Youths Can’t Break Deadlock

Rangers 0 Dundee United 0

Second and third in the table clashed in what was an entertaining goalless draw at Murray Park this afternoon. Billy Kirkwood’s side would be feeling it was an opportunity missed as they had the better chances to secure the three points.

It was the visitors who started the game better and after six minutes Ryan Dow brought out a fine save from Grant Adam who turned his effort round his left hand post. Two minutes later good play on the right involving, David Shaw, Stuart Armstrong and Scott Allan released Shaw inside the box but Adam saved bravely at the full-back’s feet.

On 17 minutes only a stunning save from keeper Marc McCallum prevented Rangers taking the lead. Archie Campbell cut in from the left and unleashed a tremendous shot from 25 yards, it looked a goal all the way till McCallum got the slightest touch to divert the ball on to the bar. Four minutes later another Campbell run down the left sent up Kyle Hutton with a chance from the edge of the box, his shot was powerful enough but too straight to trouble McCallum.

And it was the Dundee United keeper that rescued his side on 24  minutes, Kal Naismith teed up Rhys McCabe to shoot from 25 yards, the United keeper couldn’t hold his effort andwith  Kane Hemmings looking certain to net the rebound McCallum recovered to deny the striker from point-blank range. Just on the stroke of half time a strong run from midfield by Kyle Hutton saw him release Campbell inside the box but his effort was weak and McCallum saved easily.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Dundee United 0

Rangers started where they left off, on the front foot and Naismith had a half chance when a long diagonal ball found its way to him at the back post, but he shot wide. Five minutes into the second-half  McCallum blocked a close range Hemmings effort with his legs after he was given the chance from a Naismith cutback.

A minute later the ball broke to Gregg Wylde following a throw in and his shot flashed just wide. A couple of minutes later Dundee United threatened, Kris Irvine broke down the right and his pass inside was met by Gavin Stokes and Adam had make a smart save..

With Fifteen minutes remaining Hutton sent Campbell clear on the right and his low cross flashed across the six yard box with no takers. A minute later and Rangers came close to breaking the deadlock, the ball was worked to Gordon Dick at the edge of the box and his effort was deflected  just wide, with keeper McCallum beaten.

The final minute saw the last effort on goal when following a throw-in Hemmings tried his luck from the edge of the box with keeper McCallum saving comfortably low to his right.

Full-Time:- Rangers 0 Dundee United 0

Rangers :- Grant Adam, Scott Durie, Chris Scott, Darren Cole, Gregg Wylde; Kyle Hutton, Kamil Wiktorski (Gordon Dick 74mins), Rhys McCabe; Kal Naismith ( Dylan McGeough 64 mins), Kane Hemmings, Archie Campbell.

Not Used:- Mark Weir, Kyle McAusland, Christiano Kisuka

Dundee United:- Marc McCallum. David Shaw, Craig Hill, Ross Smith (Kris Irvine 40mins), Grant Mosson; Scott Allan (Liam Scott 89mins), Gavin Stokes, Michael Lee, Ryan Dow; Robert Thomson (John Murray 68mins), Stuart Armstrong.

Not Used:- Louis Swanson, Willie Robertson.

Youths March On In Cup

Hearts 0 Rangers 2

Rangers secured their place in the Youth Cup Semi Finals today, with a comfortable 2-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle. With the first team playing at Ibrox I couldn’t be in two places at once so no match report.

There were two changes to the lineup from last week’s draw with Motherwell, with Gregg Wylde on first team duty and Max Wright dropping to the bench they were replaced by Scott Durie and returning from injury, Jamie Ness.

Rangers took the lead after eight minutes, Kane Hemmings rounding home keeper Dean Lyness and scoring from a tight angle.

Half-Time:- Hearts 0 Rangers 1

Rangers secured their place in the semi finals ten minutes into the second half when Kamil Wiktorski headed home a corner.

Full-Time:-Hearts 0 Rangers 2

Hearts:- Dean Lyness, Dylan McGowan, Michael Deland, Conrad Balatoni, Colin Hamilton, Jason Holt, Gordon Smith, Craig Thomson, David Smith, James Walker, Jordan Morton.

Subs:- Jack Hamilton, Billy McKenna, John Woods, Fraser Mullen, Billy King

Rangers:- Grant Adam, Scott Durie, Rhys McCabe, Darren Cole, Chris Scott, Jamie Ness, Kamil Wiktorski, Kyle Hutton, Archie Campbell, Kane Hemmings, Kal Naismith.

Subs:- Mark Weir, Max Wright, Dylan McGeough, Kyle McAusland, Cristiano Kisuka.

Development Teams

Rangers 15’s -1- Queen’s Park 16’s -1

Rangers under 15’s took on Queen’s Park under 16’s at Murray Park on Sunday afternoon. The Rangers squad included three under 14’s, Dylan Dykes who has played at 15’s all season was joined by Scott Roberts and Greg Pescizio.

The match was played over three thirty minute periods and the first thing of note came after ten minutes when Andy Murdoch took a knock and had to be replaced by Dylan Dykes. Callum McConnell had a couple of chances, first after good work on the left by Darren McGill he headed tamely into the keepers hands. Then when played through by Charlie Telfer he shot straight at the keeper.

Just at the end of the first period the Queen’s Park keeper had to look sharp coming from his line to just get there before Charlie Telfer who was chasing a through ball from Darren Ramsay. And it was Ramsay who had the first effort of the second period, shooting from the edge of the box that the Queen’s Park keeper tipped round the post.

