17’s Turn Tables On Celtic

In stark contrast to last week a dominant performance from start to finish ensured Rangers go in to their last group game against Partick Thistle knowing a win will take them into the final. A Josh McPake hat-trick and a brilliant Kai Kennedy free-kick provided the goals in tonight’s victory at Auchenhowie.

There was only eight minutes on the clock when the young Rangers side took the lead. Kai Kennedy’s ball over the top of Celtic’s defence picked out Josh McPake breaking into the left side of the penalty area, a superb first touch allowed him to go wide of Liam Hughes and fire into the net. On the quarter-hour mark a Kai Kennedy corner from the right was knocked towards the net by Danny Finlayson but was headed off the line.

Lewis Budinauckas was first called into action just before the half hour, turning a long-range free kick round his left hand post. Four minutes before the break Dapo Mebude chased down and dispossessed Jack McDowall on the edge of the box before passing to Josh McPake on the right side of the penalty area he shot across Liam Hughes and into the corner of the net.

Right on the stroke of half-time Celtic pulled a goal back, a free-kick from the left was cleared to the right hand angle of the box where Kieran McGrath’s shot took a significant deflection to beat Lewis Budinauckas.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Celtic 1

Rangers came close on the hour, Zac Butterworth switched play to Josh McPake on the right and his cross come shot from close to the byline was hooked off the line by Dylan Forrest. With the game entering the final twenty minutes Kai Kennedy stepped to fire a brilliant free-kick from just outside the right side of the box over the wall and into the top corner.

Rangers fourth came with five minutes remaining, Matty Yates switched the play to Josh McPake on the right side of the penalty area  he lobbed the ball over the advancing Liam Hughes and into the net. Almost immediately Celtic reduced the deficit to two, an attack on the left was halted by a Nathan Patterson foul inside the box and Scott Robertson converted the resultant penalty.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Celtic 2

Rangers:- Lewis Budinauckas; Nathan Patterson, Danny Finlayson, Kyle McLelland, Zac Butterworth; Ciaran Dickson, Ben Williamson, Kai Kennedy (Matty Yates 76 mins), Murray Miller; Josh McPake, Dapo Mebude (John Balde 89 mins).

Not Used:- Jay Hogarth (Gk), Harris O’Connor, Ryan Muir.

Celtic:- Liam Hughes; Dylan Forrest, Liam Morrison, Jack McDowall, Andy Kerr; Paul Kennedy, Barry Coffey; Karamoko Dembele, Kieran McGrath, Brody Patterson.

Subs:- Josh Bradley-Hurst (Gk), Josh Jack, Chris McQueen, Ewan Otto, Scott Cusick, Owen Moffat, Michael Sparkes.

 

Rangers 0 Brentford 3

Earlier in the day Rangers Development Squad supplemented by several first team players were comfortably beaten by a Brentford B side. Rangers improved slightly after the break but never really threatened to turn the game around.

Rangers fell behind on four minutes, Bradley Clayton’s pass picked out Marcus Forss breaking into the right side of the penalty area, Jak Alnwick was a bit too hasty coming from his line allowing the striker to go past him and roll the ball into the net. Brentford doubled their lead just before the twenty-minute mark with a novel free-kick, Zain Westbrooke flicked the ball up for Reece Cole to volley over the wall and into the net.

Ten minutes before the break Lee Wallace budled over Bradley Clayton inside the box and the winger stepped up to convert from the spot.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Brentford 3

Rangers improved after the break but the only real chance at either end came on seventy-six minutes when Jamie Barjonas sent Serge Atakayi through the inside right channel with Ellery Balcombe advancing from his line to divert the shot wide of his left hand post.

Full-Time:- Rangers 0 Brentford 3

Rangers:- Jak Alnwick; Lee Hodson, Aidan Wilson (Lewis Mayo 65 mins), Lee Wallace, Matthew Shiels (Kyle Bradley HT); Andy Halliday (Cammy Palmer 86 mins); Graham Dorrans (Jamie Barjonas HT), Stephen Kelly (Glenn Middleton 54 mins); Andy Dallas, Zak Rudden (Myles Beerman 86 mins), Serge Atakayi.

Not Used:- Aidan McAdams (Gk)

Brentford:- Ellery Balcombe; Lukas Talbro, Jarvis Edobor, Mads Bech Sorensen, Nikolaj Kirk; Zain Westbrook, Reece Cole, Jaakko Oksanen; Bradley Clayton, Herson Rodrigues Alves (Raphael Assibey- Mensah 80 mins), Marcus Forss.

19’s Edge Out Utrecht

Rangers 3 Utrecht 2

Rangers Under 19’s edged out Michael Mols FC Utrecht Under 19’s in an entertaining game at  rain-soaked Auchenhowie this afternoon. Rangers were without a few players who were on duty with their loan clubs, but edged a win with Glenn Middleton’s strike four minutes from time.

