Rangers 1-0 Motherwell
Women's Scottish Cup Semi-Final
Saturday, 22 April 2023
Hampden Park

An entertaining and competitive encounter at Hampden Park saw Rangers defeat an impressive Motherwell side. 

As It Happened

A historic afternoon at Hampden Park saw the first Women's Scottish Cup Semi-Final of the new era of the competition take place under sunny skies and in front of a lively crowd of Rangers and Motherwell fans.

The first chance of the opening encounters fell Rangers' way, with Nicola Docherty dragging a shot just wide of the far post with just ten minutes on the clock.

Joanne Addie did superbly to deny Jenny Danielsson's shot, bravely blocking a from close-range, before putting her body on the line to get low and block the follow-up with her head.

The deadlock was broken with 17 minutes on the clock, as Sam Kerr lofted a pinpoint accurate cross onto the head of Hannah Davison, who duly nodded past Emily Mutch in the 'Well goal.

The Motherwell 'keeper denied Rangers a second moments later, reacting quickly to stick out her leg and divert Tess Middag's shot out for a corner. Mutch continued to frustrate Rangers, making a fine save to deny Kirsty Howat with half an hour played. 

Howat spurned another chance to double the lead, after some fine footwork from Brogan Hay; she laid the ball back to the Rangers number nine, but she just couldn't get her shot on target and Motherwell were able to clear.

It was a case of more solid defending from Motherwell shortly before the break, as Carla Boyce clashed with Tess Middag; enough to clear the danger, but pick up a knock in the process.

Hannah Davison came close in first-half added time, she slid on to the end of a Brogan Hay cross, but just couldn't get enough on the ball to get it on target. Maddie Nolf forced Emily Mutch into a smart save with the last action of the half; her fierce shot gathered well by the 'keeper.

The start of the second half saw Rangers pile on the pressure in search of a second; however Motherwell stood resolute in their defence.

With Rangers continuing to push forward, Tiree Burchill latched onto to a lobbed through ball; but for some strong defending from Hannah Davison she would have been one-on-one with the keeper. Almost immediately after, Rangers had their best chance of the half to double their lead, with Tess Middag rifling a fierce shot off the crossbar.

With two minutes to go, Rangers finally got their second; Tess Middag swung in a corner – it found the head of Chelsea Cornet who nodded the ball down and past Emily Mutch, sealing the Ger's place in the 2023 Women's Scottish Cup Final.

Teams

Rangers: Esson (GK), Docherty, Hill (c), Davison, Middag (Maclean 89'), B Hay (Arnot 77'), Howat (Watson 45'), Cornet, Danielsson (Mcleary 83'), Kerr, Nolf.

Unused subs: Fife (GK), McLauchlan, Bell, Cavanagh, Berry.

Motherwell: Mutch (GK), Addie, Anderson, Watson, Rafferty (Crichton 77'), Doran Barr, Inglis (c), Rice (Hughes 77'), Gardner (K Hay 58'), Burchill, Boyce.

Unused subs: Andrews (GK), Lawton, Petherick, Noble.