Under 20’s Win At Firhill

Partick Thistle 0 Rangers 3

Rangers Under 20’s with the assistance of a few experienced players continued from where they left off on Sunday with a comfortable win at Firhill tonight. Although it was the home side that had the first chance on ten minutes, Declan McDade had the ball on the right and passed inside to Simon Colina who lobbed the ball over the Rangers defence for John Baird, Steve Simonsen stood tall to beat his volley away.

Rangers first worthwhile attack came six minutes later when Barrie McKay cut in from the right but his shot failed to trouble Scott Basalaj as the ball drifted wide of his right hand post. Thistle were back on the attack two minutes later, Ross Meechan’s cross from the right was dangerous and when Craig Halkett headed clear the ball fell for Dale Keenan on the left side of the box and he forced another save from Steve Simonsen.

On twenty-four minutes Danny Stoney broke down the right, his cross found its way to Dean Shiels on the left side of the area, he stepped inside a defender and forced a save from Scott Basalaj who dived to his left to parry. Just after the half hour Ryan Sinnamon  attacked on the left, passed inside to Dean Shiels who moved it on the Barrie McKay on the right side of the box and his shot was deflected wide.

Six minutes before the break Rangers had to make a change when Kyle Hutton sustained what looks like a serious injury and was stretchered off to be replaced by Dylan Dykes. Deep into injury time Mark Kerr lobbed the ball back into the box where Liam Lindsay headed across goal, Thistle almost had a chance when Steve Simonsen and Kris Gibson hesitated, but the Rangers defender recovered to clear for a corner. Liam Lindsay got his head to the resultant corner which Steve Simonsen gathered on the line.

Half-Time:- Partick Thistle 0 Rangers 0

Rangers got the perfect  start to the second half taking the lead in the opening minute, David Templeton’s pass sent Barrie McKay through and he continued into the box to shoot past Scott Basalaj. Just after the hour mark it took a superb Steve Simonsen save to keep Rangers lead intact, Declan McDaid created the chance of the right, his pass found John Baird on the edge of the six yard box, after a superb turn gave him the space for a shot but he was denied at close range by the Rangers keeper.

Midway through the half Rangers increased their lead, Tom Walsh’s shot from a free-kick just outside the right side of the box was blocked, but the ball fell kindly for Dylan Dykes to net from close range. Two minutes later Callum Gallagher broke on the left and laid the ball back to Ryan Sinnamon who switched played to Tom Walsh on the right, he passed inside for David Templeton who shot over.

As the game entered the final fifteen minutes Dean Shiels corner from the right eventually broke for Luca Gasparotto who hooked goalwards but the ball was cleared from the line. A couple of minutes later Rangers made the points safe, Callum Gallagher beat Scott Basalaj in a race for a ball on the left side of the box, as he nudged the ball past the keeper he was impeded and he stepped  up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

The final chance came when David Templeton passed the ball in from the left for Dylan Dykes to drive at goal but the shot was too straight and Scott Basalaj saved.

Full-Time:- Partick Thistle 0 Rangers 3

Partick Thistle:- Scott Basalaj; Ross Meechan, Darren Brownlie, Liam Lindsay, Dale Keenan; Declan McDaid, Gary Fraser, Mark Kerr (David Wilson 62mins), Jordan Leyden; Simon Colina (James Martin HT); John Baird (Lee Gallagher 62mins)

Not Used:- Marc Watters (Gk), James Hamilton.

Rangers:- Steve Simonsen; Craig Halkett, Kris Gibson, Luca Gasparotto, Ryan Sinnamon; Barrie McKay (Tom Walsh 53mins), Andy Murdoch, Kyle Hutton (Dylan Dykes 39mins), David Templeton; Dean Shiels; Danny Stoney (Callum Gallagher 61mins)

Not Used:- Liam Kelly (Gk), Darren Ramsay, Jamie Mills, Greg Pascazio.