Jenny Danielsson who collected it just outside the box.
The Finland international fired a powerful shot towards goal which hit the crossbar and bounced off the floor of the net before heading out of the net, but the ball had crossed the white line and the referee awarded the first goal to the Rangers.
It was a dominating start to the game for the Light Blues as McCoy nearly doubled the advantage as she headed just wide of an Emma Watson cross.
The second goal came in the 22nd minute, and it was a fantastic strike from Rachel McLauchlan. The right-back scooped the ball up into space and curled a superb effort towards goal from around 30 yards out which entered from the post.
A quick brace saw Rangers extend their lead as Jenny Danielsson secured her second of the afternoon. Sam Kerr lifted a fine pass over the Hamilton defense to spot Danielsson’s run which had beaten the offside trap and she showed her composure to drop the ball before placing a foot shot straight to the back of the net.
As half-time drew to a close, Lizzie Arnot fired past a cross from Rachel McLauchlan before Kayla McCoy saw a shot from inside the box held by Nicolson.
In her return to action, Lisa Martinez nearly went on the scoresheet as her header was cleared off the line by the Hamilton defence.
Malky Thomson made three chances alongside him at half-time as Kirsty Howat, Dina Orschmann and Eilidh Austin were introduced in place of Brogan Hay, Lizzie Arnot and Rachel McLauchlan.
It was a league debut for 17-year-old Austin, who featured once in the Scottish Cup last season.
The full-back delivered a good ball into the box early in the second half looking for Dina Orschmann and it was almost a fourth goal for Rangers but Nicolson managed to keep the effort going on the second attempt.
In the 57th minute, Nicola Docherty took over Kayla McCoy’s run with a superb forward pass, but McCoy’s looping effort rattled the crossbar before the danger was cleared.
However, it wasn’t long before the forward had her name on the scoresheet as seconds later the ball was sent back into the box by Danielsson, with Dina Orschmann tossing it into McCoy’s path. The Jamaica international rounded the keeper before slotting a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
As the match passed the hour mark, Thomson made two more changes to their squad with Georgia Gray making their debut and Jodi McLeary also being featured on the pitch.
Jenna Fife was called into action as Hamilton escaped from a Rangers free-kick with Josi Giard getting a shot on goal, but Fife was aware of the danger of holding the shot back.
In the 78th minute the Light Blues extended their lead further as Jenny Danielsson picked out Orschmann’s run who clipped the ball through the net from the goal line with Jodi McLeary close in range to finish for his second Scottish Women’s Premier League goal of the season.
It was another great display from Malky Thomson who picked up three more important points on the road. With an international break next week, the Light Blues will be next in action at home to the Spartans on September 11.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Martinez (Gray, 62), Davison, McLauchlan (Austin, 46), Kerr, Watson, Danielsson, Arnot (Orschmann, 46), Hay (Howat, 46), McCoy (McLeary, 62).
Replacements: Esson, Middag, Cornet, Maclean.
Hamilton: Nicolson, Muir, Quinn (Evans, 62), Coakley, Martin, Gaird, Potter, Christie (Gardiner, 77), Sinclair, Hay (Mitchell, 62), Molley.
Replacements: Rhind, Quigley, Scott, Pagliarulo, Gardiner, McGonigle.
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