Youth Update 17’s Season Ends

Rangers 3 Hearts 1

Rangers under 17’s brought their season to a close at Murry Park yesterday afternoon. The same there trialists made that appeared on Wednesday were involved with the goalkeepers reversing roles, the keeper that came on at half-time on Wednesday starting this game.

An early Robbie McIntyre cross had the Hearts keeper stretching to claw the ball away from under his crossbar. With their first attack the visitor’s took the lead, a wind assisted long ball gave the Rangers defence a problem and when it bounced into the box the Trialist keeper appeared to be in two minds in whether to catch the ball or head it, by the time he made up his mind unfortunately he fumbled the ball over the line.

Rangers were denied by the woodwork midway through the half, the Trialist No.9 did well in midfield before finding Gregor Fotheringham who nudged it on to Callum Wyllie and his shot was deflected on to the keepers left hand post.  Rangers next effort came from Darren Ramsay who shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box.

Five minutes before the break the Trialist keeper produced a superb save, a free header from a corner from the right looked destined for the bottom corner until the keeper dived to the left to turn the ball round the post.

Rangers equalised five minutes after the break, Matty Clarke’s free-kick found Callum Wyllie free inside the box and he calmly controlled the ball before slotting it past the keeper. Midway through the half Marc Dyer played in the Trialist No.9 and only a superb save to the keepers right denied him a goal.

A fine passing move ended when Ramsay passed to Trialist N0.9 and again he was denied by the keeper, in the ensuing scramble Trialist No.9 had a second effort that the Hearts keeper blocked yet again. Rangers were almost made to pay when Hearts created a chance at the other end with the substitute trialist keeper producing a fine tip over.

With just over ten minutes remaining Adel Gafaiti broke forward from defence and fed Craig Halkett overlapping on the right and the full back’s cross was deflected high over the keeper and into the net off the far post. A Clarke through ball the gave Charlie Telfer a chance but the keeper was quick off his line to block.

With a couple of minutes left on the clock the Trialist No.9 got the goal his display deserved. Ramsay’s throw in to Telfer saw him progress to the byline and his cutback was fired home by the trialist.

Rangers:- Trialist (Trilaist 46mins); Andy Murdoch (Craig Halkett 75mins), Adel Gafaiti, Jordan Wilson, Matty Clarke; Callum Gallagher (Callum Wyllie 14mins), Gregor Fotheringham, Darren Ramsay, Robbie McIntyre (Darren McGill 70mins); Marc Dyer (Charlie Telfer 70mins), Trialist No.9

17’s At Stirling University

Falkirk 2 Rangers 4

Rangers under 17’s put the weekend’s embarrassing defeat behind them with a better performance against Falkirk at Stirling University last night.

An early goal set them off on the right track, Marc Dyer’s superb pass split the Falkirk defence and Gregor Fotheringham knocked the ball past the keeper. Darren Ramsay came close when he sent a free-kick from the edge of the box over the wall and just wide of the keeper’s right hand post.

Following a corner from the left the ball found its way to Fotheringham on the right, the midfielder’s cross was diverted into his own net off the head of a Falkirk defender.  Matty Clarke’s ball into the box saw a defender partially clear with a header but only as far as Darren Ramsay who sent a looping header over the keeper and into the net.

Matty Clarke then sent a pass up to the trialist striker just inside the box, a superb turn foxed the defender who sent him tumbling for a penalty, the Trialist stepped up to score from the spot. The Rangers Trialist keeper then make a good block with his left foot to deny Falkirk. The final chance of the half fell to the homeside, a free-kick from the right was headed goalwards at the back post and the Trialist keeper made a fine save low at his right hand post.

Falkirk pulled a goal back when they were awarded a penalty as their attacker was impeded as he made his way into the box wide on the right, the substitute Trialist keeper was sent the wrong way from the spot. At the other end Adel Gafaiti’s ball up to the Trialist striker, who showed great skill to chest and volley which was deflected just wide.

