Emphatic Pre- Season Win For U15’s

Rangers 12 Kilmarnock 2

Rangers Under 15’s opened their pre-season with an emphatic win over Kilmarnock at Murray Park this afternoon. The three summer recruits, Kyle Bradley (Queen’s Park), Robbie Smith (Stranraer) and Kieran Balfour (Ayr United) were all in the starting lineup.

Rangers took the lead after only a couple of minutes, the Kilmarnock defence failed to clear a corner from the left and the ball fell for Sam Jamieson to score from close range. Ten minutes later Kieran Laing played the ball in from the left and Sam Jamieson showed great skill to side step two defenders before shooting past the keeper.

Killie pulled a goal back just after the quarter-hour mark, a slack pass from defence by Robbie Smith allowed a pass to be played through the middle of the Rangers defence and the striker ran on to shoot past Kieran Wright. Rangers responded immediately and when Jamie Barjonas initial effort was blocked he curled a superb shot round the keeper from the left side of the penalty area.

As the half entered the final ten minutes Kilmarnock had a free kick twenty-five yards out, the shot struck another Killie player completely wrong footing Kieran Wright but when the ball struck his left hand post he was able to gather before the onrushing Killie forward. Rangers capitalised on that narrow escape by increasing their lead, Liam Burt drove towards the visitor’s box taking him past two defenders before slipping the ball to Sam Jamieson just inside the penalty area and he beat the keeper with a sublime chip.

Rangers scored a fifth of the stroke of half-time, Kieran Laing swung in a cross from the left to which Sam Jamieson just failed to get a touch but he had done enough to distract the goalkeeper and the ball bounced into the net.

Half-Time:- Rangers 5 Kilmarnock 1

The visitor’s had an early chance when Kieran Wright’s clearance when straight to a Killie player, but the keeper redeemed himself with a fine diving save high to his right. Rangers immediately increased their lead when Sam Jamieson was sent clear through the inside left channel and he rounded the keeper before rolling the ball into the net.

Kilmarnock did reduce the deficit a few minutes later when Kieran Wright got caught in possession following a pass back the Killie striker forced the ball over the line. Twenty minutes into the second half Rangers scored again, Sam Jamieson chased a ball to the byline on the right before crossing for Grant Nelson to control the ball before shooting past the keeper.

Rangers were in full control and looked likely to score with every attack and the next goal soon followed, Andy Dallas passed inside to Kieran Balfour who’s pass up to Ben Andoh at the edge of the box saw the substitute produce a great turn before shooting past the keeper. And he was soon to grab his second goal, after initially sending Sam Jamieson down the left, Ben Andoh made his way into the box to meet the cutback and score from close range.

Sam Jamieson then collected a clearance on the right side of the box his effort struck the junction of bar and post with the Rangers players claiming the ball had crossed the line. The next goal was only delayed a couple of minutes, Jason Krones passed to Sam Jamieson in midfield, he drove towards the box before attempting to thread a pass through, when the pass was intercepted it broke back into his path and he burst into the box to net again.

There was still time for Rangers to score a couple more, Kyle Bradley sent Andy Dallas down the right, his cross to the back post was controlled by Sam Jamieson before firing past the keeper for his sixth goal. He then turned provider, attacking the left side of the Killie penalty area before passing to Kieran Balfour inside the box and he found the net to complete the scoring.

Full-Time:- Rangers 12 Kilmarnock 2

Rangers Squad:- Kieran Wright, Trialist Gk, Kyle Bradley, Kieran Laing, Robbie Smith, Jason Krones, Dean Picken, Grant Nelson, Kieran Balfour, Sam Jamieson, Liam Burt, Jamie Barjonas, Andy Dallas, Ben Andoh.