14’s Draw With Select Side

Rangers U14’s 2 SYFA Under 15’s 2

Rangers Under 14’s shared four goals with the Scottish Youth FA’s Under 15 Select in an entertaining game at a wet Murray Park tonight. The Select side took an early lead finding the back of the net after only five minutes, the attack came down the left and when the ball was cut back from the byline a powerful finish gave Lewis Muir no chance.

Ten minutes later the select side threatened again, coming in from the right the shot from the edge of the box looked netbound until Lewis Muir leapt high to his left to claw the ball away. As the end of the first period approached the Rangers youngsters turned the game around with two goals in the final three minutes. The first goal started with a Zak Rudden pass to Stephen Kelly on the edge of the box and he slipped the ball to his left for Carlo Pigniatiello to shoot across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.

Just before the whistle to end the period the ball was played in to Carlo Pigniatiello from the left and his pass released Zak Rudden inside the box, the keeper rushed from his line to make a fine block but was helpless as the ball broke for the striker to roll the ball into the net.

Nine minutes into the second period Lewis Mayo was dispossessed on the halfway line a powerful run took the attacker deep into the left side of Rangers penalty area but the attack was thwarted by a fine Lewis Muir save at the near post. Rangers replied six minutes later when they missed a great opportunity, Scott Gray and Aaron Reid combined on the left and from the former’s cross Zak Rudden looked certain to score but his header was wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

The start of the third period began with a great opportunity for Rangers to extend their lead when Zak Rudden was clear inside the box but he was denied by a fine save. At the other end when a short corner was worked on the left from the resultant cross the ball was headed narrowly over.

With seven minutes remaining the Select side drew level, when the ball was played through the right side of Rangers penalty area the attacker when down under Jack Thomson’s challenge and the referee pointed to the spot, the penalty was duly converted giving Darren Montgomery no chance. A couple of minutes later Rangers thought they had grabbed a winner, Matthew Shiels got on the end of Jordan Houston’s superb cross from the right to head past the keeper but the referee adjudged him to be in an offside position.

Ful-Time:- Rangers U14’s 2 SYFA Under 15’s 2

Rangers Squad:- Lewis Muir (Gk), Darren Montgomery (Gk), Michael Hewitt, Scott Gray, Jack Thomson, Lewis Mayo, Cammy Palmer, Carlo Pigniatiello, Scott Blacklaw, Zak Rudden, Stephen Kelly, Aaron Reid, Cammy Wray, Mati Zattafarra, Jordan Houston, Matthew Shiels, Aaron Mooney.