The next effort saw Rangers come close when Robbie McIntyre’s chip from the edge of the box left the keeper stranded but came back of the bar. Then following a corner from the right the ball broke to the Trialist striker and his effort from close range was cleared of the line.

In the final ten minutes a good move down the right saw Falkirk reduce the deficit, a one-two at the edge of the box creating the chance to shoot past the keeper. In the final minute the home side had another chance when they were awarded their second penalty of the match, but a poor effort saw the Trialist keeper block with his legs.

Rangers:- Trialist (Trialist 46mins), Andy Murdoch, Greg Pascazio, Jordan Wilson, Matty Clarke (Darren McGill 71mins); Darren Ramsay (Callum Gallagher 58mins), Gregor Fotheringham (Charlie Telfer 58mins), Adel Gafaiti, Robbie McIntyre; Trialist (Sam McMahon 75mins), Marc Dyer (Callum Wyllie 58mins)

15’s Take On Hearts Before Heading For Holland

Rangers 4 Hearts 0

With Rangers under 15’s heading for Holland at the weekend their game against Hearts was brought forward to Tuesday night at Murray Park. It was a good performance and should be a  boost to their confidence before their trip to Europe.

A superb move almost broke the deadlock, Scott Roberts played the ball into Tom Walsh inside the box, a neat back-heel from the midfielder looked certain to produce a goal for Gloady Ntumba but his close range shot took a deflection off a defender and went out for a corner. The goal was only delayed and when Kjeld McIntyre played the ball up to Danny Stoney, he laid it off to Dylan Dykes who found the net from the edge of the box.

Rangers were playing well and creating chances but it took a great Liam Kelly save to keep their lead intact, as the Hearts attacker advanced into the box the Rangers keeper remained on his feet and got a hand to the shot to divert the ball over.  Ryan Sinnamon was the creator of the second goal with a fantastic run down the right, his low cross from the byline was missed by Ntumba but Kjeld McIntyre was on had to net at the back post.

A corner on the right produced the third, the ball was cleared to the edge of the box where Danny Stoney’s shot was deflected past the keeper. The scoring was completed when Jamie Mills played a corner on the right to Lewis Morgan at the edge of the box, his shot looked to be going wide until Andy Biddulph got his head to the ball to divert it past the keeper.

Keeper Liam Kelly then produced two fine saves to ensure a clean sheet at the other end. Firstly coming out to narrow the angle and block with his legs then a few minutes later diving high to his left to turn the ball wide for a corner.

Rangers Squad:- Liam Kelly (GK), Ryan Sinnamon, Jamie Mills, Robert McLardie, Lewis Martin, Tom Walsh, Danny Stoney, Tom Walsh, Gloady Ntumba, Kjeld McIntyre, Scott Roberts, Luke Hammond, Andy Biddulph, Lewis Morgan

17’s Secure Narrow Win

Rangers 1 St Mirren 0

Rangers Under 17’s got back to winning ways after their Glasgow Cup defeat with a narrow win over St. Mirren at Murray Park last night. There was some familiar faces in the Saints lineup, with three players who are being released by Rangers, Mark Taylor, Frankie Owens and Lee Cochrane turning out for Saints and they were joined by Ciaran Summers who was released in January.

Rangers took the lead in the first attack of the game after only three minutes, Darren Ramsay picking up a loose ball and shooting past the keeper from the edge of the box. Five minutes later and only a superb Blair Currie save kept Rangers in front, following a corner from the left the defence failed to clear and when the ball was fired in from around the penalty spot the Rangers keeper dived to his right to parry.

On twenty minutes the visitors came close again, this time a corner from the right was knocked back across goal and from the close range effort Andy Murdoch was well placed to clear off the line right by the post. Five minutes later Gregor Fotheringham and Marc Dyer exchanged passes through midfield with the later firing narrowly over.

