Youth Round Up

Dundee United 1 Rangers 3

Youth games started early this weekend with the Development squad taking on Dundee United at St. Andrew’s University on Friday afternoon, so it was a good opportunity to take in this game before heading to Perth. The Rangers side was supplemented by the inclusion of Danny Wilson and Niko Krnajcar while the young United side had an experienced pairing in central defence with Lewis Toshney and Tam Scobbie.

Rangers created the first chance on thirteen minutes when Scott Gray played the ball forward to Jordan Thompson on the left, Matthew Shiels was first to his low cross but knocked the ball just wide of the near post. The home side responded five minutes later with an attack down the left, when the ball came into the box their striker failed to hit the target shooting wide of Kieran Wright’s left hand post.

The remainder of the half was pretty even with neither side creating any further clear-cut chances.

Half-Time:- Dundee United 0 Rangers 0

Rangers made an early break through six minutes into the second half, when Niko Kranjcar’s shot from the edge of the box deflected off a defender towards the left hand byline Serge Atakayi chased to find the net from a tight angle. Five minutes later Cammy Palmer passed to Matthew Shiels who broke from halfway before playing in Ryan Hardie on the left side of the box with the United keeper saving bravely at the striker’s feet.

Rangers doubled their lead just before the hour, the ball was moved from left to right, from Ryan Hardie through Niko Kranjcar onto Matthew Shiels who slotted past the keeper. Rangers third came just as the game was about to enter the final quarter-hour, Niko Kranjcar’s free-kick from the left side of the penalty area was missed by everyone and found the far bottom corner.

Rangers were now creating chances on a regular basis and when Danny Wilson crossed from the left Zak Rudden was denied by the keeper. The keeper was soon called into to action again, saving to his left from Andy Dallas after he was setup from a Serge Atakyi pass from the right.

Serge Atakayi was again the provider, passing to Niko Kranjcar on the left side of the box who forced a third save in a six-minute period from the keeper. The home side responded by grabbing a consolation goal with seven minutes remaining, some good play down the left took them to the byline and the low centre was converted at close range.

Full-Time:- Dundee United 1 Rangers 3

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Andy Dallas, Kyle Bradley, Danny Wilson, Scott Gray; Cammy Palmer; Jordan Thompson (Stephen Kelly 63 mins), Niko Kranjcar; Serge Atakayi, Ryan Hardie (Zak Rudden 69 mins), Matthew Shiels.

Not Used:- Aiden McAdams (Gk), Izzak Ahmed, Josh McPake, Kyle McLelland.

 

With the older age groups kicking off simultaneously at The Oriam Sunday’s choice was travel through there for one game or take in the two younger age groups at Auchenhowie. Two games are better than one on a Sunday so it was off to Auchenhowie.

Rangers 5 Hearts 2

A closed road and subsequent diversion meant missing the opening few minutes of the 13’s game, by which time Rangers were a goal down. Rangers were soon level and I was still trying to figure out the Rangers lineup when Callum Sandilands hooked a shot over his shoulder and high past the keeper. Hearts threatened from a right-wing corner with Jack Glen saving the header high to his left.

Rangers got themselves in front in the second period when Elliot Dunlop’s ball over the Hearts defence sent Zac McKay breaking into the right side of the penalty area, he miscued his shot but it went straight to Ricco Diack who netted from the edge of the six yard box. Number three soon followed when Ryan Murray’s superb cross from the left was more than matched by Callum Sandilands volley that gave the keeper no chance.

Rangers were now well on top and when Zak Queen teed up Zac McKay on the left hand angle of the box he was denied by the keeper. The next chance came when Max Conway played the ball forward to Ricco Diack on the right who played the ball across the box to Zac McKay who again tested the keeper.

With game now in the third and final period Rangers added a fourth, Ryan Murray’s pass sending Zac McKay racing clear on the left and he continued into the box to shoot past the keeper. Before the period turn around Elliot Dunlop won possession before feeding Kole Connelly who fired narrowly wide of the keeper’s right hand post.

Rangers scored a fifth once the teams had swapped ends, Ewan Ross won the ball before striding forward and beating the keeper with a shot from distance. Hearts managed to grab a second goal before the final whistle, Scott Cowie seemed to have gathered a through ball but when it broke free it was squeezed into the net at the left hand post.

Full-Time:- Rangers 5 Hearts 2

Rangers Squad:- Jack Glen (Gk), Kyle Budinauckas (Gk), Scott Cowie (Gk), Max Conway, Adam Forrester, Christian Webster, Ryan Murray; Ewan Ross, Kole Connelly, Callum Sandilands, Zac McKay, Ricco Diack, Elliot Dunlop, Zak Queen, Rory Wilson, Niall Rogerson.

 

Rangers 4 Hearts 1

Next up was the under 14’s clash and with a few players unavailable the squad included three promoted from the under 13’s. 

Rangers first chance came when Dire Mebude won the ball and broke into the right side of the penalty area, with options in the centre he attempted to chip the keeper but his effort was too casual and the keeper saved comfortably. Within a minute the Hearts keeper was having to  show speed and bravery to save at Robbie Ure’s feet as he broke into the left side of the box.

The breakthrough came eight minutes into the second period, Harley Ewan and Jack Scanlan combined the play the ball out wide right to Tyler Pasnik, he advanced before sending in a superb cross and find Jack Scanlan who had continued into the box and net from around eight yards. Three minutes later Rangers doubled their lead, another superb run and cross from Tyler Pasnik on the right setup a series of head tennis inside the six yard box with Gavin Gallagher barged in the back for a clear penalty that was confidently converted by Leyton Dunlop.

Rangers didn’t have to wait long for a third, from Logan Dunachie’s ball over the top of the hearts defence Robbie Ure got the better of the defender as the tussled on the left side of the penalty area before shooting past the keeper. Hearts had a chance before the period ended with an attack down the left, but when the ball came into the box the shot was wide of Jack McConnell’s left hand post.

The final period was just over ten minutes old when Rangers scored a fourth, Tyler Pasnik’s throw in sent Dire Mebude to the byline on the right, he skipped past a defender before picking out Gavin Gallagher who netted from close range. With just over ten minutes remaining Hearts swung in a corner from the left and a header looked netbound until Jack Harkness cleared from the line.

In the final minute Kelsey Ewan was short with a pass back and the referee adjudged Gregor McLeod tripped the attacker as they challenged for the ball and pointed to the spot which was duly converted.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Hearts 1

Rangers Squad:- Jack McConnell (Gk), Gregor McLeod (Gk), Brodie Kerr, Kelsey Ewan, Logan Dunachie, Leyton Dunlop, Harley Ewan, Jack Harkness, Jack Scanlan, Dire Mebude, Robbie Ure, Gavin Gallagher, Tyler Pasnik, Jamie Newton.

Footnote:- Meanwhile at The Oriam Rangers U17”s won 4-1 with the goals coming from Zack Butterworth, Dapo Mebude (2) & Matty Yates. Hearts came out on top in the U15’s clash by 3-1, Rangers goal coming from Adam Mansouri.