Rangers put down an early season marker after retaining the Glasgow Cup with a last gasp winner at Broadwood yesterday afternoon.
Fran Alonso’s side had led for the bulk of the game after Amy Gallacher’s sixth minute opener only for Rangers to level on the 90th minute mark through Kirsty MacLean before Kirsty Howat netted a 98th minute winner from the spot.
It gave Jo Potter, the new manager of Rangers after the exit of Malky Thomson from the women’s dug-out at the end of last season, her first trophy but, more importantly, she felt it is a result that will give the squad a sense of conviction.
Rangers finished third in the SWPL last term after a pulsating climax to the league campaign and Potter, who will now take the players away for a week of warm weather training, was delighted with what she felt was a sense of character from her squad to force a comeback.
“To not play well and come away with the win is huge and that will breed confidence in the group,” said former England internationalist Potter.
“It definitely helps the confidence around the camp and a belief in what we are doing. We are definitely going in the right direction.
“We are still trying things out and we are still trying to get into full swing. We weren’t at the races at the time but it was pleasing for me to see the character and to see us digging in. As soon as we got the equaliser we knew as a staff we were going to go on and win it.”
Alonso admitted that he was disappointed with the nature of the defeat but believes that it is too early to judge his side.
There has been forced surgery on his side this summer with key players moving on; Jacynta, Natasha Flint, who knocked back a permanent deal to head to Liverpool, Claire O’Riordan and goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar have all moved on with eleven new players added across the last month.
“I thought it was a good first 45 from us,” said the Spaniard. “But if I was to criticise we should have scored one more goal [in the first-half]. They didn’t really hurt us and we were happy.
“We played three days ago and we had to change the team because of where we are now in pre-season. We gave a debut to three players - two of whom have trained only once and one not at all.
“We lost control of the game and we suffered. We were unlucky because it was a rebound for the equaliser and then we ended with ten players because we had an injury. But there are positives there.
“It is a Cup that we wanted to win so I am disappointed but I would never risk the safety of the players. It is only week four of pre-season so it was safety first.”
