15’s Held By Forth Valley

Rangers 1 Forth Valley 1

It was a disappointing performance and result that saw Rangers Under 15’s held by a Forth Valley side that played with ten men for three-quarters of the game, although following Danny Finlayson’s red card in the fifty-fifth minute it was a ten v ten last thirty-five minutes.

The visitors took the lead in the eighth minute with the goal bring created down the left and when the ball was played inside the striker shot past Josh Donaldson from around the penalty spot. Rangers should have equalised just before the twenty-minute mark, Matthew Shiels advanced down the left and his cross was perfect for the late arriving Mati Zata but he headed straight at the keeper who blocked with his legs.

It took a brilliant Josh Donaldson save a couple of minutes later to prevent Forth Valley increasing their lead, a pass sent their striker through the inside right channel and deep in the box, the shot was powerful but the Rangers keeper showed great reactions to touch the ball on to the bar and over. Midway through the half a Forth Valley player suffered a facial injury and had to leave the field, as they only had eleven players it meant continuing with ten men.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Forth Valley 1

Rangers came close to drawing level in the opening minute after the break, Mati Zata broke forward before playing in Zak Rudden inside the left side of the box, the visitor’s keeper advanced from his goal to block his shot and when Reece Rintoull sent the rebound towards the net a defender popped up to clear from the goal line. The next attack came on fifty-five minutes and it was a Forth Valley attack down the right, when Danny Finlayson fouled the attacker it appeared to be inside the box, but the referee awarded a free kick on the edge and showed the Rangers defender a straight red card.

Within a couple of minutes Rangers drew level, Mati Zata won possession midway inside the Forth Valley half and drove towards the box where he went past a defender and into box before shooting past the keeper. The remainder of the game was generally even although the clearest chance came for Rangers with twelve minutes remaining, Mati Zata sent Zak Rudden clear down the left but he was denied by the keeper coming quickly from his line to make a fine block.

Full-Time:- Rangers 1 Forth Valley 1

Rangers Squad:- Josh Donaldson (Gk), Lewis Muir (Gk), Michael Hewitt, Scott Gray, Lewis Mayo, Rhys Breen, Cammy Wray, Reece Rintoul, Mati Zata, Zak Rudden, Carlo Pigniatello, Matthew Shiels, Scott Blacklaw, Billy Gilmour, Danny Finlayson.