RANGERS, Glasgow City and Hamilton Accies are all through to the quarter-finals of the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup, with Hibernian and Celtic playing their third-round tie on September 3.
City and Accies easily beat lower league opposition, but in yesterday’s only all-SWPL1 game, Rangers had to come from behind to beat Stirling University 4-2.
“We made hard work of it, to be honest, but the most important thing is we’re through,” head coach Amy McDonald said.
“We’re missing players through suspension and injuries so their return will be a bonus for us.”
Her side looked to be coasting when striker Lauren Davidson scored after 29 minutes, but Stirling hit back with a deflected free-kick and a penalty very late in the first half.
Despite this unexpected turnaround, it took Rangers just two second-half minutes to equalise when Chelsie Watson headed home a Clare Gemmell corner.
The home side took the lead for the second time when Hayley Sinclair scored midway through the half, and Chantelle Brown made sure there would be no comeback when she netted seven minutes from the end.
Both the Stirling goals were scored by Jade Gallon, and the lead-up to the penalty was controversial with the award being made for a foul committed by Rachel Ross. It looked to be a harsh decision – but equally the Rangers defender had been booked minutes earlier and if it was indeed a foul may have escaped a second yellow.
“I think the penalty may have been a bit soft, but in that situation now it’s 50-50 whether it goes for you or against you,” McDonald said.
The head coach was full of praise for teenager Brown who made a return from long-term injury playing for the Scotland under-19 side at their Euro finals in Northern Ireland.
She only got back from Belfast on Friday, but marked her return to the Rangers team by making a goal-line clearance when the score was 2-2 and then – after being moved from left-back to striker – scored the fourth goal.
“Chantelle was exceptional with her grit and determination, and her link up play,” McDonald said. “She’s got a vision that not many players have and deserved to get a goal.”
In the other ties, normal time could not separate Cumbernauld Colts and Boroughmuir Thistle, who played out a 2-2 draw. That meant that extra-time beckoned, with Colts edging to victory by four goals to three. Francis Fern bagged a brace for the Colts with Sarah Wardlaw and Melissa Porter adding the others.
Meanwhile, Glasgow City beat SWPL2 Hearts 7-0 with Joanne Paton getting a goal on her debut. There was a similar scoreline for Hamilton against Division 1 Granite City.
Joining those sides in the quarter-finals of the cup are Forfar Farmington, Glasgow Girls and Jeanfield Swifts.
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