A few minutes before half-time a superb Robbie McIntyre run took him past two defenders before feeding Matty Clarke, his cross from the left found Ramsay at the back post but he could only find the side netting.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 St.Mirren 0

The second-half started tamely and we were into the last twenty minutes before there was a real chance. The St.Mirren defence cleared a corner out to the edge of the box only as far as George Scott, the substitute’s powerful shot was diverted on to the post by the keeper with Adel Gafaiti following up to net from close range only to be ruled offside. A minute later at the other end a corner from the right gave the Buddies a shooting chance which Currie tipped over.

With a couple of minutes left on the clock Fotheringham sent Sam McMahon clear on goal with the Saints keeper coming off his line to block the strikers shot with his foot. There was still time for Currie to be called into action again, after a break down the right and a cutback from the byline the Rangers keeper secured the win with a fine tip over.

Full-Time:- Rangers 1 St.Mirren 0

Rangers:- Blair Currie; Andy Murdoch, Greg Pascazio, Jordan Wilson, Robbie McIntyre; Darren Ramsay, Gregor Fotheringham, Adel Gafaiti, Matty Clarke (Charlie Telfer 57mins); Callum Wyllie (George Scott 64mins), Marc Dyer (Sam McMahon 46mins)

Youngsters Lose Out In Glasgow Cup Final

Celtic 1 Rangers 0

Rangers under 17’s lost their grip on the Glasgow Cup going down to a 1-0 defeat at Parkhead last night. They were on the back foot for most of the game before rallying in an effort to take the game to penalties.

Celtic started better and threatened after only three minutes when Paul George broke into the box and shot wide. A minute later Joe Chalmers tried his luck from distance which Blair Currie saved easily.

On eight minutes Currie did well to cut out Denny Johnstone’s low cross from the right. A minute later and Rangers made their first venture forward when Darren Ramsay picked the ball up at the edge of the box but shot high and wide.

Chalmers corner from the right was punched by Currie but only as far as John Herron and the Rangers keeper reacted to block  his attempt at goal. Five minutes later and Chalmers lopping cross from the left had Currie stretching to claw from under his cross-bar.

On thirty-two minutes Rangers had the chance of the half, Currie gathered a cross following a corner and from his clearance Marc Dyer was through on goal, as Leonardo Fasan advanced from his line and the Rangers midfielder’s attempted lob looked netbound but the  keeper diving high to his left diverted the ball for a corner.

Just before the break Herron got the break of the ball in midfield and advanced into the box before shooting goalwards Currie diving to his left turned the ball wide.

Half-Time:- Celtic 0 Rangers 0

The first effort on goal came two minutes into the half when Johnstone cut inside before shooting and Rangers keeper Currie saved comfortably. Just over ten minutes of the half had elapsed when Celtic broke the deadlock, Darnell Fisher won the ball in midfield and played it forward to Paul George, his shot from the edge of the box beat Currie low to his left and found the bottom corner.

Within a minute Rangers had a great chance at the other end, Gregor Fotheringham’s cross from the right found George Scott arriving at the back post on the edge of the six yard box, but the Rangers substitute mis-controlled and the ball bounced wide.  Midway through the half a superb double save from Currie kept Rangers in the match, George shot from the edge of the box and the keeper dived to his left to parry and got back on his feet to block William Ankarhake at point-blank range.

Rangers almost snatched an equaliser in the dying minutes, Dyer fed the over lapping Robbie McIntyre on the left, Callum Gallagher got his head to the full-back’s cross but headed over.

Full-Time:- Celtic 1 Rangers 0

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Celtic:- Leonardo Fasan; Michael Miller, Marcus Fraser, Joe O’Brien, Joe Chalmers; John Herron (Stuart Findlay 89mins), Darnell Fisher, Lewis Kidd, Paul George, Mo Yakub (Jack Kirwan 90mins); Denny Johnstone (William Ankarhake 64mins)

Not Used:- James Wighman (GK), Jamie Lindsay, Ross Madden, Tim Mjalby

Rangers:- Blair Currie; Andy Murdoch, Scott Rumsby (Callum Gallagher 68mins), Jordan Wilson, Robbie McIntyre; Darren Ramsay, Gregor Fotheringham, Adel Gafaiti, Marc Dyer, Matty Clarke (George Scott 46mins); Sam McMahon (Callum Wyllie 46mins).

