Comfortable Win for 15’s

Rangers 5 Fife  Elite 1

This weekend’s youth football fix was this morning’s 15’s clash against what looked like a slightly older Fife Elite side. Despite going behind the young Rangers side responded and were soon in front and ran out comfortable winners.

Rangers first opportunity came on twelve minutes with some good play down the left and it ended with Darren Watterson’s shot being saved at the near post at the expense of a corner. Within sixty seconds the visitors were in front with their first venture into Rangers half, a long ball down the left caught out Rangers defence which allowed their attacker to go beyond Lewis Budinauckas and despite the best efforts from Harris O’Connor the ball crept over the line.

On twenty minutes Harris O’Connor sent Darren Watterson chasing his pass into the left side of the penalty area, the keeper got there first to clear as far as Matty Yates who’s effort from distance was just too high. Five minutes later when Kyle McClelland played the ball forward to Matty Yates his twenty-five yarder was pushed wide of the right hand post by the keeper.

As the final five minutes of the half approached Rangers drew level, Kai Kennedy played a corner on the right to Ciaran Dickson on the angle of the box and around twenty-five yards from goal, as soon as he struck the ball it was destined for the for top corner of the net. Three minutes later Rangers were in front, Kai Kennedy passed to Kyle McClelland on the right and from his cross Matty Yates rose to head past the keeper.

Rangers next chance came when Harry Livesey combined with Darren Watterson on the left to sent up a shooting chance for Kai Kennedy that had the keeper stretching to tip over. 

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Fife Elite 1

Rangers continued to dominate after the break although there were almost twenty minutes gone when Owen McGinty cut the ball back from the byline with Matty Yates shot being blocked on the line, he followed up with a strike from the rebound and it took a superb defensive block to deflect the ball over. Rangers were creating chances again, and when Matty Yates and Kai Kennedy combined on the left to send Owen McGinty to the byline his ball into the middle almost went along the goal line with no takers.

The third goal came along a couple on minutes later, Murray Miller played the ball forward to Owen McGinty on the left and he cut inside before shooting across the keeper and into the far corner. The same player was on target with a quarter-hour remaining, the ball was played up to Owen McGinty on the edge of the penalty area and he side stepped a defender before firing past the keeper. 

Two minutes later Owen McGinty was denied a hat-trick when the keeper got down to his left to save the striker’s shot from a free-kick from just outside the box. The scoring was completed from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining, a long ball sent Owen McGinty racing into the left side of the penalty area where he was tripped with Matty Yates converting the resultant penalty.

Full-Time:- Rangers 5 Fife Elite 1

Rangers Squad:- Lewis Budinauckas, Kyle McClelland, Harry Livesey, Murray Miller, Ally Monro, Harris O’Connor, Tom Henderson, Kai Kennedy, Matty Yates, Ciaran Dickson, Darren Watterson, Owen McGinty, Callum Biggar.