13’s Share Six Goals At Ralston

St.Mirren 3 Rangers 3

Tonight was an opportunity to take in the Under 13’s game against St.Mirren at Ralston. Played over three periods, Rangers were a bit unfortunate to be behind at the end of the first period, they dominated the second period to take a two goal lead, with St.Mirren coming back strongly in the final period when they probably should have won it.

Rangers had the first opportunity when a neat Alex Lowrie flick released Robbie Fraser breaking towards the St.Mirren box, his pass played Reegan Aitken through the inside right channel but shot across goal and wide of the far post. Within a minute Lewis Robertson and Alex Lowrie combined on the right side of the box to create a chance for Reegan Aitken who was denied by a last-minute block in front of goal.

Saints took the lead with their first real effort on goal, the pass was through the right side of the box and it was finished with a shot past Jay Hogarth. Rangers ended the period on the attack and Robbie Fraser had a shot that was powerful enough but straight at the keeper.

Rangers drew level when Robbie Fraser headed a St.Mirren goal-kick back towards their penalty area leaving Reegan Aitken in the clear to slot the ball past the keeper. Rangers were soon in front when a Matthew Collins pass released Aaron Lyall inside the right side of the box, his initial effort was blocked by a combination of defender and goalkeeper but he followed up to squeeze home the rebound.

A third goal soon followed, Kai McGivern passed to Aaron Lyall wide on the right  and when he crossed into the box it was knocked past the keeper by a Saints defender for an Own Goal. It was a different St.Mirren that came out for the final period and they soon reduced the deficit, the attack came on the right and when the ball came into the six yard box Adam Devine’s miscued clearance went past Grant Thackary and into the net.

When the home side attacked again this time through the centre of Rangers defence it took a brave save at the striker’s feet from Grant Thackray to avert the danger. The leveler was only delayed and it came when the impressive,  diminutive No.8 was played through the inside right channel and he continued into the box to slot the ball past Grant Thackray.

St. Mirren had a great chance to win it when Grant Thackray’s slack pass presented a great chance, the Rangers keeper redeemed himself with a great save and Greg Chalmers was quick to react and complete the clearance.

Full-Time:- St.Mirren 3 Rangers 3

Rangers Squad:- Jay Hogarth (Gk), Grant Thackray (Gk), Adam Devine, Matthew Henderson, Rhys Caves, Lorenzo Giovanazzi, Liam Houston, Alex Lowrie, Robbie Fraser, Reegan Aitken, Lewis Robertson, Callum McComb, Aiden Berry, Greg Chalmers, Kai McGivern, Aaron Lyall, Matthew Collins.

17’s Hit Saints For Six

Rangers 6 St.Mirren 1

It was a wet and windy Murray Park for this afternoon’s Under 17 fixture against St.Mirren. Rangers lineup was strengthened with the recent Under 20 performers restored to the starting eleven. Once Rangers made the breakthrough there was only going to be one winner and they comfortably secured the three points.

There was only twelve minutes on the clock when the Ibrox youngsters took the lead, the initial effort came from a Jamie Barjonas free-kick on the left hand angle of the box that had the keeper diving to his left to parry, when the ball was cleared out to the right hand angle of the box Kyle Bradley shot for goal, the Saints keeper knocked up in the air but he was out jumped by Andy Dallas who nodded the ball into the net. The lead was doubled three minutes later and again Andy Dallas was on the score sheet, this time he shot across the keeper from the left hand angle of the box and into the far corner of the net.

The visitor’s hadn’t troubled Kieran Wright in the Rangers goal until midway through the half when a long range effort was gathered by the Rangers keeper at the second attempt. As the half-hour approached Liam Burt passed to Andy Dallas on the right side of the penalty area, he cut inside a defender and when his first effort was blocked it to took a fine save to turn the ball behind when he pounced on the rebound.

