Come Back Win For Youths

Rangers 3 Partick Thistle 2

With an hour on the clock, trailing by two goals and having been second best in the game a Rangers win looked unlikely. Then a break at a free-kick brought Rangers back into the game and was the catalyst to turn the game around.

Rangers had the first chance after eighteen minutes, Fraser Aird sent Callum Gallagher down the right and he went past James Penrice on the left hand byline before cutting the ball back for Fraser Aird who shot across goal and wide of the far post. Thistle responded by taking the lead three minutes later, Dominic Docherty’s cross from the left had Luca Gasparotto stretching to head clear and when the ball dropped at the edge of the box Matthew McInally met it full on the volley to beat Liam Kelly low to his left.

Six minutes later Ryan Hardie won possession inside Thistle’s half before exchange passes with Callum Gallagher  and breaking into the box, but he delayed his shot allowing defenders to get back to block his and Callum Gallagher’s shot from the rebound. Within sixty seconds Shane Ferguson broke forward before shooting from around twenty-five yards that had Connor Cullen diving to his left to punch clear.

Just after the half-hour Dominic Docherty’s pass sent Andrew McCarthy through and it took a great Remie Streete challenge to clear as he entered the penalty area.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Partick Thistle 1

Ten minutes after the break the ball was played out to Declan McDade wide on the right and when he sent a low cross towards the near post Kevin Nisbet was first to the ball and poked it past Liam Kelly from close range. Just after the hour Rangers got the break that got them back into the game, Darren Ramsay’s free-kick from wide left and ten yards from the byline was missed by everyone and found the net at the far post. Within a minute Ryan Hardie latched on to a long ball on the left side of the penalty area and shot across goal and wide of the far post.

Rangers then came close from three successive corners, all from the left and all taken by Darren Ramsay. From the first Luca Gasparotto headed back across goal and Dylan Dykes couldn’t quite force the ball over the line as it was deflected behind. From the next flag kick Remie Streete’s goal bound header was cleared off the line by James Pernice. From the third in two minutes Connor Cullen got down to save Jamie Burrow’s header.

Rangers pressure was to tell when they drew level two minutes later, Jamie Burrows hit the byline on the right and picked out Jamie Mills arriving to fire high into the net. With twelve minutes remaining Declan McDade sent a corner from the left deep beyond the back post, Dale Keenan’s header was diverted over from close range by the head of Neil McLaughlin.

Rangers then grabbed what proved to be the winner on eighty-three minutes, Jamie Mills robbed a defender and raced clear, as he entered the box he had the option of rolling the ball to Ryan Hardie on his right but he had the confidence continue and slot the ball past Connor Cullen.

Full-Time:- Rangers 3 Partick Thistle 2

Rangers:- Liam Kelly; Craig Halkett, Remie Streete, Luca Gasparotto; Fraser Aird, Darren Ramsay, Dylan Dykes (Danny Stoney 80mins), Shane Ferguson (Jamie Burrows HT), Jamie Mills; Callum Gallagher, Ryan Hardie.

Not Used:- Lewis McMinn (Gk), Ryan Sinnamon, Scott Roberts, Greg Pascazio, Junior Ogen.

Partick Thistle:- Connor Cullen, Matthew McInally, Dominic McLaren, Dale Keenan, James Penrice; Neil McLaughlin, Dominic Docherty, David Wilson, Declan McDade; Andrew McCarthy (Corey Irvine); Kevin Nisbet.

Not Used:- Marc Waters (Gk), Danny Bonar, Michael McMullin, Mark Lamont, Callum Woods.