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.