Shootout Win For Youths

Rangers 0 St. Johnstone 0 Rangers win 3-2 on penalties

Rangers edged out St.Johnstone in a penalty shootout after a goal less 120 minutes in today’s youth cup tie at Ibrox. With shootout tied a 2-2 after four penalties each Liam Kelly dived low to his right to save Paul Esslemont’s penalty it set it up for Ryan Hardie to beat Mark Hurst from the spot and take the Rangers youngsters through to the semi final.

The first opportunity came on nine minutes, Tom Walsh wining possession on halfway and driving towards the edge of the box but his shot was straight at Mark Hurst. Goalmouth action was at a premium and their was almost half an hour on the clock whe Darren Ramsay sent a free-kick from halfway into the St.Johnstone box, the defensive header fell for Fraser Aird whose shot through a ruck of players was cleared just in front of goal.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 St.Johnstone 0

The opening minute of the second half came close to providing an opening goal for Rangers, it cam from a St.Johnstone throw in close to their corner flag on the right, Fraser Aird won possession and fed Ryan Hardie who picked out Darren Ramsay who was denied from around eight yards when Mark Hurst got down low to his right to save. The visitors had shown little in an attacking sense up till now and the hour mark approached when Aaron Comrie flashed the ball low across the Rangers goal with no takers.

Within a minute a Ross Lyon corner from the right was headed out to the edge of the box where Fraser Aird gathered before firing narrowly over. Saints then missed a great chance to take the lead on sixty-five minutes, the ball ricocheted into the path of Kyle Lander sending him clean through with Liam Kelly racing from his line to blocked the shot with his legs.

Just over five minutes later Rhys Evans passed inside from the left to Paul Simpson who turned back onto his left foot to test Liam Kelly from twenty-five yards with the Rangers keeper diving to his left to parry. With the final ten minutes approaching a superb piece of skill from Ross Lyon took him past two defenders of the right before sending Tom Walsh to the byline, he picked out Fraser Aird and it took a super block from Aaron Comrie to prevent a goal.

End of Ninety Minutes:- Rangers 0 St. Johnstone 0

Rangers had the first opportunity in extra time when Ryan Hardie helped on Tom Walsh’s cross from the right but Craig Halkett volleyed over. There was another opportunity for Rangers just after the break in extra time, Dylan Dykes and Tom Walsh exchanged passes to create a shooting opportunity for Ryan Hardie but his effort was straight at Mark Hurst.

It was the visitors that had the final chance in that dying seconds of extra time, Paul Simpson played the ball wide to Connor McLaren on the left, he moved it on to Kyle Lander inside the left side of the box and his shot across goal was just missed by Paul Esslemont. So it was on to the dramatic penalty shoot out where Liam Kelly and Ryan Hardie were to emerge as the Rangers heros.

Full-Time:- Rangers 0 St. Johnstone 0 Rangers win 3-2 on penalties

Kyle Lander Scored 0-1

Tom Walsh Scored 1-1  

Connor McLaren Saved to right hand side 1-1

Fraser Aird Scored 2-1

Brodie Gray Wide of left hand post 2-1                             

Scott Roberts Saved to right hand side 2-1  

Jason Kerr Scored 2-2    

Dylan Dykes Saved to left hand side 2-2

Paul Esslemont Saved to right hand side 2-2

Ryan Hardie Scored 3-2                                                 

Rangers:- Liam Kelly; Ryan Sinnamon, Craig Halkett, Ross McCrorie, Jamie Mills; Fraser Aird, Dylan Dykes, Tom Walsh, Darren Ramsay (Scott Roberts 70mins); Junior Ogen (Ross Lyon 59mins); Ryan Hardie.

Not used:- Robbie McCrorie (Gk), Kris Gibson, Greg Pascazio.

St.Johnstone:- Mark Hurst; Aaron Comrie, Alex Kitchen, Jason Kerr, Rhys Evans; Jack Parr (Paul Esslemont 74mins), Scott Wilson (Brodie Gray 61mins), Matthew Buchanan, Conor McLaren; Paul Simpson; Kyle Lander.

Not Used:- Morgan Reid, Ben McKenzie, Matthew Aitken.

Comfortable Win For 17’s

Rangers 3 Hearts 0

Rangers Under 17’s recorded a comfortable win against Hearts at Murray Park this morning, they probably edged a first half were Hearts had their chances and were dominant after the break to add a further two goals, but the real plus from recent youth games is that it appears that Jimmy Sinclair’s “hit the channels” style of play is a thing of the past.

