Youths Hit ‘Well For Eight

Rangers 8 Motherwell 1

Billy Kirkwood’s under 19’s were in top form today, hitting eight past Motherwell at Murray Park. In a game that saw a lot of good performances from the home side Motherwell found Kane Hemmings a real handful.

Rangers first effort on goal came just before the ten minute mark when Gordon Dick hit a free-kick from just outside the left hand side of the box over the wall and just wide. The visitors then threatened when Gavin Griffin played the ball forward and Lee Erwin’s flick on gave Stephen Howarth a chance with Gary Inglis coming out to scramble the ball clear.

‘Well keeper Willie Muir had to be brave to save at the feet of Kane Hemmings after Andy Mitchell and Dylan McGeough combined to set up the chance.  A minute later and Muir was in action again to deny Hemmings, this time as he raced through on a Kal Naismith flick on from an Inglis clearance.Rangers eventually took the lead on the twenty-minute mark, retaining possession while probing the Motherwell defence the ball was played forward and when it was cleared to the edge of the box Rhys McCabe gave Muir no chance with a right foot shot.

Three minutes later and the home side struck again, a powerful run down the right saw Hemmings play the ball square to Dylan McGeough inside the penalty box and he calmly knocked the ball past Muir. Motherwell struck back four minutes later, when Darren Cole fouled Lee Erwin at the edge of the box the big striker stepped up to send a low shot passed the wall into the bottom corner.

Rangers regained their two goal advantage on the half-hour mark with a superb goal. Breaking from their own penalty area McGeough played the ball forward to Gordon Dick who sent Hemmings clear on the right and his ball across the box was converted by Kal Naismith from around the penalty spot. It looked certain they would increase their lead two minutes later, Mitchell’s cross from the left was controlled on the chest by McGeough and just when everyone expected to see the ball hit the net he shot wide.

Rangers next attempt came at the end of a great one-two between Naismith and Dick with the former just shooting wide. Five minutes before the break Rangers got a slightly fortunate fourth,  good play on the left from Andy Mitchell created space for a cross and his attempt caught out keeper Muir and landed in the back of the net. Right on the half-time whistle a superb solo run saw Hemmings leave two defenders in his wake as he burst into the box only to be denied by a superb Muir save.

Half-Time:- Rangers 4 Motherwell 1

Rangers were soon back on the offensive after the break and McGeough was only just too high with his effort after the chance was created by McCabe and Hemmings.  A minute later and the visitors looked likely to pull one back when great play by Erwin saw him go past  a defender and keeper Inglis and only a great challenge from Darren Cole denied the striker his second goal.

Motherwell were to rue that missed chanced when Rangers increased their lead five minutes later, Hemmings  sent Kal Naismith clear and as Muir came out to block he showed great skill to dink the ball over the diving keeper. On the hour it looked like Hemmings would get the goal his play deserved, as he burst into the box the pressure from defender Liam Sloan was enough to make him drag his shot wide.

The big striker wasn’t to be denied, three minutes later McCabe sent Kane Hemmings clear and this time he made no mistake shooting past Muir. Barely sixty seconds hand passed when he grabbed his second and Rangers seventh, Naismith’s powerful shot from the edge was too hot for Muir to handle and as the ball broke from the keeper’s grasp Kane Hemmings was on hand to knock the ball home.

With just under twenty minutes left the visitor’s threatened to reduce the deficit, Howarth played the ball through for Erwin to chase with Inglis racing from his goal to clear. Two minutes later Rangers scored again this time it was created and finished by Dylan McGeough, collecting the ball on the left his broke forward past a couple of defenders before beating Muir via his left hand post from the edge of the box.

The final of effort of note came with just over ten minutes remaining, the ball was played into Hemmings inside the box, with his back to goal his overhead kick was parried up into the air by Muir and the ‘Well keeper got back to claw the ball clear just as it looked to be crossing the line.