Within a couple of minutes Rangers had grabbed a third from a brilliant Liam Burt solo effort, from midway inside the Saints half his run took him deep into the left side of the penalty area leaving three defenders in his wake and he shot across the keeper and into the net off the far post.

Half-Time:- Rangers 3 St.Mirren 0

Rangers began the half on the front foot and when Mati Zata won possession he sent Zak Rudden through on the right side of the box, his shot beat the keeper but bounced off his left hand post with Mati Zata firing the rebound straight at the keeper. Within sixty seconds Zak Rudden was brought down as he attacked the right side of the St.Mirren penalty area and Jamie Barjonas stepped up to make his usual excellent job of the penalty.

 Rangers came close to adding to their tally from a Jamie Barjonas free-kick on the edge of the box that had the keeper diving to his left to push the ball clear. Rangers fifth goal soon followed, started and finished by Stephen Kelly, he attacked the left side of the penalty area before passing to Mati Zata, he made his way into the box to collect the back-heeled return pass and coolly roll the ball past the keeper.

Rangers sixth came with eighteen minutes remaining, Premyslaw Dachnowicz attacked on the left and went past the full-back into the box and shot across the keeper into the far corner of the net.The visitors responded with an attack that took them deep inside the right side of Rangers box and Kieran Wright did well to divert the ball behind for a corner with his legs.

Saints eventually grabbed a consolation in injury time and it was a goal worth the wait, seeing Kieran Wright advanced from his line the midfielder shot from the halfway line and the ball sailed over the head of the Rangers keeper and into the net.

Full-Time:- Rangers 6 St.Mirren 1

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Kyle Bradley (Rhys Breen 68 mins), Jack Thomson (Jordan Houston HT), Lewis Mayo, Scott Gray; Jamie Barjonas (Premyslaw Dachnowicz 56 mins); Kieran Balfour, Liam Burt (Mati Zata HT); Stephen Kelly, Zak Rudden, Andy Dallas (Aidan Wilson 75 mins).

Not Used:- Lewis Muir (Gk)

Second Win In A Week For 20’s

Rangers 4 Dundee United 1

A very young Rangers side recorded their second Development League win in four days with a comfortable win against Dundee United at Murray Park this afternoon. With Robbie McCrorie replacing Liam Kelly and Josh Jeffries coming in for Fraser Aird it was an even younger side than the one that defeated Aberdeen on Monday.

The young Rangers side got of to a whirlwind start and where two goals up withing six minutes. The opener came on four minutes from the penalty spot, the creative work was done by Josh Jeffries and Scott Roberts to pick up Dylan Dykes run into the box where he was tripped by Gavin Ritchie and he stepped up to give Luis Zwick no chance from the penalty spot. Two minutes later a poor pass across the defence from the left by Logan Davie put Gavin Ritchie under pressure and Liam Burt stole possession before stepping into the box and slotting the ball past Luis Zwick.

The next chance came on seventeen minutes when Liam Burt passed to Ross Lyon on the left hand angle of the box, he cut inside and shot for goal, Luis Zwick couldn’t hold on to the shot and appeared to impede Scott Roberts as he went for the rebound, but the referee adjudged it was simulation and showed the Rangers striker a yellow card. The third goal eventually came five minutes before the break, from a free-kick just outside the left side of the penalty area Ross Lyon picked out Ross McCrorie just inside the box and his shot took a deflection to completely wrong foot Luis Zwick as the ball found the net.

Half-Time:- Rangers 3 Dundee United 0

The visitors, who never really threatened in the first half created their best chance two minutes after the break, Justin Johnson attacked on the right of Rangers penalty area and Robbie McCrorie did well to block his close range shot with brother Ross on hand to complete the clearance. A further chance came with the half ten minutes old, a lofted pass from Scott Allardice picked out Aaron Duke close to the byline on the right but his shot flashed across goal.

