It ended up all square at Ibrox in the SWPL as Jo Potter’s side retained their four point cushion at the top of the table.
In a game where both teams will feel they had chances to take all three points, Celtic will rue one particular moment when goalscorer Natasha Flint had a glorious opportunity to double their advantage.
Instead, she screwed her effort wide of the target at a point in the second period where Celtic had their tails up and Rangers were under the cosh.
It served as encouragement to the Ibrox side who came back to level the scores through teenage substitute Mia McAuley who was barely on the park when she had restored parity.
The result suits Rangers more than Celtic given the cushion they have at the top.
Elena Sadiku’s side, though, looked more like themselves after a shaky spell following the departure of Fran Alonso at the end of the year.
They slowly grew into this game and while it was goalless at the break, it was Celtic who took first blood. Kit Loferski fed Amy Gallacher who advanced into the box before feeding Flint who rifled a low effort into the bottom corner.
Rangers looked to respond with Rio Hardy clipping the base of the post but Flint really ought to have put Celtic out of sight.
Picked out by Shen Meglu she had acres of time and space but snatched at the effort that she pulled wide.
Both teams committed to winning it with a frantic finale. Caitlin Hayes was forced to clear from Jane Ross while at the other end Celtic substitute Lucy Ashworth-Clifford spurned a glorious chance.
“We should have won,” said Celtic manager Elena Sadiku. ‘The goal they scored came from a situation where Kit falls and we should have controlled it better but that is the only chance they created in the second-half.
“We should have won today. I am so proud of how we are progressing as a team and how we are growing and playing better and better. Compare this to my first performance against Rangers, it shows how much we have grown as a team.
“We are not happy with the point. We need to keep building and keep working harder and like I said to the girls, the full potential of this team is not there yet. We have more to give and this is exciting to see.
“Everyone in Celtic knows that we are in a good condition to win the league. They are only four points ahead. We have to play against all the teams in the top six twice but it is important we focus on every game and keep on building because that is how it will be possible.”
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