Rangers kept their Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) title hopes alive with a dramatic late winner from Mia McAulay, securing a thrilling 3-2 Old Firm victory over rivals Celtic at Ibrox. The result marks a significant boost for Leanne Crichton’s side, who had endured a difficult run of form, suffering defeats against Glasgow City, Hibernian, and Heart of Midlothian in recent weeks.

Early Celtic Advantage

Celtic started brightly, looking to extend their dominance in the fixture over the past nine meetings. Jenny Smith gave the visitors an early lead after just two minutes, slotting home to put Rangers on the back foot. The Hoops controlled much of the first half, creating multiple chances and testing Rangers’ defensive organisation.

Rangers responded before halftime when Laura Berry capitalised on a poorly defended corner to stab home a loose ball, levelling the score and giving the home side a much-needed boost heading into the second half.

McAulay and Wilkinson Turn the Tide

The second half saw Rangers take the lead through top-scorer Katie Wilkinson, who converted McAulay’s header to register her 17th goal of the season. Celtic, however, refused to lie down and pulled level when Saoirse Noonan finished from close range after a scramble inside the Rangers’ box.

The decisive moment came late in the match. Substitute Kim Shin-Ji delivered a perfectly weighted ball over the top, allowing teenage winger Mia McAulay to race through and finish superbly into the top corner, sealing a vital 3-2 victory for Rangers.

Implications for the SWPL Title Race

The win lifts Rangers to fourth in the SWPL, level on points with Celtic but behind on goal difference. It keeps the Old Firm rivalry fierce and positions Rangers firmly in the SWPL title race as they look to challenge leaders Glasgow City, who could extend their advantage to nine points with a win over Montrose on Sunday. Third-placed Hibernian and fifth-placed Hearts also face each other this weekend, meaning the top of the table remains highly competitive.

Key Players

• Mia McAulay: 1 goal – match-winner, late decisive strike
• Katie Wilkinson: 1 goal – 17th goal of the season, top scorer
• Laura Berry: 1 goal – first-half equaliser
• Saoirse Noonan (Celtic): 1 goal – close-range finish

The thrilling victory underlines Rangers’ ability to rise to the occasion in high-pressure games and keeps their ambition of claiming the SWPL title very much alive.