Rangers fourth goal came a couple of minutes after the hour mark, Josh Jeffries cut in from the right and made his way across midfield before passing to Scott Roberts wide on the left, he skint Reghan Tumilty and hit the byline before looking up and and picking out Liam Burt who finished from the edge of the box.  Rangers were back on the hunt for further goals and on seventy minutes Scott Roberts passed inside to Ross Lyon from the left, the ball was then moved to Dylan Dykes who forced a save from Luis Zwick diving to his left.

Five minutes later Dylan Dykes found Zak Rudden inside the right side of the United penalty area and his shot from a narrow angle forced Luis Zwick to block with his legs. In the closing stages United pushed for a consolation goal, Ali Coote’s shot from the edge of the box broke kindly for Justin Johnson in front of goal and he was only denied by a superb David Brownlie challenge.

The visitor’s persistence was rewarded and they grabbed the goal in the second minute of in jury time. A solo run from Justin Johnson took him past two defenders and deep into the left side of the penalty area and he dinked the ball past Robbie McCrorie.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Dundee United 1

Rangers:- Robbie McCrorie; Kyle Bradley (Tom Lang 59 mins), Ross McCrorie, David Brownlie, Jamie Mills; Jamie Barjonas (Max Ashmore 65mins); Liam Burt (Zak Rudden 69 mins); Dylan Dykes; Josh Jeffries, Scott Roberts, Ross Lyon.

Not Used:- Kieran Wright (Gk), Jordan Gibson, Ross King.

Dundee United:- Luis Zwick; Reghan Tumilty, Gavin Ritchie, Harry Souttar ( Cammy Ballantyne 55 mins), Logan Davie; Graham Taylor, Scott Allardice, Evan Horne, Justin Johnson; Aaron Duke (Ali Coote 69 mins); Ola Adeyemo (Brad Smith 69 mins).

Not Used:- Ryan Booth (Gk), Greg McNaughton.

First Half Goals Secure The Points

Rangers 2 Forth Valley 0

Two first half goals was enough to secure the points in tonight’s Under 17 game against Forth Valley at Murray Park. With some 17’s players on duty with the under 20’s there was only one change in the team that played Ayr United at the weekend, Cammy Palmer coming in for Mati Zata.

It didn’t take the young Rangers side long to take the lead, making the breakthrough after only four minutes. Kieran Balfour played the ball up to Zak Rudden on the edge of the penalty area and his flick picked up Cammy Palmer’s run into the box and he slotted the ball past the keeper. Rangers were forced into a change on nineteen minutes when Jack Adamson had to be replaced by Premyslaw Dachnowicz.

Rangers doubled their lead eleven minutes before the break, Stephen Kelly switched the ball to Zak Rudden wide on the right and when he hit the byline and squared the ball into the box, Stephen Kelly had made up the ground and was in the penalty area to slam the ball home. Five minutes later Andy Dallas attacked the centre of the box before passing to Zak Rudden inside the right side of the penalty area and he was denied by a fine save from the keeper low to his right.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Forth Valley 0

After a first period with virtually nothing to do Kieran Wright was called into action two minutes after the break, diving high to his left to push away a shot from outside the right side of the penalty area. Rangers were soon back on the attack and five minutes later Zak Rudden’s free-kick from just outside the box was only just wide of the keeper’s right hand post.

When Zak Rudden robbed a defender on the edge of the penalty area a goal looked likely until the keeper dived low to his left to turn his shot wide of his post. With sixty seconds the visitor’s keeper was in action again, this time tipping over a Matthew Shiels free-kick from just outside the right hand angle of the box.

Rangers were pushing for a third goal and the next opportunity came when Lewis Mayo broke from defence before playing in Andy Dallas on the left side of the penalty area and he forced the keeper to save at his near post. After another enforced change, with Aidan Wilson replacing Jordan Houston, Stephen Kelly’s pass released Mattew Shiels inside the right side of the box but he shot across goal and wide of the far post.

