All Square In Glasgow Cup

Rangers 2 Celtic 2

Rangers 17’s lost a two goal half-time lead in their Glasgow Cup section game at Murray Park tonight, the equaliser coming four minutes from time. A good passing move set up the first chance on six minutes, it began with Jamie Mills and continued via Scott Roberts out to Lewis Morgan on the right and from his cross Ryan Hardie headed just wide of Colin McCabe’s left hand post.

Three minutes later Rangers took the lead, Ryan Hardie won possession just outside the right side of the penalty area, he cut inside a defender before beating McCabe with a neat finish. As the twenty-minute mark approached Joe Thompson passed inside to Luke Donnelly and his shot from just outside the box was turned round his right hand post by Liam Kelly.

On twenty-seven minutes Rangers had a let-off, Liam Kelly miscued his punch on Paul McMullen’s cross from the right, the ball fell at the feet of Luke Donnelly but with the goal at his mercy he shot wide of the right hand post. McMullen then tried his luck from twenty-five yards and Liam Kelly dived low to his left to turn the ball wide.

A minute later Rangers capitalised by doubling their lead, Jamie Mills won the ball just inside the Celtic half and passed to Danny Stoney who drove forward before beating McCabe from the edge of the box, possibly with the aid of a deflection.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Celtic 0

As the hour mark approached Celtic pulled a goal back from a stunning strike, the Rangers defence cleared the ball from their penalty and from fully thirty yards Liam Henderson, running on to the ball met it perfectly and gave Liam Kelly no chance as the ball flew into the top left corner. The game then entered a spell where there was little goalmouth action, until with quarter of an hour remaining Junior Ogen passed to Scott Roberts who tested Colin McCabe in the Celtic goal.

When the Rangers defence cleared a cross from the right it landed perfectly for Gareth McDonagh who’s shot was straight at Liam Kelly. Rangers went straight up the other end and when Danny Stoney passed inside to Scott Roberts keeper McCabe dived low to his left to turn the ball wide.

A superb turn from Paul McMullen created space on the left side of the Rangers box but he dragged his shot across goal and wide of the post. With four minutes remaining an exchange of passes on the edge of the Rangers penalty area freed Paul McMullen inside the box and he found the net via Liam Kelly’s left hand post.

The goalscorer was then fortunate not to see red for a poor challenge on Ryan Sinnamon, the referee seemed certain to show a second yellow until he realised he had cautioned him for diving in the first half and kept his cards in his pocket. Rangers were reduced to ten men in the dying seconds of the game when Junior Ogen was shown a straight red for an off the ball incident.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Celtic 2

Rangers:- Liam Kelly; Ryan Sinnamon, Greg Pascazio, David Brownlie, Jamie Mills; Lewis Morgan (Junior Ogen 72mins), Adam Wilson (Ben Reilly 59mins), Dylan Dykes, Scott Roberts; Danny Stoney; Ryan Hardie.

Not Used:- Robbie McCrorie (Gk), Sam Liddington

Celtic:- Colin McCabe; Glen Eadie, Fiacre Kelleher, Mark Barrowman, Calum Watters; Gareth McDonagh, Liam Henderson, Conor McManus, Paul McMullen; Joe Thompson; Luke Donnelly

Not Used:-Conor Cullen (Gk), Ciaran Lafferty, Aiden Nisbet, Connor McLaren, Jack Breslin, Aiden McIlduff.