Rangers set up an Old Firm Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup final with a 2-0 win over Montrose at Hampden this afternoon.
It will be a fourth consecutive Scottish Cup final for the holders but they were made to work for it against a Montrose side who were stubborn and resolute. Indeed, it took until the last kick of the ball before progression was assured when Katie Wilkinson, an SOS off the bench, netted from the spot with what was the last kick of the ball.
Prior to that, the striker had broken the deadlock seven minutes after the restart when she headed in Jodi McLeary’s corner seven minutes after the restart.
Rangers manager Leanne Crichton was fulsome in her praise of Montrose and how hard they made the Ibrox side work for it, but she could not hide her irritation at the overall performance of her own side, particularly in the opening period.
“I'm more frustrated with how we've worked and how we've conducted ourselves,” said Crichton.
“Maybe it just shows you where we are in terms of the team and how much effort we've put into this season already.
“It's now getting to that stage where the ones that want it will be the ones that stand up and are counted. There are players that have perhaps felt they were on the periphery, with chances and opportunities limited for them over the last number of months. But maybe we have learned a lesson from that today.
“Certainly, If you don't want to work hard and track back, and look like you're hungry to win this kind of game, and get to a Cup final, then we simply won't tolerate that.
“This is where we really need the whole squad to come together. I hope it's a little bit of a wake-up call in how difficult the game was.
“At the same time, I don’t want to detract from the credit that Montrose are due. They have been a handful all season and just missed out on a top six place.
“They made us work for it.
“As much as I'm hard on the group, I'm also really proud of them in coming through this week because it has been a real challenge. Wednesday night was a huge challenge. Friday before that was a huge setback against Hearts.
“I'm more than realistic of where we are. I would much rather be in a cup final and moaning about the performance than not being there.”
Celtic now wait in the final after Grant Scott side beat Glasgow City 3-2 at Hampden on Saturday. And Crichton has called upon a massive push from both sides to encourage as many supporters into the ground as possible for the game on the 31st May at the national stadium.
There were fewer than 1000 supports inside the ground for Saturday’s game, a paltry return for such a high profile game.
“You want them to be with you,” said Crichton. “We need to try and push the game as much as we possibly can.
“The men's season finishes up the week previous. For us, that should be another incentive to go and maximise that opportunity. As I say, really push it and get the fans on board.
“The ones that were here today were noisy enough. You could hear them, good or bad. We need them to turn out and multiply the numbers. It would be great to sign off the season that way.”
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