After a lull in goalmouth opportunities Rangers came close with five minutes remaining, Carlo Pignatiello passed inside the left-back to pick out Premyslaw Dachnowicz and his shot forced the keeper to tip over.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Forth Valley 0

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Jordan Houston (Aidan Wilson 59 mins), Jack Thomson, Scott Gray; Kieran Balfour; Cammy Palmer (Matthew Shiels HT), Stephen Kelly; Andy Dallas (Rhys Breen 76 mins), Zak Rudden (Carlo Pignatiello 70 mins), Jack Adamson (Premyslaw Dachnowicz 19 mins).

Youth Update

This weekend’s Development fixtures saw Rangers take on Ayr United and it presented an  opportunity to take in the 15’s and 17’s double-header at Murray Park. Both were one-sided affairs with Rangers running out very comfortable winners, first up was the 15’s fixture with a morning kick-off.

Rangers 8 Ayr United 0

It only took the young Rangers side five minutes to break the dead lock, Dapo Mebude played the ball out to Zack Butterworth on the right, he cut inside before exchanging passes with Ross Young and shooting past the keeper. Within a minute Josh McPake cut in from the right hand angle of the penalty area before going for goal and the Ayr keeper stretched to tip over.

There was ten minutes on the clock when Rangers scored their second, Josh McPake attacked the left side of the box he left a defender in his wake and although the keeper saved his initial effort he followed up to force the ball over the line. The third goal came just after the quarter-hour, Jamie Walker’s pass sending Dapo Mebude through the inside left channel to continue into the box and shoot past the keeper.

The fourth goal soon followed and this time it came from the penalty spot, Josh McPake broke through the centre of the Ayr defence and was tripped just inside the box, Dapo Mebude stepped up to convert from the spot. The visitors tried to respond and an attack on the right side of the box created an opportunity for a shot that was across goal and wide of the far post.

Just before the half-hour Rangers scored again, Zack Butterworth took on a defender on the left side of the penalty area before firing a shot past the keeper. Less than five minutes later Rangers tally reached six, Billy Gilmour attacked down the right and passed inside to Dapo Mebude who’s neat flick on the edge of the box setup Kieran McKechnie to beat the keeper.

To be fair to Ayr they kept trying to play football and came close to scoring on a couple of occasions before the break, when a corner from the left broke to an Ayr player inside the box the shot was destined for the net until Nathan Patterson popped up to clear from the line. A few minutes later an attack on the right took them deep into the penalty area, Nicky Hogarth stood tall to make a fine save and Aidan Gibb was on hand to complete the clearance.

Half-Time:- Rangers 6 Ayr United 0

Rangers looked have made a further break through in the opening minute of the second-half when Dapo Mebude beat the keeper to a through ball and knocked the ball goalwards but a defender got back to make a fine clearance from the line. The goal was only delayed a further five minutes and it came when Kieran McKechie  attacked the right side of the box before finding Dapo Mebude who produced a fine finish.

Before the hour mark Dapo Mebude and Josh McPake combined to create a chance for Niyah Joseph inside the left side of the box but was denied by a fine save from the keeper who diverted the ball wide with his leg. The keeper was soon called into action again, the chance was created by Zack Butterworth who went past the full back and hit the byline on the right, his picked out Danny Finlayson who’s shot was saved by the visitor’s keeper.

As the midway point of the half approached Rangers scored again, Josh McPake attacked down the right and passed inside to Owen McGinty who beat the keeper with a cool finish. Rangers continued to dominate possession but there was no further scoring.

Full-Time:- Rangers 8 Ayr United 0

Rangers Squad:- Nicky Hogarth (Gk), Nathan Patterson, Jamie Walker, Ross Young, Aiden Gibb, Danny Finlayson, Zack Butterworth, Billy Gilmour, Dapo Mebude, Josh McPake, Kieran McKechnie, Andy Rodden, Ben Williamson, Niyah Joseph, Owen McGinty.

