Rangers Women claimed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Celtic Women to extend their lead over their Old Firm rivals to four points in the SWPL.

Substitute Chelsea Cornet’s lobbed strike 12 minutes from time decided what had been a thrilling match at New Douglas Park in which Rangers were twice relegated to the top positions.

Rangers took the lead through Rio Hardy and Katie Wilkinson, but Celtic equalized each time through Caitlin Hayes and then Saorise Noonan, before Cornet sealed the victory. They are second, one point behind Glasgow City, winners 6-1 at Queens Park.

The visitors had a share of luck for the opener after four minutes, as Hardy’s strike from the edge of the area was deflected and looped past wrong-footed Celtic goalkeeper Kelsey Daughterty to give them the advantage.

Celtic equalized just before the break, as Hayes headed in at the far post from Emma Louise Lawton’s cross.

Rangers regained their lead through Katie Wilkinson’s penalty just after the hour after Charlie Devlin went down in the box under a challenge from Shannon McGregor.

Celtic boss Elana Sadiku was sent off after the incident, receiving a booking for her first response to the decision and then taking another for sarcastically applauding referee Stacey Fullicks.

That didn’t deter her team from fighting back, as Noonan made it 2-2 with a free kick that narrowly escaped Rangers goalkeeper Jenna Fife in the 67th minute.

But Cornet came off the bench to settle the game, latching onto a loose clearance from Daugherty, before slotting the ball over the Celtic keeper’s head in the final quarter of the game.