Youths Held By Hibs

Rangers 1 Hibernian 1

Rangers under 19’s dominated this morning’s game but failed to turn that superiority into three points and indeed Hibs could have stolen a win at the death. There was one change from the team that started at Motherwell last week, Robbie Crawford coming in for the injured Kal Naismith.

Rangers started brightly a created a good chance after four minutes, Robbie Crawford played the ball to Max Wright at the edge of the box and he laid it back to Gordon Dick who shot just wide. Two minutes late Scott Smith fired in a long-range free-kick  for Hibs but it was straight at Wayne Drummond and he saved easily.

On eleven minutes the visitor’s keeper Callum Artell had a fine save, diving to his left to turn Rhys McCabe’s effort round the post after he was setup by Dylan McGeough. Hibs were rarely inside the final third and it was another long-range effort from David Gold but again it failed to trouble Drummond.

Only a goal line clearance prevented Rangers taking the lead on twenty minutes, Dick and McGeough worked a short corner on the right and when McCabe headed the latter’s cross goalwards  it looked like the opener till a Hibs defender headed off the line.  A couple of minutes later and Artell saved again low to his left, after Crawford created a shooting chance for Max Wright.

Just after the half-hour Darren Cole got his head to Dick’s corner from the left but his header went just wide. On 37 minutes Hibernian took the lead against the run of play, Scott Smith’s free-kick from out of the left hand touchline was meant as a cross into the box but went over everyone’s head and into the net off the junction of post and bar.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Hibernian 1

The first effort after the break came when Dick cut in from the right but his shot was straight at keeper Artell. There then was a period of little goalmouth action until Lewis Horner broke forward and shot just over for the Edinburgh side on 63 minutes. A minute later the ball broke to Wright inside the box with keeper  Artell denying the striker,  blocking his shot with his feet.

Rangers drew level on 68 minutes, McCabe’s cross from the left was headed back across goal by Kyle McAusland and Max Wright was on hand to score from close range. Rangers failed to build on this and only a McGeough shot just over with fifteen minutes to go threatened he Hibs goal.

Indeed it was Hibernian who almost grabbed a winner in the final ten minutes, with six minutes left on the clock Smith broke forward from full-back and his shot from around 25 yards beat Drummond and rebounded back off the keeper’s left hand post. Then in the final minute Artell’s clearance sent David Crawford clean through and only a superb Drummond save kept the scores level.

Full-Time:- Rangers 1 Hibernian 1

Rangers:- Wayne Drummond; Kyle McAusland, Chris Hegarty, Darren Cole, Steven Hetherington; Gordon Dick, Dylan McGeough, Kamil Wiktorski, Robbie Crawford (Adam Hunter 80mins); Rhys McCabe, Max Wright

Not Used:- Alan Smith (GK), Ewan McNeil, Michael Noble, Andy Mitchell, Christiano Kisuka, Lewis McLeod.

Hibernian:- Callum Artell; Callum Burns, Jordan Forster, Jack Verth, Scott Smith; David Crawford, Lewis Horner, Harry Monaghan, Dean Horribine, David Gold (Mark Lancaster 68mins); Daniel Handling (Phil Addison 62mins)

Not Used:- Paul Grant (GK), Jon Wright

Glasgow Cup Win Over Jags

Rangers 2 Partick Thistle 0

Rangers Under 17’s overcame a dogged Partick Thistle side to record a win in tonight’s Glasgow Cup Sectional game at Murray Park. The home side started brightly and Lewis McLeod setup an opportunity for Callum Gallagher inside three minutes but is effort was straight at keeper Blair Lochead.

Four minutes later McLeod combined with George Scott to play in overlapping Mark Taylor, his shot from a narrow angle was parried behind by Lochead. On ten minutes the Thistle keeper needed two attempts to gather a long-range strike from Gregor Fotheringham.

For a long period the game became a midfield battle with neither side creating much. The next effort of any note came five minutes before half-time. A Scott corner from the right was headed out  only as far as Marc Dyer at the edge of the box although keeper Lochead saved his shot without too much difficulty.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Partick Thistle 0

A superb counter attack following a Thistle corner saw McLeod carry the ball deep inside the opposition’s half before playing the ball to Scott, who cut inside, back on to his right foot but shot just wide. A minute later  Darren Ramsay went past a defender on the right, his cross come shot had Lochead beaten but came back off the crossbar.

