17’s Overcome Thistle

Rangers 5 Partick Thistle 2

Rangers Under 17’s eventually overcame Thistle’s resistance in tonight’s pre-season friendly at Murray Park. Promotion to 20’s squad, injuries and holidays deprived Rangers of up to six starters, so it was a young Rangers side that took the field.

Rangers took the lead on ten minutes, Trialist (7) combined with Stephen Kelly who’s pass sent Mathew Shiels through to continue into the box and shoot past the keeper. Seven minutes later a slack defensive pass lead to Thistle’s equaliser, picking the ball up on the left hand angle of the Rangers penalty area their forward shot across Brian Kinnear into the far corner.

Rangers replied within a couple of minutes, Stephen Kelly passed to Carlo Pignatiello who split the defence and sent Trialist (7) racing clear but he was denied by the keeper who made a fine save. Midway through the half Thistle attacked through the centre and forced Brian Kinnear to dive to his left to save.

Two minutes later the visitor’s attacked again, this time on the left and when the ball was passed inside Brian Kinnear appeared unsighted when the ball was fired goalwards but he got down low to his left to turn the ball wide. Rangers were soon back on the attack and Trialist (9) progressed down the left, from his cross Matthew Shiels header forced the keeper to dive to his left and push the ball wide.

The final attack of the half came from Thistle who broke through the middle of Rangers defence but their attacker dragged his shot wide of Brian Kinnear’s right hand post.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Partick Thistle 1

Rangers created the first chance nine minutes into the second half, Trialist (7) attacked on the right and passed inside to Dapo Mebude who laid the ball back to Matthew Shiels, his short was powerful but the keeper did well to block with his legs. Within a minute Rangers created an almost identical chance, again Trialist (7) attacked on the right, this time he passed to Cammy Palmer who laid the ball back to Mati Zata but  his shot was weak and the keeper save comfortably.

Thistle capitalised by taking the lead with their first attack of the half, breaking through the middle of Rangers defence and placing a shot beyond Brian Kinnear. Within three minutes Rangers got back on level terms via the penalty spot, Dapo Mebude was tripped as he broke into the right side of the box and Matthew Shiels stepped up to convert from the spot.

Midway through the half a Stephen Kelly pass sent Matthew Shiels through, he was taken out as he went past the keeper but incredibly the referee awarded a corner. Within in a couple of minutes Rangers went ahead, Stephen Kelly moved the ball to Dapo Mebude who’s pass inside the right back released Matthew Shiels who continued into the box and shot past the keeper.

With eight minutes remaining Ross Young collected a pass from Mati Zata and sent an unstoppable twenty-five yarder past the keeper. With four minutes remaining the scoring was complete, Rangers attacked on the right and Ross Young’s pass picked out Dapo Mebude who turned and shot past the keeper.

Full-Time:- Rangers 5 Partick Thistle 2

Rangers:- Brian Kinnear (Nicky Hogarth 70 mins); Michael Hewitt (Zac Butterworth 64 mins), Jay Mack (Jamie Walker 80 mins), Jordan Houston, Scott Gray; Cammy Palmer; Stephen Kelly, Carlo Pignatiello (Mati Zata HT); Trialist (7) (Ross Young 70 mins), Trialist (9) (Dapo Mebude HT), Matthew Shiels.