20’s Lose To Motherwell

Rangers 1 Motherwell 2

Rangers fully utilised the over age player rule with Steve Simonsen, Kyle McAusland, Dean Shiels and David Templeton in the starting lineup but it couldn’t prevent them falling to an embarrassing defeat to a young Motherwell side.

The first real effort on goal came after thirteen minutes, David Templeton on the left passed inside to Dean Shiels who moved it on to Fraser Aird on the right side of the box with keeper Ross Stewart holding his effort under the crossbar. A minute later David Templeton’s dummy allowed Kyle McAusland to race clear on the left, he continued into the box where Ross Stewart blocked his shot with his legs.

Rangers came close a minute later when Andy Murdoch arrived late to knock David Templeton’s low cross from the left just wide of the near post. Five minutes later the visitors had their first real chance, good play on the left from Jack Leitch created space for the cross and Craig Moore’s header was just over.

Midway through the half Kyle McAusland and David Templeton combined on the left, from the later’s low cross Ross Stewart was at full stretch to touch the ball away. As the half-hour approached Dean Shiels and David Templeton combined to set up Fraser Aird on the right side of the box but shot over.

Motherwell responded by taking the lead from the penalty spot sixty seconds later. Jack Leitch’s free-kick from midway inside Rangers half was aimed to the right side of the box, Fraser Kerr rose to head across goal and the ball struck the raised hand of Kyle McAusland, Craig Moore stepped up to send Steve Simonsen the wrong way from the spot.

Rangers got back on level terms three minutes later, David Templeton’s free-kick from the edge of the box deflected off the wall, completely wrong footing keeper Ross Stewart. Eight minutes before the break Rangers were caught napping when a quick free-kick released Dale Shirkie on the left side of the penalty area and he drove past Steve Simonsen.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Motherwell 2

Motherwell came close twelve minutes into the second half, Craig Moore capitalised on poor decision-making from Steve Simonsen to beat him to the ball on the right side of the box, but his shot lacked power and Luca Gasparotto got back to clear comfortably. Two minutes later Chris Cadden’s corner from the right evaded everyone and Barrie McKay cleared off the line at the back post.

As the game entered the final fifteen minutes Callum Gallagher and David Templeton combined to free Charlie Telfer breaking into the right side of the box, he cut inside a defender before forcing a save from Ross Stewart. Rangers almost grabbed an equaliser in the final minute, Motherwell were struggling to clear a corner from the right, Kyle McAusland headed back across goal where Craig Halkett looked to have headed an equaliser but Jack Leitch cleared from the line at the post.

Full-Time:- Rangers 1 Motherwell 2

Rangers:- Steve Simonsen; Ryan Sinnamon, Craig Halkett, Luca Gasparotto, Kyle McAusland; Barrie McKay (Charlie Telfer 62mins), Andy Murdoch, Fraser Aird, David Templeton; Dean Shiels (Tom Walsh 52mins); Danny Stoney (Callum Gallagher 62mins)

Not Used;- Liam Kelly (Gk), Kris Gibson, Dylan Dykes, Darren Ramsay.

Motherwell:- Ross Stewart; Fraser Kerr, Morgyn Neill, Adam Cummins, David Ferguson; Paul McCafferty, Dominic Thomas (Steven Higgins 83mins), Jack Leitch, Chris Cadden; Dale Shirkie (Liam Anderson 87mins); Craig Moore.

Not Used:- Max Currie (Gk), Ben Hall, Craig McCall, Dylan Mackin.