The visitors had an early chance on three minutes, their striker was strong in the challenge but shot tamely wide of Aidan McAdams right hand post. Rangers first effort was a thirty yard shot from Jack Thomson which was straight at the keeper.

Within in a minute Jamie Barjonas, in possession inside the left side of the penalty area picked out Stephen Kelly on the edge of the box and his shot was deflected wide of the keeper’s right hand post. Aidan McAdams was called into action on eighteen minutes, diving to his right to turn a shot from a free kick left of centre and on the edge of the box wide of the post.

Midway through the half Zak Rudden and Serge Atakayi combined on the right and the latter picked out Stephen Kelly on the edge of the box but his shot was straight at the keeper. Rangers took the lead a couple of minutes after the half-hour mark, Zak Rudden’s pass split the Utrecht defence to find Andy Dallas who went past the keeper and rolled the ball into the net.

The visitors responded and three minutes later a spate of head tennis developed inside the Rangers penalty area and when the ball was knocked goalwards Aidan McAdams was forced to leap and tip the ball over. Rangers were unfortunate not to double their lead seven minutes before the break, Serge Atakayi’s cross from the right was headed against the inside of the keeper’s right hand post by Andy Dallas and the ball went across the face of goal

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 FC Utrecht 0

Rangers were first to threaten after the break when Serge Atakayi found Zak Rudden inside the right side of the penalty area but he shot high over the bar. Within a couple of minutes the Dutch youngsters were level, from a right hand corner a close range back header found the net. 

Just before the hour mark Jamie Barjonas fed Zak Rudden on the left hand angle of the box, he tried a curling shot to the far post but the ball sneaked just past. Five minutes later Utrecht took the lead, from a free-kick on the right side of the box the ball was curled over the defensive wall and into the net.

The Ibrox youngsters were only behind for four minutes, when the ball was played up to Zak Rudden his cushioned header found Stephen Kelly who held off a challenge before giving the keeper no chance from the edge of the box. Rangers were now on top and chasing a winner, when Stephen Kelly lobbed the ball forward it landed for Glenn Middleton inside the left side of the box and it took a fine save low at the near post to prevent a goal.

Five minutes later Jamie Barjonas cross found Zak Rudden deep inside the left side of the penalty area and perhaps he should have done better than head across goal and wide. Rangers next chance came when Kyle Bradley played the ball forward to Andy Dallas on the right and when he crossed the ball broke for Stephen Kelly whose net bound shot was deflected over.

With four minutes remaining Rangers grabbed what was a deserved winner, Kyle Bradley crossed from the right, Zak Rudden headed on to Glenn Middleton inside the left side of the penalty area and he volleyed into the net.

Full -Time:- Rangers 3 FC Utrecht 2

Rangers:- Aidan McAdams; Michael Hewitt (Cammy Palmer 74 mins), Kyle Bradley, Lewis Mayo, Matthew Shiels (Scott Gray 74 mins); Jack Thomson; Jamie Barjonas, Stephen Kelly; Andy Dallas, Zak Rudden, Serge Atakayi (Glenn Middleton 61 mins).

 

Rangers 4 Kilmarnock 2

Earlier in day the my first soaking came watching Rangers 15’s (2004’s) record a win against Kilmarnock, It was a comfortable win which the scoreline probably didn’t reflect.

Rangers took the lead just before the quarter-hour mark, Darren McInally’s through ball released Tyler Pasnik who went wide of the keeper before rolling the ball into the net. Midway through the half it was a Dire Mebude pass that sent Jack Scanlan through but he was denied when the keeper tipped over.

Rangers doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark with a Dire Mebude solo effort, he powered his way through the centre of the Killie defence leaving three defenders in his wake before shooting past the keeper. Five minutes later Tyler Pasnik broke down the left before passing inside to Dire Mebude who cut inside a defender but was denied by a fine save.

Just before the break Killie had a chance when they broke through the centre and it took a good Jack McConnell save to keep Rangers two ahead. On the stroke of half-time a scramble ensued in Rangers box and the referee adjudged a shot was blocked by an arm and pointed to the spot which was duly converted.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Kilmarnock 1

Rangers came close a couple of minutes before the hour mark, Darren McInally’s free-kick forcing the keeper to tip over. The corner was taken short and when the ball was played into the box it fell to Sam Lovie who’s shot was cleared from the line.

Rangers increased their lead soon after, Mackenzie Strachan passed inside from the left to Connor Allen who gave the keeper no chance with a shot into the far top corner. The fourth soon followed when a neat Robbie Ure back heel teed up Mackenzie Strachan to shoot past the keeper. 

