Old Firm Win For Young Gers

Rangers 5 Celtic 1

Before heading up to Adamslie Park for this afternoon’s friendly it was Murray Park for this morning’s Under 13’s clash between Rangers and Celtic. It was a contrast in styles and also a reverse of what I’ve witnessed at the older age groups, with Rangers the team playing a passing game and Celtic playing a more direct long ball game, the end result was a very comfortable win for the young Rangers side.

Yet it was Celtic who got the whirlwind start with a goal after only two minutes, a long-range strike beating Brian Kinnear and finding the net via the under side of the cross-bar. Rangers hit back quickly, drawing level after a further two minutes play, Kieran McKechnie  won the ball outside the right side of the box before passing to Adedapo Awokoya-Mebude who held off a defender and shot past the keeper.

Celtic then created a chance on the left side of Rangers penalty area but when the ball was centred the shot was wide of Brian Kinnear’s  left hand post. A superb passing move created a chance for Rangers midway through the first period, Billy Gilmour, Lewis McGrattan and Andy Rodden combined and the left and when the ball came to Dylan Patterson inside the box only a great defensive challenge prevented a shot on goal.

Celtic had the first effort in the second period after four minutes, it was another long-range effort that Brian Kinnear held under the crossbar. Just over five minutes later only a fine save prevented Rangers from taking the lead, Kieran McKechnie fed Nathan Patterson on the right side of the box, he stepped inside a defender before going for goal with the Celtic keeper getting down to his left to make the save.

Midway through the period Ben Williamson won the ball in midfield before passing to Kieran McKechine who drove at the Celtic defence and played in Adedapo Awokoya-Mebude on the right side of the box who shot across goal and wide of the far post. Rangers took the lead with eight minutes of the period remaining, Danny Finlayson sent Nathan Patterson down the left and when his cross into the box was headed out Adedapo Awokoya-Mebude fired past the keeper from the edge of the box.

Three minutes later he was desperately unlucky not to increase Rangers lead and complete his hat-trick, Ruaridh McIntyre passed to Kieran McKechnie on the right, Adeapo Awokoya-Mebude met his cross on the volley, it flew past the keeper and crashed of the underside of the crossbar, Dylan Patterson was first to the rebound but could only head the ball into the keepers arms.

A superb run from the right-back position from Ruaridh McIntyre took him past three defenders and to the edge of the Celtic box before going for goal with the keeper holding the ball under the crossbar. Rangers were not to be denied and increased their lead just before the end of the period, Billy Gilmour’s superb pass inside the left-back found Keiran McKechnie who beat the keeper from a tight angle.

Only four minutes of the final period had passed when Rangers scored again, the Celtic keeper came and failed to gather Kieran McKechnie’s corner from the left, the ball broke to Aiden Gibb who shot through a crowded six-yard box into the net. A couple of minutes before the change round in the final period Celtic created a chance on the left side of Rangers penalty area with a superb Danny Finlayson challenge clearing the danger.

The scoring was completed with nine minutes remaining, Ruaridh McIntyre played the ball forward to Adeapo Awokoya-Mebude at the edge of the box, he laid it back into the path of Dylan Patterson who’s shot had the keeper stretching to tip on to the crossbar with Nathan Patterson following up to knock the rebound into the net.

Full-Time:- Rangers 5 Celtic 1

Rangers Squad:- Brian Kinnear (Gk), Nicky Hogarth (Gk), Nathan Patterson, Andy Rodden, Aiden Gibb, Danny Finlayson, Lewis McGrattan, Kieran McKechnie, Billy Gilmour, Adeapo Awokoya-Mebude, Dylan Patterson, Zac Butterworth, Ruaridh McIntyre, Ben Williamson, Jamie Walker.