Not Used:- Sam George (GK), Frankie Owens, Freddy Espling, Greg Pascazio.

17’s Win Against Spiders

Rangers 4 Queen’s Park 0

Alan Kernaghan’s Under 17 side warmed up for Monday’s Glasgow Cup Final with a good win against Queen’s Park on Wednesday night. It was the Hampden side that threatened first missing a good chance in the opening minute, some good play on the right created  chance inside the box but effort went just over.

Rangers took the lead in the eighteenth minute, Jordan Wilson played the ball up to Marc Dyer he turned a defender and fed Darren Ramsay who stepped inside a defender before finding the net from the edge of the box.  A minute later and the visitor’s were slack with a free-kick playing it across their own penalty area, Ramsay intercepted then played in Callum Wyllie and the Queen’s keeper dived to his right to divert the ball for a corner.

Midway through the half Matty Clarke and Ramsay worked a short corner on the right, from the latter’s cross Dyer volleyed just wide. Rangers doubled their lead just before the half hour, a good passing move ended with Gregor Fotheringham when passed inside from the left-wing to Marc Dyer who beat the keeper from the edge of the box.

A minute later Ramsay played the ball out to Clarke on the left and his low cross  found Wyllie who shot just wide. Queens had a chance on the stroke of half-time  which Blair Currie blocked for a corner.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Queen’s Park 0

It took Rangers only two minutes after the break to increase their lead, Ramsay progressed down the left and when he cut the ball back George Scott stepped inside a defender and shot past the keeper.  Just after the hour Charlie Telfer tried his luck from around 25 yards and the ball came crashing back off the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

The fourth goal was only delayed a couple of minutes, Freddy Espling had the ball inside the box and worked it back to Callum Wyllie who fired past the keeper from just inside the box. On 65 minutes Currie produced a fine save high to his right after the Queens player cut in from the right.

With twenty minutes remaining the visitors looked certain to score, the striker rounded Sam George and just as it looked like a goal Jordan Wilson got back to clear off the line. From the resultant corner another attempt from just inside the box was cleared from the line by Darren McGill.

A couple of minutes later the visitor’s keeper denied Telfer after he had been set up by Wyllie’s cutback. The next chance was created down the right and from the cross Darren McGill shot just wide. Then in the final minute after a great Telfer run he passed to Adel Gaifaiti who laid it off for Wyllie to shoot which the keeper turned round the post.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Queen’s Park 0

Rangers:- Blair Currie (Sam George 65mins); Andy Murdoch, Scott Rumsby, Jordan Wilson, Ribbie McIntyre; Darren Ramsay (Callum Wyllie 53mins), Gregor Fotheringham (Charlie Telfer 60mins), Adel Gafaiti, Marc Dyer (George Scott 46mins), Matty Clarke (Darren McGill 60mins); Callum Wyllie (Freddy Espling 42mins).

Youth Round Up

Rangers 3 Hamilton Accies 0

Rangers Under 19’s completed their programme with a home win over Hamilton Accies at Murray Park on Saturday morning. With the first team in action I was not in attendance so brief details follow.

The home side held a half-time lead with an Andy Mitchell thirty yarder finding the top corner of the net.

Half-Time:-Rangers 1 Hamilton Accies 0

Rangers added further goals with long range strikes from Kamil Wiktorski and Andy Mitchell to run out comfortbale winners.

Full-Time:-Rangers 3 Hamilton Accies 0

Rangers:- Alan Smith; Ewan McNeil, Chris Hegarty, Darren Cole (Andy Murdoch), Steven Hetherington; Christiano Kisuka, Andy Mitchell, Kamil Wiktorski (Callum Wyllie), Anthony Marenghi; Kal Naismith, Kane Hemmings (Darren Ramsay)

Not Used:- Gary Inglis (GK)

Hamilton Accies:- Andy Kennedy; Ryan Finnie (Brown), Steven Hendrie, Conor McGlinchey, Ziggy Gordon, Miller, Martin, Rankin (Greg Docherty 60mins), Andy Ryan, David Hopkirk, Gary Fraser (Scott McCann).

