Impetus editor Ben Gilby saw the lunchtime Scottish Women’s Cup Semi-Final via BBC Scotland coverage online. Here is his review of the game:
Glasgow City 4-1 Rangers
City eased through to the Scottish Cup Final with what ended up being a comfortable win over Rangers – but only after overcoming the loss of a key player through injury and then going a goal behind.
This match was the first part of a double header of cup action at Stirling Albion FC’s Forthbank Stadium on a grey, chilly but dry day, with the second semi-final between Hibernian and Motherwell following in mid-afternoon.
Favourites Glasgow City started strongly, earning a corner in the opening minute. From the clearance, Rangers broke clear, but City’s Sam Kerr dispossessed the attacker before she was taken down by a scything challenge from Chantelle Brown who, surprisingly was not cautioned.
Two early chances followed for City – Shine had an effort disallowed before Rangers midfielder O’Hara’s pass was intercepted by Kirsty Howat who played in the influential Clare Shine. Her shot was well saved by Baillie in the Rangers goal.
With just nine minutes played, Chantelle Brown committed her second crunching challenge, this time on Leanne Crichton. The Glasgow City star was in a great deal of pain, and after seven minutes of treatment had to be replaced. A yellow card was shown this time, but in all honesty it could so easily have been red.
Despite losing a key player, Glasgow City continued to dominate. With twenty-five minutes played, they earned back to back corners. The impressive Shine headed the second over from Hayley Lauder’s flag kick.
However, the last fifteen minutes of the half saw Rangers on the ascendency. They earned their first corner after thirty-two minutes. Brownlie’s effort was cleared for a second. This time, Brownlie found Carla Boyce in the six yard box and the Rangers star headed home.
City had a number of chances to level before half-time. From a corner of their own found Leanne Ross on the outside of the six yard box, but her shot was over the bar. Clare Shine had a chance two minutes later, after a smart, patient passing build-up, but Baillie ran out of her goal and slid in to clear the danger. Shine was denied yet again as she rounded Baillie and shot towards an open goal, but Rangers defender Laura Gallen raced across to clear. Jo Love then hit a superb drive which was tipped over by Baillie. From the resulting corner, Eilish McSorley turned it home for 1-1 at the break.
Glasgow City’s equaliser ensured the momentum remained with them throughout the second half, with Kirsty Howat’s effort going wide. It only took a further two minutes for the favourites to finally grab the lead when, from a corner, the ball went in off of Sam Kerr on fifty-one minutes. The pressure continued with Rangers failing to clear a further City corner. The ball pin-balled around the box, was cleared off the line several times before Rangers finally cleared the danger for another corner. As the ball came in, Jenna Clark’s shot crashed back off of the post before finally the Light Blues escaped.
With twenty minutes to go, Glasgow City finally established the margin that their dominance deserved. Hayley Lauder broke away and found Rachel McLauchlin who slid the ball home for 3-1. City spurned two further chances when McLaughlin’s header failed to hit the target, and just two minutes later, Kirsty Howat’s shot was well saved by Kelly.
Finally, Glasgow City gained a fourth goal, with five minutes left. Howat laid the ball off to McLaughlin who smashed it home for her second of the afternoon.
Glasgow City richly deserved their win, and showed some real patience to stick to their beliefs and game plan despite being frustrated and denied by Rangers time after time. They now face perennial rivals Hibernian in the Scottish Women’s FA Cup Final after the Hi-bees saw off Motherwell 4-1.
Teams: GLASGOW CITY: Clacher, McLaughlin, Lauder, Love, Crichton, Howat, Shine, Docherty, Ross, Kerr, McSorley. Subs: Alexander (GK), Clark, Sinclair, Reid, Paton, Girasol, Foley.
Scorers: McSorley 44, Kerr 51, McLaughlin 70, 85.
RANGERS: Baillie, L. Gallon, Watson, Dalgleish, O’Hara, Campbell, Gemmell, Brownlie, Boyle, Brown, Bourma. Subs: Ramsay, Cameron, Napier, Honeyman, J. Gallon.
Scorer: Boyce 32.
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