20’s Impress

Rangers 3 Dundee 0

With a starting line up that included a 15-year-old, two 16 year olds and four 17 year olds it was probably the youngest side fielded in the Development League this season and they arguably produced the season’s best performance with a comfortable win over Dundee at Forthbank tonight. It was a Dundee that included James McPake on the comeback trail from injury and three other first team players. After a fairly tame first half the young Rangers side took control after the break and could have added to their three goal tally.

The first real effort came on nine minutes when Liam Burt cut in past two defenders from the right flank before shooting just wide of the far post. The next chance came along just before the half hour mark, Jack Thomson feeding Liam Burt on the right, he cut into the penalty area before shooting narrowly over.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Dundee 0

There was only three minutes on the clock after the break when Rangers took the lead, Billy Gilmour passed the ball forward to Liam Burt and his through ball released  Zak Rudden to continue into the box and shoot past Callum Ferrie. A further seven minutes had passed when Rangers doubled their lead, Ross Lyon fed Liam Burt on the right hand angle of the box, he went past a defender before shooting, his shot deflected off Conor Quigley and looped over Callum Ferrie and into the net.

The next chance came when Ross Lyon and Liam Burt combined to feed Zak Rudden on the edge of the box and on this occasion his effort was just wide of Callum Ferrie’s right hand post. Dundee tried to respond when Kerr Waddell broke forward from the halfway line to the edge of the penalty area and his shot was comfortably saved by Robbie McCrorie.

Rangers then had a couple of chances around the midway point of the half, Ross Lyon passed to Serge Atakayi who beat a defender before shooting from a narrow angle that Callum Ferrie saved at his near post. Within seconds a Ross Lyon pass sent Zar Rudden through but again he shot just wide of the post.

Rangers scored their third goal with three minutes remaining, another Ross Lyon pass sent Zak Rudden clear, he cut inside Kerr Waddell before slotting the ball past Callum Ferrie. The visitors had a great chance to grab a consolation goal, when the ball broke for Michael Duffy he passed to Brian Rice free inside the left side of the penalty area but he was denied by Robbie McCrorie who blocked with his legs.

Full-Time:- Rangers 3 Dundee 0

Rangers:- Robbie McCrorie; Ross McCrorie, David Bates, Aidan Wilson, Myles Beerman; Jack Thomson (Ursene Mouanda 74 mins); Billy Gilmour (Serge Atakayi 57 mins), Jamie Barjonas; Liam Burt (Josh Jeffries 66 mins), Zak Rudden, Ross Lyon.

Not Used:- Kieran Wright (Gk), Max Ashmore, Kyle Bradley, Amin Abaradan

Dundee:- Callum Ferrie; Kerr Waddell, James McPake (Taylor Berry HT), Matthew Smyth; Kyle Clark, Nicky Low, Iain Smith (Brain Rice 64 mins), Conor Quigley; Michael Duffy; Mark Smith (Connor Coupe 59 mins), Mardi Tejsse.

Not Used- Kyle Gourlay (Gk)