Hearts were there first to threaten when a free-kick wide on the left was delivered towards the near post and it took Robbie McCrorie two attempts to turn it wide for a corner. Rangers responded five minutes later with Kyle Bradley attacking the right side of the Hearts penalty area before playing in Grant Nelson who was denied by a block from the Hearts keeper’s legs.

As the game approached the twenty-minute mark Jamie Barjoans swung in a corner from the left that the Hearts keeper punched up in the air, Liam Burt was quickest to react and his header from the edge of the box was cleared off the line. Within two minutes only a stunning Robbie McCrorie save kept Rangers level, from a corner from the left a Hearts centre back powered a header goalwards that saw the Rangers keeper dive to his right to claw the ball away.

The visitors came close again on twenty-seven minutes, skilled chest control set their midfielder up for a twenty-five yard volley that crashed of the crossbar with Robbie McCrorie beaten. Rangers response to that let off was an enterprising Lewis White run down the left, his cutback was deflected goalwards by a Hearts defender and the keeper had to dive low to his right to save.

Two minutes after the half-hour Rangers took the lead, again Lewis White attacked down the left and after combining with Grant Nelson and Max Ashmore he collected a return pass and his cutback found Liam Burt who beat the keeper from close range. Rangers came close again a couple of minutes later, Jamie Barjonas attacked from the right and his low cross looked perfect for Sam Jamieson until a superb challenge from a defender cleared the ball for a corner.

Rangers really should have doubled their lead just before the break, Jamie Barjonas pass sent Grant Nelson through and he stepped in side a defender before unselfishly setting up Sam Jamieson but he failed to hit the target as his shot went narrowly over.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Hearts 0

Within sixty seconds of the turn round Rangers came close to a second, Jamie Barjonas corner from the right was delivered low and volleyed goalwards by Jason Krones with a defender clearing from the goal line at the far post. As the game entered the final quarter-hour Rangers scored a second, Jamie Barjonas attacked the right side of the penalty area before passing inside to Josh Jeffries who found the net from the edge of the box.

A third goal within few minutes made the game safe, again Jamie Barjonas was the creator, his pass sending Andy Dallas through in the inside right channel and the striker showed great composure to shoot across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.

Full-Time:- Rangers 3 Hearts 0

Rangers:- Robbie McCrorie; Kyle Bradley (Jamie Brandon 62mins), Jason Krones, Aidan Wilson, Lewis White; Jamie Barjonas (Kieran Balfour 80mins), Jack Thomson, Max Ashmore, Sam Jamieson (Josh Jeffries 70mins); Liam Burt (Andy Dallas 59mins); Grant Nelson (Kyle Clark HT).

Not Used:- Kieran Wright (Gk), Premyslaw Dachnowicz.

Friendly Win For Youths

Rangers 5 Queen’s Park 1

Three goals in the final five minutes put a gloss on the scoreline in tonight’s friendly against Queen’s Park at Murray Park. It was billed as an “Under 16 Friendly”, although the Rangers squad included two Under 18’s, two Under 17’s and five under 15’s.

The first chance of the game came in the second minute when Robbie Smith’s header from Jamie Barjonas’s corner from the right forced the Queen’s Park keeper to tip over. The visitor’s keeper bettered that save seven minutes later, a Jamie Barjonas pass inside the left-back released Zak Rudden on the right his cutback set up Premyslaw Dachnowicz who’s powerful shot was saved at point-blank range.

The Queen’s Park keeper excelled again on the half hour, Lewis White got to the byline on the left and Andy Dallas powered his cutback goalwards which the keeper managed to turn over. He was finally beaten just before the break when Jamie Barjonas picked up a loose ball outside the left side of the penalty area and sent an unstoppable shot across the keeper into the far top corner.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Queen’s Park 0

Rangers increased their lead with twenty minutes remaining, the ball was worked across the pitch from right to left and the final pass released Premyslaw Dachnowicz inside the left side of the penalty area and he shot across the keeper into the far corner. As the game entered the final quarter hour the visitor’s reduced the deficit, attacking the centre of the Rangers defence the referee allowed good advantage when Scot Whiteside fouled their attacker, allowing the play to continue that culminated in a shot past Lewis McMinn.

Rangers were soon back on the attack and when Mati Zata got the the right hand byline his centre saw Andy Dallas denied when the keeper blocked his shot with his legs. When the game entered the final five minutes Rangers scored a third, Zak Rudden’s flick on sending Andy Dallas through on goal to continue into the box and shoot past the keeper.

