CLINICAL RANGERS TAKE THREE POINTS AT FOUNDATION PARK

Dundee United Women were defeated 8-1 at Foundation Park on Sunday by a clinical Rangers side.

A dream start saw Keira Chuter grab a debut goal inside a minute but it wasn’t to be as hat-tricks from Kirsty Howat and Rio Hardy had the visitors in cruise control to take three SWPL1 points.

THE TEAM TALK

Graeme Hart made six changes to the side that defeated Hamilton Academical with a busy seven days ahead.

Aaliyah-Jay Meach and Keira Chuter came in for their debuts with Brodie Greenwood and Abbie Cusack also making their first starts. Claire Delworth and Summer Christie also returned to the starting eleven.

HITTING THE FRONT

With just 30 seconds on the clock, United found themselves ahead.

United pushed from kick-off down the left flank to force a throw-in and from Niamh Noble’s throw, Keira Chuter rolled her marker before sending a 25-yard volley over the keeper and into the net.

RANGERS HIT BACK

The lead was to only last four minutes with Rangers pulling themselves level thanks to Kirsty Howat finishing at the back post.

In the 11th minute, Summer Christie saw her long-range strike held by Esson shortly before Meach did well to deny Middag at the other end.

Rangers were awarded a penalty in the 18th minute when Cassie Cowper was adjudged to have blocked a shot with her hand. Rio Hardy stepped up to send Meach the wrong way to put the visitors ahead.

This was to be the first of three goals in a seven-minute spell; excellent strikes from Middag and Hardy gave Meach no chance and saw Rangers 4-1 ahead.

The visitors were to push themselves further ahead on the stroke of halftime thanks to Howat’s chipped finish.

AT THE BREAK

Graeme Hart made two changes at the break as Katie Frew and Summer Christie were replaced by Jo Fraser and Jade Wilson.

There was little to write about in the first 15 minutes of the second half; Hardy heading wide from close range the closest either side came to finding the net.

On the hour mark United made two further changes, Georgie Robb and Tash Bruce coming on for Rachel Todd and Cassie Cowper.

Rangers came close to adding to their lead in the 66th minute when they rattled the woodwork inside a crowded six-yard box.

United’s final change came with 17 minutes remaining and it was another debut, this time for Amy Taylor who replaced Nicola Jameison.

In the final twelve minutes, Rangers found the net a further three times to give the score line a harsher look than United’s performance merited.

Kirsty Howat completed her hat trick with a free kick curled into the top corner shortly before Kirsty MacLean finished with style to make it 7-1.

The eighth goal came deep into injury time with another penalty; Delworth with a foul inside the box and Hardy completed her hat-trick from the spot.

Despite the result, there were a lot of positives to take ahead of Wednesday when United host Montrose in the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League.

TEAMLINE

Starting XI: Meach, Delworth, Frew (Fraser 46), Jameison (Taylor 73), Todd (Robb 60), Cusack, Christie (Wilson 46), Cowper (Bruce 60), Noble, Greenwood, Chuter

Subs not used: Hurrell, Murphy, Knight, Sangster (gk)