THRONE RANGERS
Ibrox heroes end City’s 14-year hold on crown
IT wasn’t pretty but Rangers clinched the Park’s Motor Group SWPL title yesterday with the point they needed against Glasgow City.
The reigning champions made life as difficult as possible for Rangers as they created the better of the chances with the Ibrox side looking nervous at times.
But their victory represents a significant change in the women’s game as City, champions for 14 successive seasons, face the reality that their stranglehold on the game has come to an end.
“I am lost for words,” said Rangers star Sam Kerr. “It is the most nervous 0-0 I’ve ever been involved in. It wasn’t an easy game but we are just happy we have managed to see out the result.”
Few would quibble with the fact Malky Thomson’s side are deserved champions having dropped just two points all season.
City have not had a bad season – they have lost just one league game – but the sheer relentlessness of Rangers has made them impossible to catch.
City threw everything at them yesterday, especially in the opening period, but Rangers were as resilient as they have been throughout the campaign.
Claire Shine was denied the opening goal when Rangers keeper Jenna Fife got down to save smartly at the bottom left-hand corner from the Ireland international’s close-range effort.
Lauren Davidson saw a fierce effort parried away by the Ibrox stopper and City kept up the pressure with Megan Foley also
RANGERS ............... GLASGOW CITY ..
BY ALISON McCONNELL
0 0 testing Fife with a header. Rangers’ Jane Ross had a header go over the bar but it was a performance that marked much of the assurance and cohesion that has been the hallmark of Thomson’s side this term.
With Rangers living dangerously, City thought they had taken the lead 10 minutes before the break after Ode Fulutudilu, a first-half replacement for the injured Peyton Perea, had the ball in the bet only for television replays to show she was just offside.
The forward had scorned a glorious chance for the opener immediately beforehand when Priscila Chinchilla had slipped the ball through to her in the six-yard box but the ball got stuck under her feet with the reprieve allowing Rangers to clear.
Thomson rang the changes with Kayla McCoy and Chelsea Cornet on as Rangers looked to find a foothold in the game.
Brogan Hay went into the book for a foul on Chinchilla but there was more intent from the Ibrox side in the second period.
Still, City continued to push for the goal that would have kept their league season alive with Chincilla clipping the bar with a cross.
Rangers held on for the precious point that ushers in a new era in Scottish women’s football.
Elsewhere, Celtic beat Spartans 3-1, Hibs defeated Aberdeen 4-1, Hamilton saw off Thistle 2-1 and Motherwell edged Hearts 1-0.