This prompted an immediate response from Queen’s with an attack down the left but the volley from the centre flashed past Lewis McMinn’s right hand post. Rangers then put an gloss on the scoreline that was a bit unfair to Queens with two late goals.

Andy Dallas attacked down the right before exchanging passes with Premyslaw Dachnowicz and breaking into the box and shooting past the keeper. The scoring was completed when a Premyslaw Dachnowicz  pass sent Zak Rudden clear to beat the keeper with a cool finish.

Full-Time:- Rangers 5 Queen’s Park 1

Rangers:- Kieran Wright (Lewis McMinn HT): Jamie Brandon (Cammy Palmer 56mins), Scot Whiteside, Robbie Smith (Rhys Breen 21mins), Lewis White (Cammy Wray 65mins); Mohammed Niang, Kieran Balfour; Andy Dallas, Premyslaw Dachnowicz, Jamie Barjonas (Mati Zata 56mins); Zak Rudden.

Another Development League Defeat

Rangers 1 Hibernian 4

Rangers Development squad suffered their eighth league defeat at Dumbarton tonight, their inability to defend set-plays cost them dearly in a poor first half. Hibs took the lead on ten minutes, Jordan Sinclair swung over a corner from the right and Taylor Hendry’s header crept past Liam Kelly low to his left. Five minutes later the visitors really should have doubled their lead, Jordan Taylor latched on to a slack Craig Halkett pass on the edge of Rangers box, he combined with Danny Handling to set up Frank DjaDjedje for what looked a certain goal, but Liam Kelly got down to his right to make a superb save.

Rangers tried to reply with a Fraser Aird snapshot that tried to catch out Tomas Cerny but the keeper got back on his line to save comfortably. As the half-hour point approached Tom Walsh and Callum  Gallagher exchanged passes on the left side of the Hibs box, with Tomas Cerny racing from his line to save at the midfielder’s feet.

Hibs responded immediately by going back up the other end a scoring a second, Conor Duthie sent a free kick from wide left and midway inside Rangers half into the Rangers box where Craig Halkett stuck out a leg and diverted the ball past Liam Kelly for an Own Goal. The third goal came six minutes before the break, following another set play Callum Crane found himself in possession on the right, he crossed to the back post where Taylor Hendry nodded back across goal for Jordan Forster to volley past Liam Kelly.

The woodwork saved Rangers from following further behind before the break, Scott Martin found Arron Dunsmore breaking into the right side of the penalty area and his shot crashed off the near post and flashed across the face of goal.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Hibernian 3

Rangers started the second-half with a bit more purpose and a long-range Fraser Aird free-kick tested Tomas Cerny, with the keeper tipping the ball over. By the time the half reached the ten minute mark Hibs had scored again, Arron Dunsmore found space on the right side of the box to fire at goal, Liam Kelly did well to parry the shot but Frank Dje Djedje was on hand to knock the ball into the net.

The home side immediately pulled a goal back, some great play from Tom Walsh on the right saw him create space for a low cross to present Ryan Hardie with a tap in at the back post. As the game entered the final quarter-hour Taylor Hendry progressed along Rangers eighteen yard line from right to left, his shot had Liam Kelly beaten but bounced of the keeper’s left hand post and was cleared for a corner. When the corner came in Jordan McGregor’s header looked destined for the net until Fraser Aird popped up to clear from the line.

Full-Time:- Rangers 1 Hibernian 4

Rangers:- Liam Kelly; Ryan Sinnamon, Craig Halkett, Ross McCrorie, Jamie Mills (Scot Whiteside 72mins); Darren Ramsay, Fraser Aird, Robbie Crawford (Dylan Dykes 65mins), Tom Walsh; Callum Gallagher (Scott Roberts 65mins), Ryan Hardie.

Not Used:- Robbie McCrorie (Gk), Junior Ogen, Kris Gibson.

Hibernian:- Tomas Cerny; Arron Dunsmore, Jordan McGregor, Jordan Forster (Neil Martynuik 59 mins), Callum Crane; Scott Martin, Jordan Sinclair, Conor Duthie; Danny Handling (Ben Stirling 59mins); Franke Dje Djedje (Arron Scott 59mins), Taylor Hendry.

Not Used:- Kieton Perntreou (Gk)

Accies Double Header

Sunday saw Rangers youngsters take on Hamilton Accies in a double header at Murray Park, with the 17’s kicking off in the morning and the under 13’s starting in the early afternoon.

