A late winner meant Forfar Farmington found themselves leaving New Tinto Park without any points on Sunday as Rangers defeated Stevie Baxter’s side 2-1.
Danni McGinley netted the opener midway through the first half with Fiona McNicoll saving a Jade Gallon shortly after but Gallon netted the equaliser in the second half before Chantelle Brown’s late winner.
Stevie Baxter made just one change from the SWPL Cup win over Kilmarnock as Erin Cattanach was ruled out through injury and Leah White made her first start of the season.
The first opportunity of the match came after three minutes as Cheryl Kilcoyne fired over from distance before Lauren Gallon headed wide from a Sinclair corner.
Carla Boyce blasted over the bar from a Laura McCartney cut back for the hosts in the tenth minute with both sides equally matched early on.
Farmington forced Jade Baillie into a save from Cassie Cowper while Lauren Gallon almost netted an own goal when she connected with Robyn Smith’s free kick; her header flying inches over the bar.
Clare Gemmell failed to trouble Fiona McNicoll in the 23rd minute but just sixty seconds later Farmington were up the other end of the park taking the lead.
Beth McPherson sprayed the ball wide to Smith who cut in before laying the ball off for Danni McGinley who fired low into the bottom corner.
Rangers looked to get back on level terms through Boyce but McNicoll was in fine form as she pulled off two quickfire saves to deny the attacker.
The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 27th minute when Alana Bruce was adjudged to have fouled McCartney.
Jade Gallon stepped up to take the spot kick but was denied by a fantastic save by McNicoll to keep Farmington ahead.
Smith sent an angled effort over the bar in the 35th minute and three minutes later Rangers hit the crossbar through McCartney’s shot from distance.
Farmington came close again through Smith and Hannah Stewart as they hunted for a second but Baillie was able to repel their efforts.
In the 42nd minute Smith raced towards goal from her own half and after getting into the box she lashed the ball across goal.
Boyce was once again denied by McNicoll from close range but the final chance fell to McGinley who nodded wide from a Cowper corner on the stroke of half time.
The hosts came out for the second half keen to get an equaliser with Sinclair and Terri Donnelly coming close before Jade Gallon fired wide from the edge of the box.
Farmington’s resilience was broken down on the hour mark when sub Chantelle Brown sent a cross in and the ball was bundled in by Jade Gallon.
Smith and Davidson had chances to put Farmington ahead again with free kicks but their set pieces went over the bar and was held by Baillie respectively.
Boyce and McNicoll continued their battle of one on ones and once again the keeper came out on top; parrying her close range effort before the rebound was sent wide.
Cowper was sent through on goal for Farmington with twelve minutes remaining but she was harshly ruled to be offside.
She was to save Farmington at the other end shortly after as she acrobatically cleared a McCartney shot off the line.
With the game looking like it would end in a draw, Rangers were to steal all three points in the 82nd minute as Brown’s angled shot found the net despite McNicoll getting a touch on it.
Less than sixty seconds later Smith couldn’t keep her shot down from a Davidson free kick as Farmington looked to bring things level once again.
In the 88th minute Hannah Stewart was next to try her luck with a free kick but Baillie smothered her shot and the hosts ran out winners.
Despite the disappointment of the defeat, there are positives for Farmington to take ahead of this week’s clash against Glasgow City at Station Park.
Rangers: Baillie, Inglis (Muir 68), L. Gallon, Dalgliesh, J. Gallon, Sinclair (Brown 58), Donnelly, Boyce (Pullar 76), McCartney, Gemmell, O’Hara (Napier 89)
Subs not used: Watson, Ramsay (gk)
Forfar Farmington: McNicoll, White (Weber 57), McGinley, Stewart, Smith, Davidson, Bruce, Kilcoyne, Cowper, McPherson, Brough
Subs not used: Noble, Deubel, Cattanach, Williamson (gk)