Rangers 3 Maiden City Academy 1

On Thursday an Under 16 side took on Maiden City Academy from Londonderry. The visitors included Northern Ireland Victory Shield squad member Kristian Gibson who will be joining Rangers at the start of next season.

Rangers got off to the perfect start taking the lead in opening minute, Darren McGill made progress down the left and when he crossed into the box Gloady Ntumba was on hand to knock the ball past the keeper. The home side doubled their lead after only five minutes, Darren Ramsay cutting inside before shooting past the keeper from the edge of the box.

Rangers missed a few chances in the first half and the visitors got back into the game on the stroke of half-time, their striker was through on goal and when he tried to round Sam George he was sent crashing for a clear penalty that was duly converted.

Rangers regained their two goal advantage midway through the second-half, Fraser Aird’s corner from the left found its was to Dylan Dykes at the back post and he shot home from close range.

Rangers:-Sam George; Craig Halkett (Dylan Dykes 33mins); Trialist, Robert McLardie, Jordan Wilson; Fraser Aird, Andy Murdoch, Charlie Telfer, Darren McGill; Gloady Ntumba, Darren Ramsay.

Development Games Against Inverness CT

On Sunday the 15’s & 17’s took on their counterparts from Inverness CT at Murray Park, I tried to keep an eye on both games, brief detials follow.

Under 17’s

Rangers  scored midway through the first half when Matty Clarke’s free-kick from the right was flicked on by Adel Gafaiti and headed past the Inverness CT keeper by Jordan Wilson. The home side was shocked when the visitors grabbed an equaliser, some fine play on the left and a good cross gave the striker a chances to volley past the keeper.

The next goal came from a Robbie McIntyre corner on the left was headed home by Jordan Wilson. After some good work on the right and a cutback Jordan Wilson was well placed shoot home. After Charlie Telfer made progress on the right the Inverness defence scrambled his cutback to the edge of the box where it was met by Adel Gafaiti to fire an unstoppable shot into the bottom left hand corner.

Robbie McIntyre then combined with Darren McGill on the left, from the latter’s cut back George Scott sidestepped a defender before shooting past the keeper.

Rangers Squad:- Blair Currie (GK), Sam George (GK), Andy Murdoch, Robbie McIntyre, Greg Pascazio, Jordan Wilson, Gregor Fotheringham, Darren Ramsay, Adel Gafaiti, Callum Wyllie, Freddy Espling, Matty Clarke, George Scott, Charlie Telfer, Darren McGill, Scott Rumsby, Frankie Owens

Under 15’s

A neat passing move saw the visitor’s cut through the home defence and a shot past Liam Kelly into the net. Rangers replied immediately and when Danny Stoney on the right played the ball inside to Dylan Dykes to shoot past the keeper from the edge of the box.

Dylan Dykes then returned the favour, playing in Danny Stoney and providing the chance to beat the keeper. A through ball then sent Andy Biddulph clear and he calmly knocked the ball over the advancing keeper.

A solo run from Danny Stoney cutting in from the right saw him go past two defenders inside the box before slotting past the keeper. Another superb run this time from Ross Kellock on the left, he continued along the byline before squaring to give Andy Biddulph a simple tap in.

Scoring was complete when a superb Scott Roberts effort from the left hand angle of the box fount the top corner of the net.

Rangers Squad:- Liam Kelly; Ryan Sinnamon, Jamie Mills, Lewis Martin, Robert McLardie, Tom Walsh, Danny Stoney, Kjeld McIntyre, Gloady Ntumba, Dylan Dykes, Scott Roberts, Luke Hammond, Ross Kellock, Andy Biddulph.