Rangers 3 Hamilton Accies 2

This morning’s Under 17’s game was the proverbial games of two halves, with the visitors being the dominant team in the first period and Rangers having the upper hand after the break, culminating in an injury time winner. Accies took the lead on five minutes opening up Rangers on the left side of the box and allowing their player time and space to shoot past Robbie McCrorie. The visitors passing game saw them continue to have the better of the play although neither side seriously threatened to score until Hamilton were awarded a penalty on twenty-seven minutes. Kyle Bradley’s robust challenge on the right hand angle of the box saw the referee point to the spot and it was duly converted to give the visitor’s a two goal lead at the break.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Hamilton Accies 2

A couple of half-time substitutions saw a Rangers side with a different attitude start the second half and within a minute only a fine save prevented them from reducing the deficit. Grant Nelson’s pass from the right hand byline picked out Liam Burt arriving on the edge of the box with the Accies keeper doing well to turn the ball over the crossbar. Within a few minutes Ross Lyon cut in from the left, his run taking him past two defenders before shooting just wide of the keeper’s right hand post.

The turning point in the game came on fifty-six minutes when Hamilton were reduced to ten men, it appeared to a be straight red card shown for dissent. Within four minutes of the red card Rangers had pulled a goal back, a powerful run from Jack Thomson opened up the left side of the Accies box, when the ball was played to Liam Burt inside the box he appeared to be bundled over but regained his balance and composure to prod the ball past the keeper from close range. Rangers were now dominating but appeared to be trying the wee bit too hard, with passes being a bit too strong and shots rushed with Accies defending comfortably.

Just when it appeared the visitor’s would hold out Rangers equalised with two minutes remaining, Jamie Barjonas took possession from a throw in on the right, a superb turn took him away from a defender and his pass released Grant Nelson on the right side of the box to shoot under the keeper. Deep into injury time Rangers snatched what for long spells looked an unlikely winner, Jamie Barjonas attacked the left side of the Accies box and passed to Ross Lyon inside the box, he held the ball up before laying back into the path of Kyle Clark who found the keeper’s bottom left hand corner of the net.

Full-Time:- Rangers 3 Hamilton Accies 2

Rangers:- Robbie McCrorie; Aidan Wilson, Jason Krones, Kyle Bradley (Andy Dallas 84mins), Lewis White (Jamie Brandon HT); Josh Jeffries ( Grant Nelson HT), Jack Thomson, Max Ashmore (Kyle Clark 80mins), Ross Lyon; Liam Burt; Sam Jamieson (Jamie Barjonas 55mins).

Not Used:- Lewis McMinn(Gk), Kieran Balfour.

Rangers 5 Hamilton Accies 2

The afternoon saw Rangers under 13’s record a comfortable win, with three under 12’s promoted for the day making a significant contribution. Accies had a great opportunity to take the lead just before the quarter hour mark, their player breaking through the inside left channel, he was denied when Luke Scullion came from his line to make a fine save. Rangers replied with an attack carved out on the left, Matty Yates playing a one-two with Jason Campbell then forcing the keeper to turn the ball wide of his near post. Kai Kennedy swung over the resultant corner from the left and Josh Henderson dominated in the air to head past the keeper.

Within a few minutes Rangers had doubled their lead, when the Accies defence cleared the ball from their penalty area Ciaran Dickson sent an unstoppable shot high past the keeper. Within a minute Jason Campbell was through inside the box and the Hamilton keeper did well to come from his line to divert the ball wide. The final chance of the opening period came when Steven Bradley’s run took him past two defender and deep into the box, the Accies keeper stood tall to make a fine block.

Midway through the second period Rangers scored a third that was created and executed by the promoted younger players, the pass was made by Robbie Fraser sending Reegan Aitken through the inside right channel and he finished with a superb lob over the advancing keeper. The visitors tried to reply and with a chance at the edge of the box  which forced Luke Scullion to dive to his left to make the save.

Rangers were soon back on the attack and the fourth goal soon followed from the penalty spot, Kai Kennedy’s pass sent Matty Yates through and he was impeded as he rounded the keeper, he stepped up to find the net via the inside of the keeper’s right hand post. At this point Rangers were looking likely to add to their lead, the next chance saw Reegan Aitken’s pass send Kai Kennedy through with the keeper coming out to make a fine save.

Reegan Aitken then sent Robbie Fraser breaking down the right, his pass inside found Kai Kennedy breaking into the box and his shot brought out a save from the Accies keeper low to his right. At the start of the final period Hamilton broke through the centre of the Rangers defence, Josh Henderson got back and his challenge was enough to allow Lewis Budinauckas to save low to his right.