Full-Time:- Rangers 8 Motherwell 1

Rangers:- Gary Inglis; Kyle McAusland, Chris Hegarty, Darren Cole (Steven Hetherington 69mins), Robbie McIntyre; Gordon Dick, Dylan McGeough (Adam Hunter 77mins), Rhys McCabe, Andy Mitchell (Kamil Wiktorski 69mins);Kane Hemmings, Kal Naismith.

Not Used:- Liam Kelly (GK), Robbie Crawford, Christiano Kisuka, Ewan McNeill

Motherwell:- Willie Muir; Gavin Griffin, Liam Sloan, Euan Murray (Michael Lynch 36mins), Ross McKinnon; Josh Watt (Chris Connor 77mins), Bradley Halsman, Stuart Carswell, Kieran McDonald(Kieran McGachie 63mins); Lee Erwin, Stephen Howarth.

Youths Through To Semi Finals

Ayr United 2 Rangers 6

Rangers youngsters over came a first-half blip before comfortably progressing  through to the SFA Youth Cup Semi-Final  at Somerset Park today.

The Murray Park  boys got off to a great start when they took the lead after only seven minutes. The ball moved across midfield from left to right via Dylan McGeough and Rhys McCabe to Andy Mitchell, as soon as the ball left the Northern Irishman’s foot it was destined for the net to give Rangers the lead. In Ayr’s first attack Dale Moore got a chance from the edge of the box with Darren Cole blocking his effort.

Rangers were soon back on the attack ,  McGeough and Kal Naismith combined before the later was fouled just outside the box. Naismith then curled a low free-kick round the wall and home keeper Darryl Jones dived to his right to parry.  Midway through the halfway Rangers were shocked when the home side grabbed a leveler. The Rangers defence failed to clear a corner from the right, Ian Aitken’s initial shot was blocked but when it reached Sean Kelly at the edge of the box his effort was deflected to leave Gary Inglis stranded.

On 28 minutes the home side took a shock lead, again the Rangers defence failed to clear their lines and when Moore played the ball back into the box Ian Aitken turned Cole before firing past Inglis. Unfortunately for the home side their lead was to only last a couple of minutes. Kane Hemmings went up to challenge for Gordon Dick’s cross inside the box and the ball broke for Kal Naismith to poke it passed Jones.

Jones was in action again a minute later  saving Andy Mitchell’s shot low to his right, and when the corner was cleared outside the box Mitchell had another effort this time Jones diving to his left to save.

The home keeper was to surpass that just before the break with two stunning saves inside a minute. Hemmings controlled Kyle McAusland’s cross from the right on his chest inside the six yard box, the big striker looked certain to score but was denied by Jones at point-blank range. With ball then being cleared out to the left, Darren Cole’s cross found his defensive partner Chris Hegarty inside the box and his header looked a certain goal until Jones produced another point-blank save.

The Ayr keeper was finally beaten on the stroke of half-time. The home defence cleared the ball from their penalty area, but only as far as Dylan McGeough who curled a shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Ayr United 2 Rangers 3

Rangers first effort after the break came five minutes in when Mitchell broke forward and shot just wide. Five minutes later  Ayr had a chance on the break following a Rangers corner, Roddy Paterson ran from the halfway line on the left, continued into the box before shooting across Inglis and wide of the far post.

Rangers then contrived to miss three glorious chances in as many minutes just  before the hour mark. A superb McGeough pass created a chance for Hemmings with Jones quick off his line to block.  McGeough them played in the overlapping McAusland, his shot beat the advancing Jones but was cleared of the line by Alan Murdoch. Almost immediately McGeough was again the creator setting up Hemmings,who looked certain to score, this time JJ Hawkshaw was on the line to block.