Rangers 10 Ayr United 2

The afternoon was the turn of Rangers Under 17’s and with Kyle Bradley, Jamie Barjonas and Liam Burt scheduled to start in tomorrow’s development league game and added to long-term injury victim Grant Nelson it was a weakened starting lineup. On a positive note Aidan Wilson made the bench following a six month absence due to injury.

Ayr United shocked the Ibrox youngsters by finding the net within the opening minute, it was a long-range strike that Kieran Wright got a hand to but couldn’t quite prevent the ball from crossing the line. Rangers were back on level terms before five minutes were up, there didn’t seem to be much of a threat when Andy Dallas cut in from the right and shot from the edge of the box, but the ball squirmed under the keeper and over the line.

When Zak Rudden played the ball into the box from the right a couple of minutes later it presented Andy Dallas with a further chance but on this occasion he knocked it narrowly wide of the far post. Rangers edged in front on ten minutes with a superbly worked goal, Scott Gray broke forward on the left and exchanged passes with Zak Rudden before picking out Mati Zata’s run into the box and he slotted the ball past the keeper.

Rangers third goal followed on eighteen minutes and it came from the penalty spot, Andy Dallas was brought down just inside the box close to the right hand byline and Jack Thomson converted from the spot with confidence. Two minutes later Mati Zata broke towards the centre of the Ayr box and the ball broke to Zak Rudden who’s shot crashed off the bar and over.

Rangers increased their lead on twenty-six minutes, Stephen Kelly’s pass sent Zak Rudden though the inside right channel and entered the box before shooting high past the keeper into the top corner. Rangers were now rampant and when Andy Dallas made the left hand byline ten minutes before the break his cutback picked out Zak Rudden who shot home.

There was still time for Rangers to score again before half-time, Andy Dallas shot from the edge of the box that had the keeper diving to his left to parry but he was left helpless as Stephen Kelly who followed up to net the rebound.

Half-Time:- Rangers 6 Ayr United 1

It was the visitor’s who came closest in the early stages of the second-half, ten minutes in the attack started on the right and when the ball came in to the box it took a superb point-blank Kieran Wright save to prevent a certain goal. Rangers response was to increase their lead two minutes later, a corner from the left was worked to Premyslaw Dachnowicz on the edge of the box and he gave the keeper no chance as he found the top corner.

Credit to the Aye side for continuing to plug away and they grabbed a second goal on sixty-three minutes, from a break into Rangers penalty area on the right Kieran Wright produced a fine save but had no chance when the ball landed at the feet at an unmarked attacker who fired the rebound into the net.  Barely two minutes later their striker got on the end of a cross from the right and headed against the Rangers crossbar.

Rangers were soon back on the attack and the next goal came midway through the half, Rhys Breen sent Matthew Shiels down the left and his cutback picked out Jack Adamson who beat the keeper from close range. With nine minutes remaining Kieran Balfour’s superb pass picked out Mati Zata’s run into the box and a great first touch setup a simple finish.

The scoring was completed when Mati Zata sent Matthew Shiels racing through the inside right channel, he went past the keeper before unselfishly returning the ball to Mati Zata who had the simple task of knocking the ball into the net. Not sure if Ayr had any Under 17 on Youth Cup duty as they scraped through against Selkirk by 25-0 ( yes twenty-five !!), with Ryan Nisbet netting 11 (Eleven).

Full-Time:- Rangers 10 Ayr United 2

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Jordan Houston (Aidan Wilson 60 mins), Jack Thomson, Lewis Mayo, Scott Gray (Matthew Shiels HT); Kieran Balfour; Stephen Kelly, Mati Zata; Andy Dallas (Rhys Breen 60 mins), Zak Rudden (Premyslaw Dachnowicz HT), Jack Adamson (Carlo Pignatiello 73 mins)

Not Used:- Lewis Muir (Gk), Cammy Palmer.

Footnote:- Rangers Under 13’s and Under 14’s both won 4-1 away to Ayr United.

