Youngsters Win At St.Mirren Park

St.Mirren 3 Rangers 5

Rangers Under 14’s had an up and down game at St.Mirren Park tonight, they took a two goal lead before being pegged back and falling behind, the Rangers youngsters then upped their game with a three goal burst to win the game.

Rangers took the lead on three minutes, Jordan Houston’s pass sent Matifadza Zata clear through the inside right position and he continued into the box before shooting past the keeper. Three minutes later Zak Rudden tested the keeper with a twenty-five yarder that he saved diving to his left.

Rangers Trialist No.6 then came close with another shot from distance that clipped the crossbar on the way over. Saints then threatened seven minutes before the end of the first period with an attack down the right, when the ball came into the box the volley was just wide of Lewis Muir’s left hand post.

The start of the second period began in similar style to the first, with Rangers scoring on three minutes. Rangers Trialist No.6 sent Zak Rudden clear with a ball over the top of the St.Mirren defence that he outstripped  before shooting past the keeper. Zak Rudden then came close to turning provider with a superb cross from the right, but Matifadza Zata stretching could only knock it just wide of the far post.

The home side reduced the deficit as the halfway mark of the period neared, the attack started down the right and when the cross came in the ball was volleyed past Lewis Muir. In the dying minutes of the period St.Mirren drew level, again the attack was on the right and an exchange of passes took their attacker deep into the penalty area before shooting past Darren Montgomery.

There was still time for the home side to threaten again before the period ended, from a volley on the left side of the box it took a fine Darren Montgomery save to keep the sides level. Six minutes into the final period St.Mirren took the lead, from a corner on the left their centre back rose to head past Darren Montgomery.

Rangers hit back five minutes later, Dylan Patterson and Carlo Pignatiello exchanged passes in midfield before the latter sent Zak Rudden through the centre to continue into the box and draw Rangers level. Just before the turn round in the final period the Ibrox youngsters regained their lead, Zak Rudden played a one-two with Dylan Patterson which freed him inside the box and he calmly took his time before picking his spot in the net.

With a few minutes remaining Rangers fifth secured the win, Dylan Patterson’s corner from the right found its way to Zak Rudden at the back post and shot through a crowded six-yard box into the net. Right at the death Zak Rudden’s night took a turn for the worse when he was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident with a St.Mirren defender.

Full-Time:- St.Mirren 3 Rangers 5

Rangers Squad:- Lewis Muir (Gk), Darren Montgomery (Gk), Jordan Houston, Michael Hewitt, Trialist No.4, Lewis Mayo, Trialist N0.6, Scott Blacklaw, Cammy Wray, Zak Rudden, Matifadza Zata, Matthew Shiels, Dylan Patterson, Carlo Pignatiello, Rhys Breen, Adedapo Awokoya-Mebude, Trialist No.17.