Rangers Women | Season Review

Mid Season Review

Summary

Rangers had a strong start to the SWPL season. Riding high, scoring 43 goals, and keeping 5 clean sheets in their opening 5 league games but back-to-back defeats in Europe to Atlético Madrid and Arsenal seemed to knock the Gers off their stride. Narrow wins against Hearts and a struggling Dundee United side started to show some cracks in what is, on paper, the strongest squad in recent times. Draws with city rivals Celtic, league leaders Glasgow City and a revived Hibernian followed. Returning Chelsea Cornet scored a wonderful late winner against Celtic in what was seen by most as a real stamp of authority in the race for the league title but consecutive 3-0 defeats to Glasgow City and Hibernian in the final 2 games of the year has really put into question if the squad and coaching staff have what it takes to really mount a challenge for the title as Glasgow City find themselves 5 points clear at the top going into the New Year.

Standout Performer

Katie Wilkinson has really hit the ground running with the Light Blues since joining in the summer from Southampton. The 30-year-old has scored an outstanding 22 goals and 6 assists in just 17 games this season. The attacking threat of Rangers is up there with, if not the best, in the league but it is clear to see the team is better with Wilkinson than without.

Loan Watch

Fellow SWPL1 side Motherwell have been home to a few of our younger stars over the course of the first half of the season. A standout being striker Laura Berry who has recently penned a contract extension with the Gers. Berry has scored 12 goals in all competitions for the Claret and Amber and is one to watch for the future. If she fulfils the potential she is showing to have in abundance, the Scotland under 19 international will no doubt be knocking on the door of the number 9 spot in the Rangers starting 11 on her return.

Another youngster plying her trade at Motherwell is Sophie Black. Black has cemented her place in the starting 11 and showed her quality in the middle of the park, scoring 2 goals in the process. The young midfielder will be looking to make her mark in the 2nd half of the season to impress and continue to gain as much experience as she can. Her club form was rewarded with call ups to the Scotland under 17 and under 19 squads and she will want to make this a regular occurrence.

Mason Blyth-Clark is a dynamic playmaker who comes off the back of a highly impressive season at Hamilton Academical where she was awarded with both supporters' player of the year and players’ player of the year. The highly rated Scotland under 19 international, has featured 14 times for Motherwell this season and continues to add vital playing time at the top level at only 18 years of age. Adding more goal contributions to her game throughout the second half of the season will set her in good stead when she returns to her parent club in the summer.

At Spartans, CaCee McKenna has received plenty of plaudits for her performances. Also being called up to the Scotland under 19 squad for the Euro qualifiers, the right sided attacker has been recognised as one of the Edinburgh sides’ key threats. Being named as player of the match in a key win against Dundee United, the 18-year-old will hope to continue to gain valuable game time for the remainder of the season.

Wide player Millie Paton has become a regular figure in the Queens Park team since returning from injury. Another Scotland youth international, pacy Paton will look to contribute as much as she can in helping her loan side climb out of the relegation zone in the New Year.

Sophie Townsley has enjoyed her start to life at Hamilton Accies with the youngster receiving their August player of the month award along with multiple player of the match performances over the course of the first half of the season. The tricky winger has proven to be difficult for SWPL2 defenders to handle as her goals and assists have helped to fire Accies to the top of the table. The 18-year-old was also named in the most recent SWPL Team of the Week and is a player Jo Potter will be keeping a close eye on.

What is Needed?

Some midfield reinforcements would be of help to Jo Potter’s side. Although blessed with talent in the form of Scotland internationals Kirsty MacLean and Chelsea Cornet, the 2 key playmakers have been hampered with injuries this season and their replacements do not stamp the same authority on games. Cornet and MacLean keep the team ticking so a player of similar nature would not only add to the competition but also allow for Potter to rotate her midfield pairing as she sees fit.

The aging nature of the centre backs and shakiness of the goalkeeping department was held to account in the back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Glasgow City and Hibernian. A centre back with a bit of pace and a goalkeeper to challenge Victoria Esson and Jenna Fife would not go amiss.

Results

League

Aberdeen (A): 11-0 W

Partick Thistle (H): 4-0 W

Queens Park (H): 9-0 W

Montrose (A): 9-0 W

Dundee United (A): 10-0 W

Spartans (H): 6-1 W

Hearts (A): 2-0 W

Celtic (H): 2-2 D

Motherwell (H): 2-0 W

Glasgow City (H): 1-1 D

Hibernian (A): 1-1 D

Montrose (H): 10-2 W

Celtic (A): 3-2 W

Dundee United (H): 6-1 W

Motherwell (A): 1-0 W

Glasgow City (A): 3-0 L

Hibernian (H): 3-0 L

Champions League

Arsenal (A): 6-0 L

Atlético Madrid (A): 3-0 L

SWPL Cup

Dundee United (A): 3-0 W

Motherwell (A): 8-1 W

Scottish Cup

Westdyke (A): 24-1 W