Under 20’s Lose To Carlisle United

Rangers 2 Carlisle United 3

With first team fixtures and games played during working hours today’s game against Carlisle United was my first visit of the season to Murray Park. The Murray Park youngsters were a bit unfortunate to lose to the odd goal in five against a more experienced side, Carlisle included former Dunfermline keeper Greg Fleming, ex Sunderland player Paul Thirlwell and an experienced strike force of Lee Miller and Lewis Guy, Also in their lineup was youngster Connor Thomson who I am sure played a couple of trial games for Rangers last season.

After the early sparring Rangers took the lead on twelve minutes, good play on the right by Barrie McKay saw a defender knock his cross goalwards,  Greg Fleming was stretched to touch the ball on to the crossbar and Callum Gallagher was well placed to nod the rebound into the net. Only a fine interception from Chris Hegarty prevented a chance at the other end on twenty-eight minutes. Lee Miller and Jack Lynch combined on the right and the later’s cross looked destined for the head of Lewis Guy until the Rangers defender got his head to the ball at full stretch.

Ten minutes before the break Charlie Telfer and Darren Ramsay combined to send Callum Gallagher clear through the inside left channel, he continued  into the box before forcing a save from Greg Fleming low to his left.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Carlisle United 0

Only a brilliant Alan Smith save kept Rangers lead intact three minutes after the break, when David Symington’s right-wing cross was headed back across goal and Lee Miller met it on the volley at the edge of the six yard box, the Rangers keeper somehow managed to divert it wide for a corner. The visitor’s then hit Rangers with a quick fire double to take the lead.

Another David Symington cross saw Lee Miller cushion a header into the path of Kyle Dempsey who beat Alan Smith from around eight yards. A minute later Lewis Guy was sent clear through the inside right channel, Alan Smith did well to block his initial effort but was helpless as he knocked in the rebound.

Rangers replied and really should have equalised on fifty-five minutes, Kris Gibson played the ball forward to Tom Walsh on the left, Callum Gallagher laid his cross into the path of Darren Ramsay but his shot from just inside the box was too high. Darren Ramsay then tried his long from a long-range free kick that Greg Fleming tipped over. From the resultant corner Darren Ramsay headed Barrie McKay’s corner goalwards with Greg Fleming again tipping over.

The visitor’s replied with another David Symington run on the right, Kyle Dempsey brought his cross under control but his volley was just wide of Alan Smith’s right hand post. Midway through the half Tom Walsh chased a ball to the byline on the right, his cutback found Darren Ramsay at the edge of the six yard box with Greg Fleming preventing a goal with a fine save.

Rangers grabbed a leveler with five minutes remaining, Charlie Telfer broke through on the left side of the penalty area, Greg Fleming advanced from his line to block the shot but Jamie Burrows was well placed to prod the ball into the net.The joy was short-lived as barely sixty seconds later Kyle Dempsey collected the ball on the right angle of the penalty area and sent a superb shot over Alan Smith and into the opposite top corner.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Carlisle United 3

Rangers:- Alan Smith; Ryan Sinnamon, Chris Hegarty, Darren Cole, Kris Gibson (Craig Halkett 73mins); Barrie McKay (Jamie Burrow 60mins), Charlie Telfer, Andy Murdoch, Tom Walsh; Darren Ramsay (Danny Stoney 80mins); Callum Gallagher (Dylan Dykes 84mins)

Not Used:- Liam Kelly

Carlisle United:- Greg Fleming; Connor Thomson, Jake Chilsholm (Josh Todd HT), Paul Thirlwell, Patrick Brough; David Symington, Jack Lynch, Kyle Dempsey, Alex Salmon; Lee Miller, Lewis Guy.

Not Used:- Lewis Brass, Connor Hammell, Graham Kavanagh, Frankie Wallace, ????? Gillies, Mark Beck.