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Rangers' hopes of pipping Celtic to the SWPL title dwindled further despite victory over Hibernian.

The title rivals remain level going into Sunday's final matches, thanks to Kirsty Howat hat trick helping Rangers to a 3-2 win at Meadowbank while Celtic were beating Hearts.

But Jo Potter's side were unable to cut the goal difference deficit, which instead increased by one to 16, so will need a favour from Hibs on Sunday, when they face Celtic.

Olivia McLaughlin almost put Rangers in front after 10 minutes when her spectacular effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Katlynn Fraine. Rio Hardy's attempt from the rebound whizzed past.

Moments later, Fraine denied Hardy on two occasions; first by smothering the ball from a tight angle and second by producing a full-stretch right-handed save.

However, the goalkeeper's heroics could only keep the score level for so long.

Just after the half hour, Nicola Docherty’s cross from the left ran all the way through to Howat, who made no mistake with the finish.

Two minutes after the restart, forward Sarah Ewens cracked a post before Hardy had a right-footed shot cleared off the line.

The visitors eventually doubled their advantage just after the hour when Kirsty Howat lasered an effort into net from the edge of the box for her second.

Howat then completed her hat trick after Lizzie Arnot’s deflected shot fell kindly to her, and she calmly rolling into the bottom right corner.

Hibs pulled one back with 14 minutes left through Jorian Baucom after Victoria Esson failed to punch Ellis Notley’s deep free-kick clear.

And the hosts took advantage of another defensive mistake to make it 3-2 in injury time, Baucom anticipating a short back pass from Docherty before rounding the goalkeeper and tapping in.

Rangers host Partick Thistle on Sunday knowing that unless they win by a margin of at least 17 goals, Celtic can clinch their first ever title with a win over Hibs.

What they said

Hibernian head coach Grant Scott: “If I’m being honest, we’ve not performed as well as we’d hoped in. Credit to Rangers, they were very on it tonight and we weren’t, and you’ve not got room to do that against the top teams.

"I’m disappointed but credit to the players, they took their chances so that’s a positive, but we need to be better."

Rangers head coach Jo Potter: “We should have cut that goal difference down heftily I think, that’s my frustration right now.

“I thought it should have been at least four or five at half-time and then puts you in a different position second half and then who knows if you cut that goal difference down significantly it’s all to play for on Sunday."