
Despite resilience from Rangers and almost coming back into the game Celtic came out on top in what became a dominant performance by the Hoops.
Both sides were lucky enough to receive a bye in the first couple of rounds, meaning they entered the competition at the third round stage. Celtic were comprehensive victors over Boroughmuir Thistle Purple and Hibernian, before coming through much sterner tests against Glasgow City and Lanarkshire Hibs. Rangers enjoyed comfortable victories over Aberdeen FCL in the third round and Hearts in the final four, sandwiched between tight encounters against FC Kilmarnock and Boroughmuir Thistle.
Celtic started the game brightly with Keira Chuter attacking the Rangers backline early causing Jodie Baker to make a save. In the 15th minute Celtic made a breakthrough as slick team play from the midfield into the attack resulted in Abbie Ferguson passing to Chuter on the left flank who cuts inside and slotted home a tidy finish into the bottom left corner away from the keepers reach.
Losing a goal so early in such a big match can't have been easy but to the credit of the Gers they reacted in the best possible way. Jodi McLeary’s cross was met by Lily Caldwell who tapped the ball past Ava Eason but she was able to recover and pick up the ball before it crossed the line. A few minutes later the equaliser did arrive. McLeary latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from captain Kirsten Love, before curling an exquisite shot over Ava Easdon and into the top left hand corner.
However, Celtic's lead was restored in the 25th minute after good interplay on the left wing between Tiree Burchill and Chuter who played in a fantastic cross to Ami Robertson who escaped her marker and scored an free header from close range, frustratingly for Rangers who felt they had just found a way back into the game.
The Hoops' advantage was doubled just two minutes later as Burchill took a quick-thinking throw to Georgia Gray who skipped past a couple of Rangers defenders before sending in a cross which sneaked past the keeper at the front post.
The game took another twist with 21 minutes on the clock. A penalty kick was awarded to the light blues and McLeary tucked it away with composure to bag her and her team's second of the match.
However, Celtic regained their two goal lead soon after as Lauren Richmond scored a stunning long range strike over the keeper’s head, following a blocked shot from Ferguson that broke well for the shot. Celtic then got a fifth which appeared put the game to bed before the half time whistle as Gray drilled a dangerous ball into the box iand it came off a Rangers defender last.
With this reporter on the verge of running out of paper, thankfully the goalscoring came to an end for the half. The teams headed back into the changing rooms to a loud applause from the thoroughly entertained crowd.