A couple of minutes after the hour Rangers attained the two goal lead they had been searching. Hemmings turned Hawkshaw out on the left and headed for the byline, his cutback  found Andy Mitchell arriving inside the box to blast past Jones.  With fifteen minutes left on the clock Hemmings had another run down the left, this time Jones blocked his shot from a narrow angle at his near post.

Just over a minute later Rangers increased their lead, good work on the left by McCabe and a superb cross found Kyle McAusland at the back post and his looping header found the net. A Rhys McCabe solo effort completed the scoring in the final minute, picking the ball up at the halfway line near the left hand touch-line he strode forward before cutting in past a defender and shooting past Jones from the edge of the box.

Ayr United 2 Rangers 6

Pictures from today’s game at the link below:-

http://millarpictures.photoshelter.com/gallery/Ayr-United-v-Rangers-Youth-Cup-Quarter-Final-130211/G0000P2SL5XAayrI/

Ayr United:- Darryl Jones; Gareth Armstrong, JJ Hawkshaw, Alan Murdoch, Kieren MacIntyre; Robbie Crawford (Stuart Milligan 60mins), Dale Moore, Cammy Marlow (Darren Baird 60mins), Sean Kelly; Roddy Paterson, Ian Aitken (Lee Lockhart 70mins).

Not Used:- Daryl Matthews (GK)

Rangers:- Gary Inglis; Kyle McAusland, Chris Hegarty, Darren Cole, Robbie McIntyre; Andy Mitchell (Robbie Crawford 81mins), Dylan McGeough (Kamil Wiktorski 67mins), Rhys McCabe, Christiano Kisuka (Gordon Dick 27mins); Kane Hemmings, Kal Naismith.

Not Used:- Liam Kelly (GK), Lewis McLeod.

Odd Goal In Five Gives 17’s Win Over Hibs

Rangers 3 Hibernian 2

Rangers under 17’s edged out Hibs in friendly at Murray Park, with the visitors having the better of the first-half a strong showing after the break gave the young Gers a win.

Hibs started strongly and Callum Shaw was in action after only two minutes, saving a shot from the edge of the box low to his left. Five minutes later and Rangers had their first chance, Freddy Espling sent the Trialist N0.8 down the right and then arrived just inside the penalty area to meet his cutback and shoot narrowly wide.

Hibs were soon back on the attack and a solo run from their No.9 took him from the halfway line to the edge of the box to setup a great chance and only a superb Scott Rumsby challenge saved the day. A minute later the visitors came close again, a free-kick from the left was headed just wide of Shaw’s right had post.

Rangers then came close to taking the lead just after quarter of an hour, Trialist No.8 won the ball and played it forward to Sam McMahon who went past a defender before sending Freddy Espling clear. His attempted chip over the keeper was almost perfect but the Hibs keeper got his finger tips to it and that gave him enough time to get back and gather as the ball rolled towards the empty goal. A minute later and it was great chance at the other end, a misplaced Adel Gafaiti pass  saw Hibs break to sent up a chance inside the box but the shot was just wide.

The Edinburgh side then took the lead from the penalty spot, a break down the left saw Rumsby beat for pace and as they both entered the box he brought the attacker down for a clear penalty, former Rangers  player Jay Doyle stepped up to fire the spot-kick under the diving Connor Shaw. The lead was to last only four minutes, a free-kick from the left broke to Gafaiti inside the box and the referee adjudged he was bundled over under a challenge and pointed to the spot, Sam McMahon sending the keeper the wrong way to bring the scores level.

Just after the half-hour a fine inter passing move on the left between Aaron McGregor and Lee Cochrane created a chance for McMahon with his effort being deflected wide.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Hibernian 1

It took the Murray Park youngsters ten minutes after the break to get their noses in front with a great goal. A superb pass from Trialist No.8 split the Hibs defence and Freddy Espling shot high past the keeper with a great finish. The Hibs keeper was in action a few minutes later, a short free-kick saw Matty Clarke shoot from distance which the keeper saved.

