Rangers try to move on from SWPL Cup final agony as Alice Griffiths seals exit
Rangers‘ stranglehold on the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup ended at the hands of Glasgow City after a 2-1 final loss on Sunday.
The Gers had won this competition for three years on the spin, and after a 1-0 win over their neighbours in the Scottish Women’s Premier League on 22 March, hopes were high of another victory.
However, a brace from 19-year-old Lisa Forrest secured Glasgow their first SWPL Cup since 2015, with Katie Wilkinson grabbing a late consolation.
Leanne Crichton’s Rangers were second-best for long periods as the league leaders maintained their push for a domestic treble, with a Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic to come.
After the match, Rangers star Brogan Hay insisted her teammates need to move on quickly from this setback, particularly as silverware is still up for grabs.
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Rangers eye SWPL and Scottish Cup prizes
After 21 games played, Rangers sit fourth in the table, five points behind league leaders Glasgow.
They still have time to overhaul the likes of Hearts, Celtic, and Glasgow, starting with their match against Partick Thistle on Wednesday night.
| Rangers’ previous SWPL Cup final wins | Final |
| Rangers vs Hibernian (2022-23) | 2-0 |
| Rangers vs Partick Thistle (2023-24) | 4-1 |
| Rangers vs Hibernian (2024-25) | 5-0 |
Moreover, Rangers have a Scottish Cup semi-final against Montrose to look forward to in May. And that was exactly the attitude winger Hay is taking.
She said: “It is obviously disappointing that we didn’t come away with silverware and a trophy that we have managed to maintain the past few years, but it is done now.
“The weekend is done, and we have got another game tomorrow night, and I think as players that is what you want. We look forward to another game coming fast, and we will prepare the best way we can for Partick Thistle.
“We can’t dwell on it too much. There is still a long way to go in the season, and there is plenty to play for. It is a horrible feeling losing a game, especially a cup final, a massive game.
“You work hard to get there in the first place, but there is plenty more to play for in the season, plenty of league games, and we have got a semi-final at Hampden to look forward to as well. We can’t dwell on it too much; we need to try and keep the squad together.”
Alice Griffiths makes swift Rangers exit
Rangers signed Alice Griffiths on a free transfer last July after she left Southampton following four years on the south coast.
The Wales international was a first-team regular earlier on this season but fell out of favour as the campaign progressed.
And on Sunday, the Bears announced her exit in a brief statement, which read: “Rangers can confirm midfielder Alice Griffiths has departed the club. We wish her well for her future endeavours.”
It later emerged that the 25-year-old had signed for Griffiths FA Women’s National League South side Exeter City.
In fact, she has already made her debut for Exeter, with the Aberdare-born player coming off the bench against Real Bedford. It seems this Rangers transfer just didn’t work out.
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