Poor Performance From 20’s

Rangers 0 Ross County 4

A poor first half performance left Rangers development squad a mountain to climb after the break. Although there was some improvement after the break they never looked likely to threaten to make it a contest. If there was a positive to take from the game it was the performance of the three Under 17 players who came on as half-time substitutes.

Rangers fell behind after only six minutes, Liam Kelly came from his line and failed to collect Darren Moffat’s cross from the right leaving Russell Dingwall the simple task of knocking the ball into the empty net. Rangers reply was a Dylan Dykes shot from the edge of the box that Mark Foden turned wide of his right hand post.

Just before the quarter hour the visitor’s doubled their lead, a free-kick from halfway was sent towards Rangers box where Greg Morrison got a flick on and the ball fell perfectly for Russell Dingwall to shoot high past Liam Kelly. Midway through the half the ball was moved from Blair Malcolm on the left through Russell Dingwall to Darren Moffat breaking into the right side of the box and Liam Kelly made a fine save with his legs, the ball was cleared to the edge of the box and Russell Dingwall again tested Liam Kelly who saved low to his right.

Rangers tried to respond when Jamie Brandon fed Josh Jeffries on the right and he cut inside before shooting straight at Mark Foden. County’s third goal came ten minutes before the break, when a cross from the right was cleared from the Rangers box it was controlled by Darren Moffat who beat Liam Kelly low to his right.

Things got even worse with two minutes of the half remaining, Chris McLaughlin’s powerfully struck free-kick took a deflection as it beat Liam Kelly

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Ross County 4

Rangers introduced 16 year olds Kyle Bradley and Jamie Barjonas and 15 year old Zak Rudden at half-time. There was an improvement but Mark Foden in the County goal wasn’t threatened until the final quarter hour approached, Kyle Bradley and Max Ashmore combined to send Jamie Barjonas breaking forward and his long range effort effort was just too high. Within sixty seconds there was an unnecessary flare up with Jamie Brandon reacting to a shocking Russell Dingwall challenge that saw both players red carded.

Rangers tried to record a consolation goal, Scott Roberts broke into the right side of the box but was thwarted by Mark Foden who deflected the ball behind with his legs. When the corner was cleared to the edge of the box Max Ashmore’s powerful drive was pushed away by Mark Foden.

Full-Time:- Rangers 0 Ross County 4

Rangers:-Liam Kelly; Jamie Brandon, Tom Lang, David Brownlie, Jamie Mills (Kyle Bradley HT); Dylan Dykes; Ross Lyon, Max Ashmore; Josh Jeffries (Jamie Barjonas HT), Jordan Gibson (Zak Rudden HT), Scott Roberts.

Not Used:- Kieran Wright (Gk), Ross King

Ross County:- Mark Foden; Stephen Miller, Sam Morrison, James Ross, Chris McLaughlin (James Wallace 89mins); Darren Moffat, Jamie Beeston (No.15 HT), Tom McLennan, Blair Malcolm; Russell Dingwall; Greg Morrison

Not Used:- Peter Tait (Gk)

Comfortable Win For 14’s

Rangers 6 Dundee United 1

Tonight was an opportunity to take in a game involving one of the younger teams with the Under 14’s taking on Dundee United at Murray Park. Rangers squad included four trialists, two from Scotland and two from Northern Ireland.

Rangers took the lead on seven minutes, Matty Yates pass inside the United left-back released Simon Millar to continue into the box and shoot past the keeper. The lead was doubled less than ten minutes later when the two Northern Ireland trialists combined to good effect. When a cross came in from the left Chris McKee headed the ball towards goal and Ben Wylie just beat the visitor’s keeper to the ball to nod into the net.

In the final minute of the period Dundee United threatened the Rangers goal from a free-kick just outside the Rangers penalty area that Jay Hogarth got down low to his right to save at his post. Only two minutes of the second period had elapsed when Rangers increased their lead, Callum Biggar sent Simon Millar down the right and he out paced the full-back before crossing low into the box and Chris McKee converted from just outside the six yard box.

