13’s Beat The Weather And Accies

Hamilton Accies 1 Rangers 3

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Rangers survived a late scare to go on and continue their winning sequence at Ravenscraig this afternoon. With all other age group games postponed the under 13’s beat the weather with a game against Hamilton Accies at Ravenscraig’s indoor pitch.

Rangers had an early chance when Matthew Shiels was played through after only two minutes but the striker shot wide of the keeper’s left hand post. The home side replied with an attack down the left and when the shot came in Lewis Muir dived to his left to clutch the ball out of the air.

Rangers took the lead after seven minutes, Carlo Pigniatello picked out Stephen Kelly’s run into the right side of the box and when his low cross arrived at the back post it was knocked over his own goal line by an Accies defender, under pressure from Matthew Shiels for and Own Goal. Accies replied immediately and when they attacked down the right Lewis Muir was quick from his line to block the shot.

Five minutes into the second period Stephen Kelly found Dylan Patterson inside the box and his attempted lob had the Accies keeper stretching to save underneath his crossbar. Ten minutes later Rangers should have doubled their lead. From a free-kick on the right hand angle of the box and with the home side expecting it to be delivered into the box, Scott Gray ‘s pass sent Stephen Kelly towards the byline, his cross found Zak Rudden unmarked at the back post but he headed wide of the post.

Zak Rudden and Stephen Kelly then exchanged passes before setting up a shooting chance for Dylan Patterson that the home keeper saved low his left. Rangers did increase their lead eight minutes into the final period, Scott Gray’s free-kick from close to the corner flag on the right was headed into the net by Jordan Houston. With seven minute remaining Accies reduced the deficit, Lewis Muir lost possession inside his own penalty area and Aidan Lafferty side-stepped the keeper before finding the net.

The home side then had a great chance to equalise four minutes later, an attack on the left side of the penalty area was halted when Cammy Wray sent the Accies player tumbling for a clear penalty, Aidan Lafferty stepped up but Lewis Muir dived to his left to produce a fine save. Rangers immediately capitalised on that let off when Jordan Houston rose to head Carlo Pigniatello’s corner from the right past the keeper.

Full-Time:- Hamilton Accies 1 Rangers 3

Hamilton Starting Lineup:- Josh Wray (Gk), Matthew Innes, Leon McCann, Tyler Tobin, Max Potter, Martin Beattie, Sean Slavin, Kieran Campbell, Aidan Lafferty, Stefan Connelly, Lewis Smith.

Rangers Squad:- Lewis Muir (Gk), Jack Pow, Scott Gray, Jordan Houston, Cammy Wray, Cammy Palmer, Carlo Pigniatello, Stephen Kelly, Matthew Shiels, Scott Blacklaw, Dylan Patterson, Aaron Mooney, Zak Rudden.