On 57 minutes only a superb Sam George save prevented Thistle taking the lead. Jordan McGrotty won the battle with Scott Rumsby to a long ball, his shot deflected of the Rangers defender and George dived to his right to parry the ball away. Five minutes later and Rangers took the lead from the penalty spot, a great Ramsay run from the halfway continued when he played a one-two with Scott, his pass set Lewis McLeof free and he was brought down inside the box for a clear penalty, although the referee initially indicated the offence took place outside the box, he was corrected by his linesman. Gregor Fotheringham stepped up to beat Lochead from the spot.

Four minutes later Ramsay tried his luck when he cut in from the right and Lochead saved. On 70 minutes Robbie McIntyre made a great run from full-back taking him past two Thistle defenders although Lochead saved his shot comfortably. A minute later the Jags keeper excelled diving to his right to beat away Callum Wyllie’s shot after a forward run from Mark Taylor set up the chance.

With quarter of an hour remaining Thistle had strong penalty claims when McGrotty went down under a Rumsby challenge but the referee who was some distance away waved play on. Rangers then made the game safe with seven minutes on the clock, Callum Wyllie latched on to a long McIntyre pass, went past a defender and beat Lochead from a tight angle.

Full Time:- Rangers 2 Partick Thistle o

Rangers:- Sam George; Mark Taylor, Scott Rumsby, Stuart Urquhart, Robbie McIntyre; Frankie Owens (Lee Cochrane 53mins), Gregor Fotheringham, Lewis McLeod, George Scott, Marc Dyer (Darren Ramsay 46mins); Callum Gallagher (Callum Wyllie 70mins)

Not Used:- Connor Shaw (GK), Andy Murdoch

Partick Thistle:- Blair Lochead, Gary Hynds, David Brown, Michael Gould, Malky McLean, Kieran Melville, Chris McInnes, Connor Delaney, Michael Mosson; Jordan McGrotty, Callum McArthur

Subs ????

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Rangers	3	2	0	1	7	2	6
Celtic	2	2	0	0	4	1	6
Clyde	2	1	0	1	5	4	3
Partick Thistle	3	1	0	2	8	10	3
Queen’s Park	3	1	0	2	5	12	3

Perth Saints Hit For Seven

Rangers 7 St.Johnstone 0

Callum McConnell showed little mercy to his former club, bagging five goals in tonight’s Under 16 friendly. If McConnell was the executioner then Charlie Telfer was the chief architect with a superb display in midfield.

Yet it was the Perth side that had the first chance in six minutes when the ball was played in from the right their striker was stretching to reach it and he could only knocked it over the Rangers keeper and over the bar. It took the Rangers youngsters some time to settle and almost twenty minutes had passed when a great run from Charlie Telfer ended with his pass setting up Paul Kane, but he failed to connect properly and the keeper saved easily.

A couple of minutes later Craig Halkett combined with Telfer to create another chance for Kane this time his shot was blocked by a defender. Rangers were now creating chances and barely sixty seconds later Kane returned the compliment, his pass giving Telfer a chance inside the box but he shot across goal and just wide.

Rangers took the lead on 24 minutes, Andy Murdoch’s pass sending Callum McConnell clear on the left just inside the Saints half, he carried on into the penalty area and shot past the keeper. A minute later and it was Murdoch coming close, shooting just over when Telfer’s corner was cleared to the edge of the box.

Saints then had a decent effort on goal just after the half-hour mark with their striker shooting just wide of the post from distance. As often happens they then conceded a second two minutes later, their keeper came and missed a Telfer corner from the right allowing Jordan Wilson to volley home at the back post.

Rangers came close again within a couple of minutes, McConnell and Telfer combining to set up the chance for Danny Stoney, the visitor’s keeper saving with his legs. With a couple of minutes left before the break McConnell broke down the right and passed inside to Telfer who laid it back to Murdoch and he shot just wide from around 25 yards.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 St.Johnstone 0

Within a minute of the break Rangers grabbed their third, Charlie Telfer sending Callum McConnell clear and with the Saints keeper coming out of his area the Rangers striker went round him and shot into the empty net. The fourth goal came on 58 minutes, Wilson played the ball up to Telfer at the edge of the box, a superb turn and shot saw the keeper make a fine diving save only for Callum McConnell to pounce and knock home the rebound.