With the game approaching the final five minutes Leyton Dunlop hit the left hand byline and cut the ball back to McKenzie Kirk who’s shot almost squeezed past the keeper but he manged to divert the ball wide of his right hand post. The final action led to a second Kilmarnock goal, the attack came through the inside right channel deep into the box and the ball was fired past Jack McConnell.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Kilmarnock 2

Rangers Squad:- Jack McConnell (Gk), Kelsey Ewan, Logan Dunachie, Sam Lovie, Leyton Dunlop, Darren McInally, Mackenzie Strachan, Jack Scanlan, Dire Mebude, Tyler Pasnik, McKenzie Kirk, Gavin Gallagher, Connor Allan, Robbie Ure.

 

 

Heavy Defeat For 17’s

Celtic 5 Rangers 2

Rangers Under 17’s suffered a heavy defeat in their Glasgow Cup tie at Lennoxtown tonight. A poor start saw them two goals down after ten minutes, despite briefly getting back on level terms they were pretty much second best throughout and can have few complaints.

There was only four minutes on the clock when Rangers lost a disastrous opening goal. Lewis Budinauckas played a short goal kick to Harris O’Connor who was under pressure, his return pass to the keeper was short and Scott Robertson won the challenge with the keeper to roll the ball into the net. Five minutes later the ball broke to Paul Kennedy on the edge of the box his shot was only just wide of Lewis Budinauckas left hand post.

Barely sixty seconds later Celtic doubled their lead, from a free-kick on the right hand angle of the box Paul Kennedy curled the ball over the wall and into the net via Lewis Budinauckas left hand post.  Rangers got back into the game with their first real effort on goal, Zac Butterworth’s cross from the right side of the penalty area had Matty Yates stretching to volley in at the back post.

With the half-hour mark approaching Karamoko Dembele in possession on the right passed inside to Paul Kennedy who’s twenty-five yard strike was saved by Lewis Budinauckas low to his left. A further five minutes had passed when Karamoko Dembele attacked the centre of Rangers box before playing in Kieran McGrath inside the right side of the penalty area with Lewis Budinauckas diverting his shot wide of his left hand post with his foot. A decent Rangers passing move ended with Kai Kennedy in possession and his twenty-five yarder was narrowly wide of Ryan Mullen’s right hand post.

Half-Time:- Celtic 2 Rangers 1

Celtic started the half on the front foot and two minutes in Kieran McGrath charged down Kyle McLelland’s clearance and broke down the left, from his low cross Scott Robertson was denied by Lewis Budinauckas at point-blank range. Within a minute Dylan Forrest played the ball forward to Karamoko Dembele on the right side of the box and his shot was diverted wide of the far post by Lewis Budinauckas.

Rangers capitalised on their keeper’s saves by drawing level on fifty-three minutes, a quick break saw Matty Yates send Murray Miller breaking clear on the right, he passed inside to Zac Butterworth who showed great composure to side step a defender and shoot past the keeper. Rangers were only back on level terms for six minutes. Kieran McGrath passed to Karamoko Dembele on the right side of the box and his pass released Scott Robertson, Lewis Budinauckas stood up to block the initial shot but was helpless as the Celtic player netted the rebound.

Ten minutes later Karamoko Dembele broke on the right, he cut inside past two Rangers defenders before shooting into Lewis Budinauckas bottom right hand corner. With the game now in the final quarter-hour Celtic added a fifth, a corner from the left went to the right side of Rangers box,  Lewis Budinauckas saved the shot but the ball went to the left hand byline and when it was played across goal for Barry Coffey to net from close range.

With the game beyond them Rangers finished with a flourish, Ciaran Dickson broke forward and from his pass into the box Dapo Mebude showed good strength to get the ball to Kai Kennedy inside the left side of the penalty area but he shot into the side netting. The next chance came when Dapo Mebude passed to Kai Kennedy who delayed his pass to pick out the overlapping Nathan Patterson on the left, he cut inside a defender before shooting with Jack McDowall clearing from the line.

The final chance came when Rangers worked the ball to Josh McPake on the edge of the penalty area and his shot forced a save from Ryan Mullen diving to his left.

Full-Time:- Celtic 5 Rangers 2

Celtic:- Ryan Mullen; Dylan Forrest, Jack McDowall, Chris McQueen, Ewan Otoo (Andy Kerr 67 mins); Barry Coffey, Paul Kennedy; Scott Robertson (Josh Jack 83 mins); Karamoko Dembele (????? 89 mins), Kieran McGrath, Brody Paterson.

Not Used:- Josh Bradley-Hurst (Gk), ?????

Rangers:- Lewis Budinauckas; Danny Finlayson, Kyle McLelland, Harris O’Connor, Nathan Patterson; Murray Miller; Ciaran Dickson, Kai Kennedy; Zac Butterworth (Josh McPake 57 mins), Matty Yates (John Balde 75 mins), Dapo Mebude.

Not Used:- Jay Hogarth (Gk), Ben Williamson, Ryan Muir.