Katie Wilkinson scored a hat-trick as Rangers moved into second place in the Scottish Women’s Premier League with a convincing derby win over Celtic.
The visitors extend their unbeaten run against their city rivals to 11 games and move to within a point of new leaders Heart of Midlothian.
They are also one ahead of long-time pacesetters Glasgow City, while Celtic are left six points behind Hearts in fourth.
Rangers started the better and Wilkinson rose at the near post to nod a Brogan Hay cross looping over goalkeeper Adelaide Gay and into the far corner after 15 minutes.
The striker then set up Camille Lafaix with a nice one-two, but the midfielder stabbed her shot wide from 12 yards.
Celtic came close to an equaliser when forward Poppy Pritchard could only head a Evie Rabjohn cross to the back post into the side netting, then the defender had a fine drive turned wide for a corner off the fingertips of goalkeeper Jenna Fife.
However, it was Rangers who struck again five minutes before the break when Wilkinson curled an excellent 18-yard free-kick past Gay.
Celtic had a bit more possession after the break without threatening Fife, while on-loan Roma midfielder Kim Shin-ji’s low drive was well held by Gay at the other end.
Wilkinson completed the scoring from the penalty spot as the match entered stoppage time after defender Emma Lawton fouled May Cruft after the Rangers midfielder pounced on a poor clearance.
The victory sets up a top-of-the-table meeting on Friday as Rangers host Hearts while City face Glasgow rivals Partick Thistle and Celtic visit reigning champions Hibernian.