At the other end the Rangers trialist keeper made a similar save to deny Queen’s Park. Rangers took the lead when Callum McConnell won the ball on the left and cut inside the box to score from a tight angle.

The visitors equaliser came in the third period, when Greg Pescizio who had performed well, just failed to cut out a through ball and the visitor’s striker ran on to shoot past Sam George. As the younger Rangers side  tired in the closing stages it took two fine saves from Sam George in one on ones to keep them level. Then right at the end Danny Hutchinson had a chance to win it for Rangers, but he shot over from a good position inside the box.

Rangers:- Gareth Deane (Sam George); Jack Donaldson, Greg Pescizio, Stuart Urquhart, Jordan Wilson (Ciaran Summers); Scott Roberts (Willie McCall), Darren Ramsay, Andy Murdoch (Dylan Dykes), Darren McGill (Blair Spittal); Callum McConnell (Danny Hutchinson), Charlie Telfer.

Hearts 17’s -1-Rangers 17’s-1

Also on Sunday afternoon the under 17’s played Hearts at Riccarton and I got some brief details of the 1-1 draw. In what was a competitive encounter Rangers went behind ten minutes into the second-half.

And the young Gers were reduced to ten men on 79 minutes when Gregor Fotheringham was red carded. A minute later Robbie Crawford grabbed the equaliser, running on to Dylan McGeough’s through ball to get a touch to nudge the ball past the on rushing keeper.

Rangers:- Blair Currie; Ewan McNeil, Kyle McAusland, Chris Ketterer, Michael Noble; Lewis McLeod (Gregor Fotheringham 65mins), Steven Hetherington, Dylan McGeough, Frankie Owens (Robbie Crawford 46mins); Anthony Marenghi (Michael Mosson 79mins), Lee Cochrane (Mark Taylor 60mins).

All Square At Murray Park

Rangers 2 Motherwell 2

Rangers and Motherwell shared four goals in an entertaining game at Murray Park this afternoon. There was one change to the Rangers lineup from recent weeks, Gregg Wylde returning from first team duty replacing the injured Gordon Dick with Rhys McCabe moving into midfield.

After a quiet opening period it was the visitors that took the lead with the first real attempt at goal on 12 minutes. A long ball forward saw Gary Smith beat Chris Scott in the air, this wrong footed Kamil Wiktorski and his attempted  clearance appeared to be looping over Grant Adam into the net. The Rangers keeper managed to keep the ball out with a fantastic save, only for Steven Lawless to collect the ball on the byline and roll in back to Gary Smith to score from close range.

Rangers almost replied immediately threatening the Motherwell goal  three times in quick succession. A Kal Naismith cross from the left had keeper Ross Hyslop struggling and when the ball came out to the edge of the box Rhys McCabe’s shot was blocked a couple of yards from the line. Archie Campbell then had a chance but shot straight at Hyslop. Next up Kane Hemmings got on the end of a Naismith cross and headed narrowly over.

On 24 minutes Rangers equalised with a well worked goal. Patient play on the right saw Darren Cole, Kyle Hutton, Max Wright and Archie Campbell exchange passes to release Hutton to the byline, his low cross was met at the near post by Kane Hemmings who sent the ball high into the net.

Just less than ten minutes later after Naismith was fouled on the left, Max Wright’s free-kick was met at the back post by Kyle Hutton and his looping header was cleared off the line with Hyslop beaten. The goal was only delayed a couple of minutes and there seemed little danger when Darren Cole played the ball into Kane Hemmings but a fantastic turn and shot gave keeper Hyslop no chance and put the young Gers in front.

Half Time:- Rangers 2 Motherwell 1

Right at the start of the second half Rhys McCabe collected a pass from Cole and tried his luck from 25 yards shooting narrowly wide. With ten minutes gone Rangers looked certain to extend their lead, Hemmings broke down the left and his low cross set up Archie Campbell and just when everyone was expecting the net to bulge he shot wide.

A couple of minutes later a similar run and cross from Hemmings brought a good save from keeper Hyslop with Campbell waiting to pounce. Rangers were to pay the penalty when Motherwell equalised with twenty minutes remaining. Ross McKinnon picked the ball up in midfield and broke forward unchallenged, Grant Adam failed to hold on to his shot from the edge of the box and Gary Smith was on hand to net the rebound.

There were no real chances for a winner with half chances at either end. First a cross from the left by Jamie Pollock was headed over by Gary Smith, with five minutes remaining Ross McKinnon cut in from the left hand edge of the box and shot straight at Adam. At the other end right on the final whistle, keeper Hyslop beat Hemmings to a Cole cross to punch clear.

Full-Time:-Rangers 2 Motherwell 2

Rangers:- Grant Adam; Darren Cole, Chris Scott, Kamil Wiktorski, Gregg Wylde ( Scott Durie 73mins); Max Wright (Kyle McAusland 78mins), Kyle Hutton, Kal Naismith (Dylan McGeough 65mins); Archie Campbell, Kane Hemmings.

Not Used:- Mark Weir, Steven Forbes, Ewan McNeil, Cristiano Kisuka.

Motherwell:- Ross Hyslop; Liam Sloan, Dario Quinn, Dan Parker, Jordan Halsman; Ryan Scanlon (Grant Brown 69mins), Peter Innes, Jamie Pollock, Ross McKinnon; Steven Lawless, Gary Smith.

Not Used:- Shaun Thomson, Greg Pollock, Lee Erwin, Josh Horne, Josh Watt, Kieran McDonald.