Within a minute a thunderous drive from the left hand angle of the box had Lewis Budinauckas beaten as the ball rebounded back from the crossbar. At the other end Steven Bradley in possession on the edge of the box, just left of centre, passed inside to Kai Kennedy who’s drive forced the keeper to turn the ball over.

Ciaran Dickson the switched the play to find Kai Kennedy on the right side of the penalty area, as he cut inside the referee adjudged he was impeded and awarded a penalty. He stepped up to take the spot-kick but it was too straight and the keeper saved comfortably. There was still time before the final period’s turn around for Josh Henderson to fire a free-kick from the edge of the box off the Accies crossbar.

After the turn around Hamilton reduced the deficit with an attack down the left and a shot from the left hand angle of the box over the head of Lewis Budinauckas and into the net. Within minutes the visitors had pulled another goal back, a fine turn and shot from the edge of the box beat Lewis Budinauckas despite the Rangers keeper getting a hand to the ball.

Rangers completed the scoring when Jason Campbell sent Matty Yates down the left, when he played the ball into the penalty area Blair Rossiter side stepped the keeper before rolling the ball into the net.

Full-Time:- Rangers 5 Hamilton Accies 2

Rangers Squad:- Luke Scullion (Gk), Lewis Budinauckas (Gk), Callum Biggar, Euan Deveney, Kyle McLelland, Josh Henderson, Ciaran Dickson, Blair Rossiter, Kai Kennedy, Jason Campbell, Matty Yates, Adam Devine, Robbie Fraser, Reegan Aitken.

Youngsters Emerge From Deep Freeze

Rangers 4 Hamilton Accies 0

The deep freeze that has hit the youth fixtures has finally relented and I could attend my first youth game since well before the New Year taking in tonight’s under 14 fixture at Murray Park. With some positive noises coming out of Murray Park since the recent changes, I looked forward to the return of youth fixtures, although to be fair this under 14 team have always been a good footballing side.

Rangers dominated the first period and their first chance came after only five minutes, Zac Butterworth started the move wide of the left passing inside to Dylan Patterson who’s through ball released Dapo Mebude on the left side of the penalty area, he shot across the keeper but the ball bounced clear off the far post. Barely sixty seconds later Rangers took the lead, Kieran McKechnie hitting the byline on the right and his cutback was hammered past the keeper by Billy Gilmour.

Rangers continued to create chances and when Scott Blacklaw fed Kieran McKechnie on the right his cross found the head of Dapo Mebude who was denied by the keeper at point blank range. Rangers fourth chance in what was the opening eight minutes looked likely to produce another goal, Kieran McKechnie  again got the the right hand byline and his cross found Zac Butterworth arriving at the back post but he could only knock the ball wide.

The visitors manged to stem the tide for a bit and there was over twenty minutes on the clock when Dylan Patterson tested the keeper from a free-kick from just outside the box, with the keeper diving to touch the ball onto his right hand post with his defence was on hand to clear. Accies came more into the game in the second period and seven minutes had elapsed when a long ball caught out the Rangers defence, with their striker racing clear Nicky Hogarth advanced from his line to make the save as the striker fired straight at him.

Rangers never really created a clear cut chance in the second period but barely sixty seconds of the final period has passed when they doubled their lead. Billy Gilmour’s pass sent Niyah Joseph through the inside right channel and he held off a defender as he entered the penalty area before shooting past the keeper. A few minutes later another Billy Gilmour pass created a shooting chance for Kieran McKechnie on the right side of the box with the Accies keeper saving at his near post. When the resultant corner broke to Niyah Joseph inside the box the keeper produced another fine save at point bank range.

Rangers scored a third with nine minutes remaining, Ben Williamson’s superb pass inside the full back released Nathan Patterson on the right and his low cross was converted by Niyah Joseph at close range. The fourth goal soon followed, three minutes later, and again Nathan Patterson was the architect. Attacking the Accies defence on the right he burst into the box and past two defenders, when the keeper failed to gather his cross Lewis McGrattan was well placed to slam the ball into the net.

The final chance was created with some neat inter play on the right involving Nathan Patterson, Lewis McGrattan and Kieran McKechnie from the latter’s cross Niyah Joseph’s header forced a save from the keeper low to his right.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Hamilton Accies 0

Rangers Squad:- Nicky Hogarth (Gk), Nathan Patterson, Andy Rodden, Ruarhdi McIntyre, Danny Finlayson, Scott Blacklaw, Kieran McKechnie, Billy Gilmour, Dapo Mebude, Dylan Patterson, Zac Butterworth, Niyah Joseph, Lewis McGrattan, Ben Williamson, Aiden Gibb