Five minutes later and number five looked to be on the cards when Telfer sent McConnell away on the right, his pass across the box looked like a certain goal for Luke Hammond but the substitute shot wide. On 64 minutes only a brilliant save denied McConnell a fourth, Jamie Mills broke forward from full-back and passed on to Ciaran Summers, McConnell got on the end of his cross and it looked a certain goal until the keeper diving to his right turned the ball away for a corner.

Three minutes later and Rangers did grab another, Hammond made progress on the right before feeding McConnell who rolled the ball across the box to give Charlie Telfer the goal his performance deserved. The next chance fell to Ciaran Summers when he latched on to another superb Telfer pass, this time the keeper blocked his effort from a tight angle.

Summers almost grabbed his goal on 73 minutes when sent clear by McConnell he beat the keeper, but the ball clipped the outside of the post and bounced wide. Four minutes later the visitors gifted Callum McConnell his fourth, the keeper clashing with a defender when they both went for a Hammond cross from the right leaving the Rangers striker an easy tap in.

McConnell then looked sure to grab another when Telfer sent him clear, this time he dragged his shot wide. His fifth goal was only delayed till three minutes from time, Hammond pass sending Callum McConnell clean through and this time he made no mistake.

Full-Time:- Rangers 7 St. Johnstone 0

Rangers:- Connor ???? (Scott Macauley 46mins); Craig Halkett, Jordan Wilson, Stuart Urquhart (Ciaran Summers 46mins), Jamie Mills; Danny Stoney (Luke Hammond 57mins), Andy Murdoch, Jack Donaldson, Callum McConnell; Charlie Telfer, Paul Kane (Tom Walsh 57mins)

First-Half Blitz Secures Points

Motherwell 0 Rangers 5

Rangers youths produced their best performance of the season at Creamery Park, Bathgate this morning. In contrast to the first team fixture later, it was a four goal blast in the first-half from Billy Kirkwood’s side that set up the win.

Rangers started well and a great passing move on the right between Kal Naismith, Max Wright and McAusland sent the latter towards the byline and Euan Murray had to look smart to clear the full-back’s dangerous cross. In the seventh minute  Rangers were in front, Rhys McCabe’s pass inside to Max Wright, the striker shot from around 25 yards, ‘Well keeper Tom Bradley could only parry the ball up in the air and it dropped behind him and into the net.

Two minutes later the Ibrox youngsters doubled their lead, Rhys McCabe’s cross from the left was missed by Ross McKinnon and Gordon Dick was on hand to fire past Bradley. Rangers then suffered a blow when Kal Naismith had  to be substituted with little more than ten minutes gone, Robbie Crawford coming on as his replacement.

Rangers continued to attack and a great run and cross from McAusland gave Wright another chance but he didn’t connect properly and Bradley saved easily. The home side finally threatened just before the twenty minute mark, Lee Erwin and Keiran McGachie combined to feed Josh Watt on the right, the midfielder cut inside and shot across goal and wide.

A minute later and McKinnon’s cross from the left found Watt at the back post with Steven Hetherington blocking the shot at the expense of a corner. From a Bradley clearance, McGachie out muscled Darren Cole to setup Watt but his shot was weak and Wayne Drummond saved easily.

A superb counter attack on twenty-five minutes resulted in Rangers going three up,  a planned free-kick routine by the home side went wrong and when Erwin crossed the ball into the box Darren Cole headed clear to Rhys McCabe midway inside his own half, the Rangers midfielder carried the ball deep into the ‘Well half before releasing Gordon Dick on the right angle of the penalty box and he gave Bradley no chance from just inside the box. Ten minutes later and Hetherington played the ball forward to McCabe who shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Six minutes before half-time and Rangers scored a fourth, McAusland’s throw-in saw Dick turn past the defender and his low cross was fired past Bradley by Robbie Crawford from just outside the six-yard box. With three minutes of the half remaining Gordon Dick should have completed his hat-trick, great play on the left from Crawford, his cross found Dick right in front of goal no more then a couple of yards out, but a lapse in concentration saw him knock the ball tamely into the hands of Bradley.