Less than five minutes later Chris McKee was sent clear on a Ben Wylie pass but on this occasion he shot straight at the keeper. Rangers came close as the midway point of the period approached, Euan Deveney advanced down the left before feeding Matty Yates, his cross found Simon Millar arriving at the back post and he was unlucky to see his volley bounce clear off the keeper’s right hand post.

A fourth goal soon followed with Matty Yates dispossessing a defender twenty-five yards from the United goal and he looked up to see the keeper off his line an lobbed the ball over his head and into the net. The visitors managed to pull a goal back in the final period, the attack came down the left  and when the ball was played inside the shot just beat Jay Hogarth who couldn’t quite keep the ball out.

Rangers put a bit of gloss on the scoreline by adding a couple of goals before the final whistle. The first came from a free-kick just outside the left hand angle of the box and Ciaran Dickson gave the keeper no chance finding the top corner with his shot. The scoring was completed when Tom Henderson showed some neat footwork to play in Aaron Bryson who slotted the ball past the keeper.

Full-Time:- Rangers 6 Dundee United 1

Rangers Squad:- Jay Hogarth (Gk), Callum Biggar, Euan Deveney, Ciaran Dickson, Ally Munro, Kyle McClelland, Simon Millar, Kai Kennedy, Chris McKee, Ben Wylie, Matty Yates, Jack ?????, Aaron Bryson, Scott ?????, Ryan Muir, Tom Henderson, Blair Rossiter.

Harsh Lesson For Young Rangers Side

Rangers 0 Hamilton Accies 4

Following on from Monday night’s Youth Cup tie Rangers took on Hamilton Accies in the Development League at Dumbarton tonight. With no outfield players starting both games it was a very young starting eleven that took the field with four 16 and four 17 year olds in the starting lineup. There were some positives to take from the game but they will be disappointed with the standard of the goals they lost.

The visitor’s took the lead in the third minute, a miscued clearance landed at the feet of Stephen Boyd outside the left side of Rangers box and with Robbie McCrorie off his line he lobbed the ball of the keeper and into the net. Rangers tried to respond immediately from a long-range Kyle Bradley effort that Alan Martin saved comfortably.

With seven minutes on the clock Stephen Boyd attacked the left side of Rangers penalty area before passing inside to Ryan Tierney who was denied by a superb Robbie McCrorie save low to his right. Another long-range effort was Rangers reply, this time from Jamie Brandon that took a nick of a defender on the way over.

As the half hour approached a free-kick from midway inside Rangers half fell for Alex D’Acol with Robbie McCrorie saving at close range, Jamie Sendles-White’s effort from the rebound was cleared from the line by Jamie Brandon and with the goal at his mercy Ryan Tierney blazed the third attempt over from inside the six yard box. After surviving that scare Rangers fell further behind two minutes later. Alex D’Acol’s pass sprung Rangers attempt to play offside and sent Ryan Tierney in the clear, he continued into the box before rolling the ball to Stephen Boyd, his initial shot came back of the underside of the bar but with the Rangers defence hesitant he had time to gather the rebound and fire high past Robbie McCrorie.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Hamilton Accies 2

Any thoughts of a comeback was dashed seven minutes after the break, Alex D’Acol sent Ben Reilly to the byline on the right and when Robbie McCrorie failed to gather his low driven cross Ryan Tierney had a simple task to net from close range. As the final quarter-hour approached Stephen Boyd attacked the left side of the box and passed inside to Ross Cunningham who side-stepped Jason Krones but couldn’t beat Robbie McCrorie who produced a fine point-blank save.

The scoring was completed with nine minutes remaining, Stephen Boyd attacked the centre of Rangers defence and the ball broke to Mark Kelly, Robbie McCrorie appeared to be wrong footed and the substitute’s shot from the edge of the box squirmed past him.