That was followed by a couple of substitutions and George Scott’s first involvement was to crash a 25 yarder against the bar. Hibs were not out of it and a shot from the left hand angle of the box had Sam George at full stretch to tip wide.

Rangers were soon back on the attack,  Cochrane fed Mark Taylor on the right, the full-back’s cross broke to the Trialist No.8 in a great position inside the box but he shot over. Sam George then had a comfortable save from a header following a right-wing corner.

With twenty minutes remaining Rangers grabbed what proved to be the winner. There seemed little danger when Scott played the ball inside to Lee Cochrane but he took a step forward to send a great shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards. There was just over five minutes on the clock when the visitors  pulled a goal back, a break from midfield and pass opened up the chance on the right hand side of the penalty area and this time the ball was fired past George into the bottom corner.

Full-Time:- Rangers 3 Hibernian 2

Rangers:- Connor Shaw (Sam George 38mins); Trialist No.2 (Mark Taylor 59mins), Scott Rumsby, Adel Gafaiti, Matty Clarke; Trialist N0.8, Trialist No.7 (George Scott 59mins), Aaron McGregor, Lee Cochrane; Freddy Espling, Sam McMahon.

Youngsters Crush Queen’s Park

Rangers 9 Queen’s Park 0

A Rangers side made up of mainly U16’s & U17’s crushed their Queen’s Park counterparts at Murray Park tonight, although going by appearance the visitor’s eleven was possibly younger on average.

It took the Murray park youngsters only three minutes to take the lead, Scott Rumsby sent Callum Gallagher clear on the right and his cut back from the byline setup Freddy Espling to shoot past the keeper from close range. On nine minutes only a stunning Liam Kelly save kept Rangers ahead, diving low to his left to parry a shot from the edge of the box with the rebound being fired over.

Approaching the twenty-minute mark Rangers hit four goals in an incredible five-minute spell. Aaron McGregor played the ball forward to Callum Wyllie on the left and his cross deceived the keeper and ended up in the net. A Matty Clarke pass then sent Darren McGill clear and he proceeded into the penalty area and coolly beat the keeper.

The next was a pretty similar effort, this time Freddy Espling running clear to score on a Wyllie pass.  The fifth goal came after good work on the left from Lee Cochrane ending with a Callum Gallagher header converting his cross at the back post.

Rangers then completed the first-half scoring seven minutes before the break, with Scott Rumsby heading a McGill corner from the right past the keeper.

Half-Time:- Rangers 6 Queen’s Park 0

Rangers almost added another only a minute after the break, the Queen’s keeper diving to his left to make a fine save from Callum Wyllie’s free-kick. The goal was only delayed a further two minutes and it was a superb effort from Sam McMahon, receiving the ball from Charlie Telfer wide on the right, his run along the byline saw him dribble past two defenders before knocking the ball past the keeper.

Ten minutes of the half had elapsed when a solo run from left-back by Matty Clarke was ended with a challenge at the edge of the box, the ball breaking to Callum Gallagher with his effort bringing out the best in the Queen’s keeper with a fine tip over. From the resultant corner Rangers grabbed another, with the Queen’s Park defence struggling to clear, Gallagher’s effort was blocked on the line but it fell to Freddy Espling who bundled it over the line.

On the hour mark the visitor’s keeper produced another fine save from a Wyllie shot. At the other end Kelly produced a decent save when Queen’s had an effort from the right hand angle of the box.With just over ten minutes remaining it was the Rangers substitute keeper Scott Macauley who was called into action, getting down to save a shot from the right hand side of the penalty area.

A minute later Rangers completed the scoring with well worked goal, Mark Taylor broke from full-back and played it forward to McMahon who held it up well before setting Paul Kane free on the left his low cross giving Freddy Espling a simple tap in. Espling then showed great imagination with a lob over the defender to create a chance for Luke Hammond, his shot producing another tip over from the Queen’s keeper.

