14’s Win Over 15’s Side

Rangers U14’s 6 Dumbarton U15’s 1

Rangers Under 14’s supplemented with two Under 15 players had a comfortable win over Dumbarton’s U15’s at Murray Park this afternoon. Zak Rudden grabbed the headlines with his five goals but it was a fine team performance with some excellent passing play from the young Rangers side.

The first chance came on three minutes when Mati Zattafarra’s pass sent Zak Rudden through the inside right channel and he shot across goal and wide of the far post. Jack Thomson then set Andy Dallas free on the left with his pass inside the right-back, he continued into the box but was denied when the ‘Sons keeper blocked at the near post.

Rangers took the lead on thirteen minutes, Scott Blacklaw showed great skill to lob the ball over an opponent in midfield and passed to Zak Rudden, he tried to switch play to the left but his pass was intercepted by a Dumbarton defender who’s header back was short and Andy Dallas pounced to round the keeper and roll the ball into the net. The visitors then had an immediate chance to reply from a free-kick on the left side of the box which Darren Montgomery dealt with comfortably.

The Rangers keeper had a more difficult shot to deal with a minute later, it was an effort from distance that had Darren Montgomery stretching to save under his crossbar. Rangers then capitalised by increasing their lead two minutes later, a fine passing moving involving half the team ended when Stephen Kelly’s through ball was missed by the keeper leaving Zak Rudden a simple task to roll the ball into the net.

Dumbarton replied with a dangerous attack down the left and when the cross came in it took a superb Jack Thomson clearance to snuff out the danger. Jack Thomson was then on the attack as he broke forward, his through ball forcing a brave save from the ‘Sons keeper at the feet of Mati Zattafarra. Right on the whistle to end the first period Dumbarton got back into the game, a corner from the right setup a scramble in the Rangers box, with a shot through a crowd of players finding the net.

The first chance of the second period came on five minutes when Zak Rudden found himself clear, with the visitor’s keeper advancing from his line to block with his legs, he was helpless from the rebound as Ben Andoh’s powerful shot crashed off the underside of the bar. The third goal did come three minutes later, Zak Rudden’s one-two with Stephen Kelly opened up the centre of the defence allowing him to shoot past the keeper from just inside the box.

From Scott Blacklaw’s pass Andy Dallas took on the defence on the left side of the box and forced a save from the keeper. A pass through the centre of Rangers defence setup a chance for the visitor’s with Darren Montgomery saving bravely at the striker’s feet.

As the midway point of the period approached Andy Dallas and Mati Zattafarra combined to create a shooting chance for Zak Rudden who’s effort was just wide of the keeper’s left hand post. The fourth goal was to follow five minutes later, Aaron Reid hit the byline on the left, his cutback found Stephen Kelly who’s shot was saved, but the keeper couldn’t hold on and Zak Rudden followed up complete his hat-trick.

A fine passing move led to Rangers fifth at the start of the final period, Stephen Kelly providing the final pass to release Zak Rudden inside the box and he coolly slotted the ball past the keeper. Seven minutes later Rangers scored again, Carlo Pigniatiello latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the right side box before passing to Zak Rudden to fire into the net.

The visitors never gave up and with fifteen minutes remaining their striker was through on goal only to be denied by a fine Darren Montgomery save. With five minutes remaining Stephen Kelly sent Zak Rudden clear on the right, he passed inside to Carlo Pigniatiello who moved the ball onto Dylan Patterson and his shot was just wide of the right hand post.

Rangers finished the game with a couple of chances to add to their tally, Carlo Pigniatiello’s pass inside the right-back freed Dylan Patterson on the left side of the box and his effort was just too high. Some sharp passing on the edge of the Dumbarton box involving Stephen Kelly, Carlo Pigniatiello and Zak Rudden created the chance for Mati Zattafarra who was denied by a fine save.

Rangers 6 Dumbarton 1

Rangers Squad:- Darren Montgomery (Gk), Jack Pow, Scott Gray, Jack Thomson, Lewis Mayo, Scott Blacklaw, Ben Andoh, Mati Zattafarra, Zak Rudden, Stephen Kelly, Andy Dallas, Aaron Reid, Carlo Pigniatiello, Dylan Patterson.