Rangers' dominance in women's football continues as they secure a commanding 5-0 victory over Hibernian in the SWPL Cup final held at Fir Park. This triumph marks the third consecutive win for Rangers in this competition, further solidifying their status as the team to beat in Scottish women's football.
On March 22, 2025, the highly anticipated match brought together two of the top teams in the SWPL, with Hibernian seeking to maintain their position at the top of the league while Rangers aimed to reclaim their trophy. With an impressive performance that included goals from Katie Wilkinson, Camille Lafaix, Kirsty Howat, and Rio Hardy, as well as a Kirsten Reilly own goal, Rangers showcased their superiority on the field.
Rangers head coach Jo Potter expressed immense satisfaction with her side's performance, stating, "The scoreline and how we played made it so comfortable for us on the sidelines to enjoy and relax and drink it all in." After struggling against Hibs earlier in the season, where they suffered a 3-0 defeat, the victory was particularly sweet for Potter and her team. Shorty before half-time, Wilkinson opened the scoring for Rangers, with an overall dominating performance that saw them create multiple chances.
The match began as a tense contest, but the breakthrough came just before halftime. With momentum swinging their way, Rangers intensified their pressure on Hibs, and Wilkinson, displaying great skill, slotted the ball home for her 39th goal of the season. This goal proved crucial, giving Rangers a significant advantage heading into the second half.
As the second half commenced, the Rangers exhibited relentless offensive pressure, scoring two quick goals within the first two minutes. Camille Lafaix's goal, neatly placed into the net, was followed by a third shortly after as Hibs captain Reilly inadvertently deflected the ball into her own net. Howat then further extended the lead, firing in another from close range, with Hardy sealing the impressive victory late in the match.
Rangers' defender Leah Eddie, who lifted her first trophy with the club against her former team, reflected on the match saying, "We knew it was going to be a tough game and that we had to turn up but we've done exactly that." Eddie, who joined Rangers from Hibernian during the summer, emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, "We just had to prove ourselves to each other...if we focused on that, worked together, and fought for it that we'd be fine."
On the other hand, Hibernian's head coach Grant Scott expressed his disappointment over the heavy loss, stating, "It's a sore one to take. A lot of learning and analysis to do on that one." Despite being at the top of the SWPL table before this match, Scott acknowledged that his side failed to perform at their best and conceded crucial goals at inopportune moments. He noted, "We critically lost goals at bad times in the game so a sore one to take."
Although it was a disappointing day for Hibernian, the performance of goalkeeper Erin Clachers, who is on loan from Glasgow City, provided a silver lining, making multiple essential saves to prevent an even larger defeat. Scott commented on her performance, stating, "She was excellent...we're very aware that that scoreline is probably embarrassing enough and it could've been a heck of a lot worse."
With this win in the SWPL Cup final, Rangers not only clinched their third consecutive title but also sent a strong message to the rest of the league as they prepared for the remaining matches of the season. The victory undoubtedly reinforces their status as one of the dominant forces in women’s football in Scotland.
Looking forward, both teams understand the urgency of consistency as they now shift focus to the remainder of the SWPL season. Potter emphasized the need for her team to maintain their high performance, asserting, "Whenever we step on the pitch as Rangers we always feel the pressure because we know how much teams want to beat us and how much pressure we put on ourselves...We just need to be a bit more consistent in our performance."
As for Hibernian, Scott is hoping for a positive response from his team in their upcoming matches. He stressed that the best teams learn from their setbacks and asserted, "The best teams react and that's what we'll be striving for now." With the league title still up for grabs, both teams will be looking to regroup and refocus to chase their aspirations on both the domestic and competitive fronts.
As Rangers celebrate another trophy, the focus shifts to what lies ahead in the competitive landscape of Scottish women’s football. With two points separating the teams in the SWPL table, the championship race is sure to heat up, and both clubs will be aiming for glory in their future encounters.
