Mia McAulay had her Go-Pro out on the Hampden pitch as the 17-year-old captured the moment of Rangers making history as the club claimed the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup for the first time.
One suspects there will ample Kodak moments ahead for the teenager who has been one of the success stories of the season for Jo Potter’s side. How the campaign is measured for Potter now looks better on the back of a double-winning triumph.
For the former England internationalist this was a necessary triumph. Having failed to claim a title that settled in Celtic’s favour on goal difference, this was not a game that she could afford to lose.
“It was very important for us,” said Potter. “There is no hiding the fact that if we didn’t win that game then the outcome of the season looks very different. If you go away with one Cup win but not winning the league or the other Cup final that you are in, it would feel very differently, even on just one game.
“We knew we could come away as Cup double winners, and we very nearly claimed a treble. We also now have Champions League football that we didn’t have last season so for me it means that it has been a very good season for us. We have got to recognise that we have done a tremendous job and it was vital for us to come away with that trophy.”
It was not difficult to note yesterday why the title slipped away from Rangers; they were dominant against Hearts at Hampden and created ample opportunities but could not quite put Eva Olid’s side to bed.
Indeed, it was only with four minutes of regulation time remaining that they could breathe easily when Lizzie Arnot sent a raking effort into the back of the net to supplement Rachel McLauchlan’s rasping 25-yard effort that had whistled into the top corner midway through the opening period.
Those concerns will be addressed over the summer break as Potter looks to tweak things but, certainly, she remains convinced that she has the best squad in the country.
The success at Hampden was watched by Philippe Clement, just 24 hours after his side lost to Celtic, while chief executive James Bisgrove and chairman John Bennet who were also at Hampden. In terms of optics it suggested a club that is keen to offer a spotlight to their women’s side with Potter insisting that it goes deeper than simply what the outward picture looks like.
“He [Clement] said it was good for him to come and watch us lift the trophy,” said Potter.
“It was the same with John Bennett. It is so important for the club to have us winning trophies and being here to experience that because it means a lot to them and it means a lot to us that they are in attendance at these games.
“They have showed faith in us all season. It is disappointing the result that they had yesterday but, again, in the same breath he is saying that it is super important and super proud for them that we are lifting that trophy.
“We are all under the one umbrella. I said this all the time. I thanked John because the promises they gave me when they offered me the job, they have stood by every single one of them.
“There has never been a moment where you think ‘I was promised this but it didn’t quite happen.’ Everything that was laid out, they have done it. They have a willingness to push the game forward.
“They want to inspire another generation. That is so important to the club and that message is getting filtered all the way through. We are under one roof and it is so important for the women’s game that happens because it pushes other clubs to do the same.”
Hearts boss Olid was proud of the efforts of her players but wants them to move closes to the top three.
“I was saying in the changing room, all the objectives we said at the beginning of the season we got. Everything, fourth place, more points, more goals, a final. For me, the next step is at the beginning of next season saying, 'We have to win the final'. This season was arriving in a final which was massive for us. But, of course, next season we want to be more ambitious with our objectives.”
Meanwhile, Scotland manager Pedro Martinez Losa has been linked with Lyon by reports that have originated in his homeland.
The French side are searching for a new head coach due to the impending departure of Sonia Bompastor, who is expected to replace Emma Hayes at Chelsea with Martinez Losa credited with being on their shortlist.
