Venue: Petershill Park                                                   Date: 15/12/24                                                                 Time: 12:10

Glasgow City 3 N. Wróbel (’41 ’56 ’65)

Rangers 0

Natalia Wróbel was the star of a dominant display from Glasgow City with a hat-trick to dispatch Rangers. A first defeat of the season sees Jo Potter’s side lose their spot as SWPL leaders. 

City’s first half dominance was rewarded in the 41st minute when Rangers’ Jenna Fife and Leah Eddie’s miscommunication outside the box saw Wróbel pounce on the defensive howler first, chipping the ball into the net to break the deadlock.  

A powerful finish allowed Wróbel double the lead and her tally just ten minutes into the second half when Katie Hill attempted to clear the danger in the Rangers box but couldn’t get enough on the ball, leaving the goal at the City forward’s mercy. 

The hat-trick was completed just nine minutes later as Rangers were once again unable to properly get the ball out of the box before the Poland international put paid the game over. 

The teams looked evenly matched in the opening exchanges but the home side began to exert dominance, Wróbel coming close with a curling shot from outside the box that could not find its way on target. 

City began to push higher up the pitch and chances to take the lead soon followed with Nicole Kozlova’s flying ball across the face of goal only missing a head to open the scoring. 

Rangers facing intense pressure managed a chance of their own, Jodi McLeary’s cross deflected by Katie Wilkinson on target but it was comfortably dealt with by keeper Lee Gibson. 

Limited to a few chances by their dominant hosts, Rio Hardy was unable to test the keeper with a rare opportunity early in the second half. 

Fife produced a stunning save to deny City’s Wróbel from doubling her lead minutes later, the forward relentless in pursuit of further goals. 

The hosts were agonisingly close to adding a fourth but for another point blank save from Gibson to deny Brenna Lovera. 

Both sides were separated by a mere point before kick-off but by the time the whistle brought this fixture to an end, they looked miles apart. 

What the managers said: 

Glasgow City boss Leanne Ross:

[On going top of the table] “That was the objective for the day in terms of bouncing back from what we felt was a disappointing result on Wednesday.

“It’s always a real battle between the two teams, we’re close in terms of the qualities that we have but I think today, in the conditions, we battled a little bit more and our quality came out a little bit more than Rangers did today.

“Really pleased for [Natalia Wróbel], she had a couple of opportunities during the week. […] We spoke about after the game and I just said if she keeps putting herself in those positions and keeps working as hard as she can, her qualities will bring her the goals and she’s proven that today.”

Line-ups:

Glasgow City: L. Gibson, A. Muir (L. Evans ’68), K. Smit, S. van Diemen, C. Warrington, N. Wrobel (K. Lockwood), H. Lauder (c) (M. Fulton ’86), A. Gambone, N. Kozlova, B. Lovera (L. Forrest ’86). E. Whelan 

Substitutes: A. Easdon, J. Love, M. Fulton, K. Lockwood, W. Forsblom, A. Anderson, L. Evans, M. Foley, L. Forrest.

Rangers: J. Fife, N. Docherty, L. Eddie (L. Rafferty ’72), K. Hill, J. McLeary (L. Arnot ’46), K. MacLean, O. McLoughlin (C. Devlin ’46), C. Cornet, B.  Hay (M. McAulay ’65), R. Hardy, K. Wilkinson (K. Howat ’65) 

Substitutes: V. Esson, L. Rafferty, T. Middag, C. Devlin, K. Howat, M. McAulay, L. Arnot, S. Ewens, C. Lafaix.

Referee: Alex Shepherd