With two minutes remaining Queen’s Park almost got a consolation goal, a break down the left and run along the byline ended with their striker hitting Macauley’s post from a narrow angle and the Rangers defence cleared.

Full Time:- Rangers 9 Queen’s Park 0

Rangers:- Liam Kelly (Scott Macauley 67mins); Charlie Telfer (Paul Kane 67mins), Scott Rumsby (Mark Taylor H/T), Adel Gafaiti, Matty Clarke; Callum Gallagher (Luke Hammond 67mins), Darren McGill (Ross Kellock 67mins), Aaron McGregor, Callum Wyllie; Lee Cochrane (Sam McMahon H/T), Freddy Espling.

Youths Tame Wind And United

Rangers 3 Dundee United 1

Rangers youths had to overcome a Dundee United side as well as the blustery conditions at Murray Park this afternoon. It was a hats off to the ground staff at Murray Park that today’s could go ahead with the park in excellent condition.

Rangers began the match with the strong wind at their backs but it was the visitors who had the game’s first chance after eleven minutes. Willie Robertson’s pass sent Shane Campbell clear from what looked a suspiciously offside position but the United striker shot wide. The home side replied when Dylan McGeough  won the ball on halfway and broke forward and passed a defender before shooting narrowly wide of McCallum’s right hand post.

A minute later some good passing sent the overlapping Kyle McAusland down the right, his low cross was dummied at the near post by Kal Naismith and flashed across goal. On twenty minutes Chris Hegarty tried his luck with a wind assisted effort from distance that went narrowly over the bar.

A minute later and Lewis McLeod sent in a low corner from the left which was met Rhys McCabe only for his effort to be blocked on the goal line. Five minutes before the break Rangers took the lead, a good delivery by McGeough from a free-kick out on the left was headed past Marc McCallum by Chris Hegarty.

Half-Time:-Rangers 1 Dundee United 0

The second half started with chances at both ends, Kane Hemmings held the ball up well inside the box before laying it into the path of Kal Naismith who forced a fine save from McCallum low to his left. A couple of minutes later and the keeper’s wind assisted clearance was helped on by Jordan Elfverson and Shane Campbell was denied by a great Gary Inglis save.

Only another two minutes has passed and Naismith cut in from the left and his shot was gathered by McCallum at the second attempt.  Rangers second goal was only delayed a few minutes, Lewis McLeod cut in from the left, his shot across goal was parried by McCallum, it landed at the feet of Naismith who unselfishly setup Kane Hemmings who hot home from just outside the six yard box.

Midway through the half United grabbed a goal to get themselves back into the match, Willie Robertson getting to the ball just before Inglis as the Rangers keeper dived at the United player’s feet. The boost to the visitors would only last two minutes as Rangers added a third with a sweeping move. Andy Mitchell played the ball forward to Naismith on the halfway line, a great piece of skill saw him go by Grant Mosson and play it forward to McGeough, who cut inside and played the ball in to Kane Hemmings inside the box, the big striker then played it into the path of the arriving Kal Naismith who shot past McCallum.

In the final fifteen minutes there were a few chances for both sides to add to the scoring. McGeough broke forward from halfway and his shot from the edge of the box was saved by McCallum.  Next up was a great forward run by Robbie McIntyre, the full-back’s shot clipping McCallum’s crossbar on the way over.

Rhys McCabe then  sent a pass to Hemmings inside the box, his shot was parried by McCallum and the United defenders got the ball clear before he could get to the rebound. At the other end an overlapping run from John Young, saw the Rangers defence miss his  cross and when it found its way to Robert Thomson at the back post Inglis made a fine save low to his right.

With five minutes remaining Kal Naismith broke forward and played a one-two with Hemmings at the edge of the box, as McCallum dived at his feet he lifted it over the United keeper only to see it drift just wide. Rangers came close again when Robbie Crawford’s corner from the right was headed goalwards by Hegarty and Mosson cleared off the line. The final action of note was at the other end with Inglis producing another fine save from Thomson.