Full-Time:- Rangers 0 Hamilton Accies 4

Rangers:- Robbie McCrorie; Fraser Aird (Max Ashmore 63mins), Tom Lang (Ross McCrorie 70mins), Jason Krones, Kyle Bradley; Dylan Dykes; Jamie Barjonas, Jamie Brandon; Josh Jeffries, Jordan Gibson, Andy Dallas (Liam Burt 63mins).

Not Used :- Kieran Wright (Gk), Scott Roberts, Ross Lyon, Ross King.

Hamilton Accies:- Alan Martin; Ben Reilly, Shaun Want, Jamie Sandles-White, Scott McMann; Ross Cunningham (Connor Sculllion 76mins), Stephen Boyd, Ronan Hughes, Daniel Redmond (Jack Simpson HT); Alex D’Acol (Mark Kelly 65mins), Ryan Tierney.

Not Used:- Alex Marshall (Gk), Colin Granger, Scott Granger, Rico Quitongo.

20’s Ease Into Next Round

Rangers 4 Queen’s Park 1

Once Ryan Sinnamon had broken the deadlock on twenty-seven minutes the result of the tie was never in any doubt and the Rangers youngsters coasted to a comfortable victory. The one negative from tonight’s game was Tom Walsh’s injury seven minutes before the break when he had to be replaced by Josh Jeffries.

The first chance came in the seventh minute when Tom Walsh passed to Liam Burt wide on the left, he cut inside past a defender before forcing a fine save from Craig Melrose who dived to his right to turn the ball wide of the post. On the quarter-hour mark Tom Walsh and Jordan Thompson worked the ball in from the right to Max Ashmore whose powerful strike from the edge of the box was straight at Craig Melrose who managed to keep the shot out and his defence completed the clearance.

The break through came three minutes before the half-hour, when the ball was cleared from the Queen’s Park box to Ryan Sinnamon on the right hand angle of the box he sent an unstoppable shot past Craig Melrose and into the net via the under side of the bar. The lead was doubled before the half-hour was out, Ryan Sinnamon attacked down the right before picking out Tom Walsh inside the Queen’s Park penalty area and he fired past Craig Melrose.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Queen’s Park 0

Rangers third goal came twenty minutes after the break, Ross Lyon and Ryan Sinnamon combined to feed Josh Jeffries wide on the right and he cut inside before picking his spot beyond Craig Melrose and inside the far post. With twenty minutes remaining Queen’s had a free-kick on the left side of the Rangers penalty area, Anton Houghton lofted the ball towards the back post and the ball bounced off the top of the bar on the way over.

With three minutes remaining the visitors reduced the deficit, the attack came down the left and the ball was moved inside Euan McPherson’s shot took a deflection which completely wrong footed Robbie McCrorie and the ball found the net. In the final minute from a free-kick right of centre Billy Mortimer’s effort was only just wide of Robbie McCrorie’s right hand post. There was still time for Rangers to add a fourth, Jamie Barjonas sent Andy Dallas down the right, the visitor’s defence could only clear as far as Jamie Barjonas just outside the six yard box and he shot past Craig Melrose.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Queen’s Park 1

Rangers:- Robbie McCrorie; Ryan Sinnamon, David Brownlie, Ross McCrorie, Jamie Mills; Max Ashmore; Jordan Thompson, Ross Lyon (Jamie Barjonas 68mins); Tom Walsh (Josh Jeffries 38mins), Scott Roberts, Liam Burt (Andy Dallas 76mins)

Not Used:- Kieran Wright (Gk), Kyle Bradley.

Queen’s Park:- Craig Melrose; Gavin Mitchell, Cameron Foy, Anton Houghton, Chris McDonald; Gregor Wylie, Sam McKenzie, Jamie Gallagher, Grant Brennan; Aidan Quinn, Billy Mortimer.

Subs:- Owen Stott (Gk), Euan McPherson,Lee Connelly, ????? Brown.