20’s Comeback Secures Unlikely Win

Rangers 2 Hamilton Accies 1

A goal down and reduced to ten men with an hour gone, having threatened little since Greg Pascazio’s twenty-fourth minute red card a victory looked unlikely. Until all three substitutes made a significant impact to turn things round and get the goals to secure the three points.

Rangers had the first chance after only two minutes when David Templeton went past Craig Watson on the left side of the box only to shoot across goal and wide of the far post. The next chance came when Darren Ramsay delivered a free-kick from the left midway inside the Accies half, Craig Halkett rose to head goalwards with Blair Currie getting down to save low to his right.

Just before the twenty-fifth minute Rangers lost a goal and a man in the visitor’s first real attack, Greg Pascazio was caught out at a throw in outside the right side of Rangers penalty area and he pulled back Eamon Brophy for a clear penalty and the referee had little option but to show a straight red card. Andy Ryan stepped up to send Liam Kelly the wrong way from the spot. As the half-hour approached Andy Ryan attacked the right side of Rangers box, when he was challenged by Craig Halkett the ball broke for Jason McGrath who shot across goal and wide of the far post.

A few minutes later Ali El Zubaidi sent a cross into the box from the halfway line close to the left hand touchline. Andy Ryan got on the end of it but his header was wide of Liam Kelly’s right hand post.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Hamilton Accies 1

The second half began in a similar vein with Accies having the territorial advantage without creating much in front goal. That was to change with a double substitution on the hour. Within in a couple of minutes Andy Murdoch won a challenge on the halfway line and when the ball broke to Charlie Telfer his incredible forty yard effort clipped Blair Currie’s right hand post with the keeper beaten.

As the midway point of the half neared Darian Mackinnon’s cross from the right had Liam Kelly under pressure but Lee Kilday could only head over at the back post. A couple of minutes later Andy Ryan’s powerful thirty yarder was too straight and Liam Kelly saved comfortably.

With fifteen minutes remaining Rangers drew level, make shift right back Robbie Crawford’s clearance up field was miscued by Ryan Finnie in the right full-back position, the ball landed kindly for Andy Murdoch who gives Blair Currie no chance with a superb strike from just outside the left side of the penalty area. Six minutes later Rangers got their noses in front, when the ball was played up to Jamie Burrows wide on the right he passed inside to Callum Gallagher who moved it on to Danny Stoney he showed great composure to step back inside a couple of defenders and slot the ball past Blair Currie.

Rangers had a chance to make the points save in the final minute, Callum Gallagher’s reverse pass freed Jamie Burrows on the right side of the box but he shot across Blair Currie and narrowly wide of the far post.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Hamilton Accies 1

Rangers:- Liam Kelly; Craig Halkett, Greg Pascazio, Kris Gibson, Ryan Sinnamon; Barrie McKay (Jamie Burrows 60mins), Robbie Crawford, Andy Murdoch, David Templeton (Charlie Telfer 60mins); Darren Ramsay (Danny Stoney 74mins); Callum Gallagher.

Not Used:- Alan Kelly(Gk), Jamie Mills

Hamilton Accies:- Blair Currie; Craig Watson, Lee Kilday, Ali El Zubaidi, Colin Grainger; Greg Docherty (Ryan Finnie 85mins); Darian Mackinnon (Darren Smith 80mins), Lewis Longridge; Andy Ryan, Eamon Brophy, Jason McGrath (Danny Armstrong 77mins).

Not Used:- Scott Law (Gk), Jack Harrison, Shaun Want