Half-Time:- Motherwell 0 Rangers 4

It was inevitable that the second-half would be a bit less open as Motherwell would set out to limit the damage. Rangers did create a couple of opportunities just before the hour. First Dylan McCabe broke forward from midfield and shot just wide. Next up McGeough and Dick combined to set up a shooting chance for McCabe which Bradley saved.

On 67 minutes only the crossbar denied Rangers a fifth, McAusland progressed down the right and passed inside to Rhys McCabe, his shot from the edge of the box beat Bradley came back of the crossbar, hit the keeper and spun behind for a corner. From the corner, Dick’s dead ball was headed out but only to Robbie Crawford on the edge of the box and he shot through a crowded penalty area and into the net.

A fantastic Wayne Drummond save with fifteen minutes remaining denied the home side a consolation goal, Steven Howarth powered his was past Chris Hegarty and Darren Cole and into the box, the Rangers keeper coming off his line to save his shot at point-blank range.

Full-Time:- Motherwell 0 Rangers 5

Motherwell:- Tom Bradley; Liam Sloan, Euan Murray, Michael Lynch, Ross McKinnon; Josh Watt (Chris Connor), Stuart Carswell, Jamie Pollock, Steven Howarth; Lee Erwin, Keiran McGachie (Bradley Halsman 31mins)

Not Used:- Willie Muir

Rangers:- Wayne Drummond; Kyle McAusland, Chris Hegarty, Darren Cole, Steven Hetherington; Gordon Dick, Kamil Wiktorski, Dylan McGeough (Andy Mitchell 71mins); Kal Naismith (Robbie Crawford 11mins), Max Wright (Ewan McNeil 75mins)

 

16′ s Win Away

Kilmarnock 2 Rangers 3

Rangers Under 16’s edged out Kilmarnock in the latest in a series of friendlies at this age group tonight at Grange Campus. Rangers dominated the early stages and the first chance fell to Callum McConnell after Darren Ramsay headed on, with the Killie keeper saving comfortably.

Two minutes later the home keeper needed two attempts to save Darren McGill’s effort after he combined with Scott Roberts on the right to create the opportunity. The keeper then produced an excellent tip over from McConnell’s header when he got on the end of a McGill cross from the left.

Rangers eventually took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark, McGill played the ball out to Scott Roberts on the right, he was challenged as he drove towards the edge of the box and the ball broke to Darren Ramsay who beat the keeper with a powerful strike. Just over fifteen minutes later Ciaran Summers and Charlie Telfer combined on the left and the keeper saved Summer’s effort from a narrow angle.

Eight minutes before the break only a brilliant Liam Kelly save kept Rangers lead intact, diving to his right to divert a 25 yard effort wide. From the resultant corner the ball was headed goalwards but Ramsay was perfectly placed on the post to clear from the line. With a couple of minutes to go before the break Rangers almost doubled their lead in bizarre fashion, Ramsay’s corner from the right was beyond the far post, Jordan Wilson sliced his attempted cross into the air, as the keeper tried to gather he fumbled the ball against the post but recovered to gather before any Rangers attacker could pounce.

Rangers were pegged back only sixty seconds later, Callum McConnell’s crossfield pass thirty yards out was intercepted and the Killie player went past the defence to shoot beyond Kelly and in off the post. McConnell almost redeemed himself when he latched on to a long Ciaran Summer’s pass, but the home keeper was alert and saved at the striker’s feet.

Half-Time:- Kilmarnock 1 Rangers 1

A sweeping move almost gave Rangers the lead a couple of minutes after the break, Summers played the ball up to Ramsay at the halfway line, great chest control saw him turn away from the defender and find Scott Roberts on the right, who’s first time pass freed Darren McGill inside the box only to be denied when the home keeper blocked with his legs. Two minutes later the home side took the lead with an excellent goal, the striker picked the ball up wide on the left and left Wilson for dead, as Kelly advanced he neatly chipped over the Rangers keeper and into the net.

Rangers were only behind for three minutes, Ramsay won the ball inside his own half and sent McConnell clear on the right, his low cross into the box saw Charlie Telfer beat the keeper to the ball at the near post and stroke the ball home. Seconds after coming on as a substitute on 57 minutes Tom Walsh came close after a good run on the left, his shot flashing across goal and just wide of the far post.