Full-Time:- Rangers 3 Dundee United 1

Pictures from today’s game at the link below

http://millarpictures.photoshelter.com/gallery/Rangers-v-Dundee-United-U19-040211/G0000FW3a24D_TkM/

Rangers:- Gary Inglis; Kyle McAusland,Chris Hegarty, Darren Cole, Robbie McIntyre; Andy Mitchell (Robbie Crawford 72mins), Rhys McCabe, Dylan McGeough, Lewis McLeod (Christiano Kisuka 66mins); Kane Hemmings, Kal Naismith.

Not Used:- Liam Kelly (GK), Steven Hetherington, Adam Hunter, Gordon Dick

Dundee United:- Marc McCallum; Michael Lee (John Young 71mins), Patrick Barrett, Ross Smith, Grant Mosson; Louis Swanson, Liam Scott, Willie Robertson, Robert Thomson; Jordan Elfverson (Ryan Ferguson 71mins), Shane Campbell.

17’s Overcome ‘Well

Rangers 4 Motherwell 2

Alan Kernaghan’s Under 17’s got back into the swing after the winter break with a win over Motherwell at Murray Park tonight. It took them only two minutes to get off the mark when Callum Wyllie’s pass sent Freddy Espling clear and the Swedish striker advanced into the box to shoot past the keeper.

Only a fine Sam George save prevented a Motherwell equalizer three minutes later, a good passing move setting up the chance and the Rangers keeper coming off his line to block with his legs. The next chance was at the other end when a great Marc Dyer pass gave Espling a chance but he delayed his shot and the defence crowded him out.

Just after the half-hour Darren Ramsay cut in from the right his run taking him past two defenders before shooting past the keeper from the edge of the box only to see it rebound from the keeper’s left hand post.  Five minutes before the break Rangers increased their lead, Aaron McGregor’s pass into the box from the left,  saw Marc Dyer produce a great piece of skill to go past a defender before shooting high past the keeper.

Only sixty seconds later and it was the visitors turn to be denied by the woodwork, the strike from fully thirty yards beating George and rebounding from his right hand post. Just before the break Sam George then produced a fantastic save when a cross into the box and a looping header saw the Rangers keeper tip the ball onto the crossbar and the defence cleared the danger.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Motherwell 0

Motherwell started the half on the offensive and when the ball was cleared from the Rangers box the ‘Well midfielder shot narrowly wide.  A couple of minutes later  they created another chance from a right-wing cross but it was a comfortable save for George from the resultant header.

Ten minutes into the half and Rangers grabbed a third, Darren Ramsay’s pass in from the right saw Freddy Espling create space to shoot from the edge of the box which the Motherwell keeper parried, but the Rangers striker was quick to latch on to the rebound and fire home. With twenty minutes remaining the visitors pulled one back, Rangers failed to clear a right-wing corner and from a tight angle the Mother player found the net.

Six minutes later following good play down the left, the cross into the box was cleared  out to the edge only to see it fired back in and Connor Shaw parried up into the air before gathering. Almost straight away Sam McMahon and Lee Cochrane carved up the ‘Well defence down the left, as they broke into the box the defender’s challenge knocked the ball across goal for Callum Gallagher to head home.

Two minutes later Motherwell completed the scoring following a move down the left and cross into the box which was fired past Shaw in the Rangers goal.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Motherwell 2

Rangers:- Sam George (Connor Shaw 64mins); Andy Murdoch (Callum Gallagher 55mins), Scott Rumsby (Aaron McGregor 33mins), Stuart Urquhart, Matty Clarke; Darren Ramsay, Gregor Fotheringham, George Scott (Adel Gafaiti 66mins), Marc Dyer; Callum Wyllie (Lee Cochrane 46mins) Freddy Espling (Sam McMahon 59mins)