Easy Win For 17’s

Rangers 6 Hearts 0

With an 11am kick-off it meant I could take in the under 17’s game before heading over to Ibrox for today’s first team fixture. With Hearts failing to seriously threaten Kieran Wright’s goal during the ninety minutes and some poor defending contributing to half the goals it was an easy win for the Rangers youngsters.

It looked like the referee hand penalised Rangers in the ninth minute when with Andy Dallas through on goal he pulled the play back to award a free-kick just outside the left hand angle of the Hearts penalty area, but when Stephen Kelly moved the ball to the side Jamie Barjonas shot past the defensive wall and keeper to give Rangers the lead. Five minutes later Rangers doubled their lead, Jamie Barjonas pass released Jack Adamson inside the right side of the box and rolled the ball across goal for Andy Dallas to knock the ball past the keeper.

In Rangers next attack the play was switched to Andy Dallas just outside the left side of the box, he went past the full-back before going for goal which had the Hearts keeper stretching to tip over. As the game reached the twenty-minute mark Rangers scored a third from the penalty spot, Scott Gray’s pass sent Andy Dallas down the left and he was brought down when cut into the box, with Jamie Barjonas stepping up to do his usual excellent job from the spot.

Rangers fourth came before the half-hour mark, from a Hearts throw deep inside their own half the ball was thrown inside to their centre back on the edge of his own box, where was disposessed by Jack Adamson who stepped into the box before shooting past the keeper. Hearts keeper then produced a couple of saves to prevent Rangers going even further ahead before the break. Liam Burt’s pass inside the right back released Andy Dallas who forced a save from the keeper low to his left. The next chance came when Kyle Bradley attacked the right side of Hearts penalty area before passing inside to Jack Adamson, he side-stepped a defender before shooting, his shot took a deflection and forced the keeper to dive to his left and produce a fine save.

Half-Time:- Rangers 4 Hearts 0

It took the young Rangers side only six minutes to get on the score sheet after the break, the Hearts keeper looked a heavy favourite to beat Andy Dallas to Jack Adamson’s pass through the middle and the Rangers striker was as surprised as anyone when he failed to gather but alert enough to latch onto the loose ball and knock it into the net. On the hour mark the keeper played a short goal-kick to his centre back, who was robbed on the edge of the penalty area by Liam Burt who blasted the ball past the keeper for Rangers sixth.

Rangers then seemed to take their foot off the gas and there were no further goals with the visitor’s unable to pose any threat on Kieran Wright’s goal.

Full-Time:- Rangers 6 Hearts 0

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Kyle Bradley, Jason Krones, Lewis Mayo, Scott Gray; Jack Thomson (Kieran Balfour HT); Jamie Barjonas ( Matthew Shiels 68mins); Liam Burt (Carlo Pignatiello 75mins); Andy Dallas, Jack Adamson (Mati Zata 60mins), Stephen Kelly (Premyslaw Dachnowicz HT).

Not Used:- Lewis Muir.