What proved to be the decisive goal came with just under twenty minutes remaining, a great run from Dylan Dykes saw him go past two defenders and into the box, from his ball across the six-yard box Jordan Wilson’s effort saw the Killie keeper save at point-blank range, only for Darren Ramsay fire the rebound into the net. Rangers almost added a fourth just before the end, Charlie Telfer and Paul Kane combined to setup what looked a certain goal for Dylan Dykes only for the Rangers midfielder to fire over.

Full-Time:- Kilmarnock 2 Rangers 3

Rangers:- Liam Kelly; Craig Halkett, Greg Pascazio (Trialist No 16 45mins), Jordan Wilson, Ciaran Summers (Jack Doanldson 57mins); Scott Roberts (Tom Walsh 57mins), Dylan Dykes, Darren McGill, Charlie Telfer; Darren Ramsay, Callum McConnell (Paul Kane 55mins)

Youths Win Again

Rangers 2 Ayr United 0

With International call ups again disrupting the youth league schedule Rangers took on Ayr United in a friendly at Murray Park tonight. Where as they chalked up another win it was another uninspiring performance against lower league opposition.

Yet it took the Rangers youngsters only nine minutes to open the scoring, a superb turn and even better pass from Kal Naismith sent Max Wright clear inside the box and he ran on to shoot past Darryl Jones. Two minutes later and Kamil Wiktorski headed a Gordon Dick corner from the left narrowly over.

With just under twenty minutes gone the visitors had they first effort when Shaun Kelly broke forward and his shot from twenty odd yards deflected off Wiktorski and over for a corner. Five minutes before half-time and another Dick corner saw a powerful Chris Hegarty header saved by Jones.

Right on the stroke of half-time  Rangers increased their lead with an excellent goal. A great passing moved ended when Naismith laid the ball back from the edge of the box and Gordon Dick’s strike from 25 yards gave keeper Jones no chance.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Ayr United 0

Ten minutes after the break Wayne Drummond had a comfortable save from George Thompson’s shot from just outside the penalty area. On the hour mark the Rangers keeper was again in actio,  Kelly played the ball through  and Drummond made a smart save from Roddy Paterson with Steven Hetherington on hand to clear the danger.

Three minutes later Robbie Crawford’s corner from the left was long and gathered by Rhys McCabe who’s cross from the right was headed just over by Hegarty. A minute later Wright came close heading narrowly wide from a Robbie Crawford cross from the right.

With twenty minutes on the clock Ayr substitute Mark Shankland shot wide form the edge of the box. At the other end a great move saw Max Wright dummy McCabe’s pass and spin into space to collect Naismith’s slip and he was denied by substitute keeper Darryl Matthews.

The game was pretty open at this stage and the next effort was a long-range shot from Dale Moore which Drummond saved comfortably. Rangers were then back on the attack and a short corner on the left saw Crawford, play the ball to Ewan McNeil who played it to Andy Mitchell and his shot from the angle of the box was across goal and wide.

With quarter of an hour remaining Wright held the ball up inside the box and play it back to Naismith who’s attempted chip just lacked height and Matthews saved.  Matthews then needed two attempts to gather a Mitchell drive from 25 yards.

The Ayr United keeper then had a busy final ten minutes as Rangers tried to added to their lead. First up was a low Naismith shot from all of 30 yards with Matthews saved low to his left. With three minutes left he denied the same player after he was setup by Wright inside the box. In the final minute a good move saw the ball move from Adel Gafaiti and Rhys McCabe to the overlapping Steven Hetherington, his pass into the box gave Wright a chance which Matthews saved to his left.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Ayr United 0

Rangers:- Wayne Drummond; Kyle McAusland, Chris Hegarty, Kamil Wiktorski, Steven Hetherington; Gordon Dick (Andy Mitchell 57mins), Robbie Crawford, Rhys McCabe, Ewan McNeil (Adel Gafaiti 78mins); Max Wright, Kal Naismith.

Not Used:- Gary Inglis

Ayr United:- Darryl Jones (Darryl Matthews 46mins); Ian Fisher (David Hendry 73mins), John Frame, Alan Murdoch, Kieran McIntyre (Gareth Armstrong 17mins); Darren Baird, Shaun Kelly, Robbie Crawford (Stuart Milligan 60mins), Dale Moore (Dale McClelland 73mins); George Thompson (Mark Shankland 60mins), Roddy Paterson.