Rangers Women booked their place in the semi-finals of the Sky Sports Cup with a composed and convincing 3-0 win over Partick Thistle at Broadwood Stadium.
The performance combined clinical finishing, maturity in possession, and meaningful moments for some of the club’s youth prospects.
Goals from Laura Berry, a Demi-Lee Falconer own goal, and a precise Eilidh Austin strike ensured a dominant first-half display was more than enough to settle the quarter-final.
The second half brought further chances, but also two notable milestones, as Saoirse Coyle-Morrow and Erin O’Brien both made their senior debuts from the bench.
Manager Leanne Crichton praised both the performance and the mentality of a squad that has been stretched in recent weeks due to injuries.
“The squad has been stretched beyond what we would ever have wanted at this stage, but the players were first class today,” Crichton said.
“Their attitude and application were outstanding. From one player to the next, everyone played their part.”
Rangers controlled the game from early on, with Berry opening the scoring in style when she spun inside the box and fired under the bar after neat combination play with Jodi McLeary.
Austin then forced the second as her driven cross was turned into the net by Thistle captain Falconer.
The winger added the third herself before the break, guiding a composed finish into the far corner after linking again with Berry.
15-year-old midfielder Saoirse Coyle-Morrow entered the match to make her senior debut.
Speaking after the game, she admitted the moment felt surreal: “It’s a dream of mine since I was younger, so to actually take the pitch today at the top level is surreal.
“I was told maybe five minutes before I went on, so a quick warm-up and then just go do my best.”
She also credited the senior players for helping her settle: “Everyone was class and very welcoming.
“They made it a lot less nerve-racking.”
Coyle-Morrow joined Rangers at age 12 and said this debut is “only the first step” in her ambition to break into the squad long-term.
Crichton highlighted how meaningful these moments are for the club’s identity: “The pathway is there.
“We relied on our young players today and we’ll rely on them again, that’s what this club is built on.”
Rangers now turn focus to a Friday night Old Firm at Ibrox, where Crichton has called on supporters to pack the stands.
She said: “We need that extra player. It’s a huge occasion.
“Let’s fill Ibrox.”