17’s Edge Out Aberdeen

Rangers 1 Aberdeen 0

Dapo Mebude’s first half goal was enough to secure three points for Rangers Under 17’s against Aberdeen at Auchenhowie this afternoon and keep their league hopes alive. It was probably a deserved victory but the narrow margin meant a few nervy moments in the closing minutes. They are now dependant on Celtic winning at Hamilton tomorrow to set up the final game away to Hamilton, which Rangers would need to win. If Hamilton take anything from the game tomorrow they are champions.

Rangers hand an early chance on two minutes, Ciaran Dickson passed to Josh McPake inside the right side of the box with Archie Mair blocking the shot before gathering. The visitors created their first chance on  thirteen minutes with an attack on the right side of the box, the ball broke to Max Barry with Lewis Budinauckas saving at close range.

A few minutes later Kai Kennedy broke into the left side of the penalty area and forced Archie Mair to block with his legs. Just before the twenty-minute mark Josh McPake burst past three defenders and into the right side of the box but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Rangers took the lead on twenty-seven minutes, Josh McPake sent Nathan Patterson to the right hand byline and his low cross presented Dapo Mebude with a simple finish at the back post. Four minutes before the break Kieran Shanks advanced deep inside Rangers penalty area before passing to the Ethan Ross who was denied by a superb Lewis Budinauckas save at point-blank range. 

On the stroke of half time Zak Butterworth played the ball forward to Josh McPake who went past a defender and into the right side of the penalty area but shot over.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Aberdeen 0

The first chance of the second half came nine minutes in, Kai Kennedy’s free-kick from the right hand angle of the box was headed just wide of the far post by Danny Finlayson. Two minutes later Rangers had a great chance to double their lead, when Dapo Mebude broke into the left side of the penalty area the referee adjudged he was impeded and pointed to the spot. The striker stepped up to take the spot kick but Archie Mair dived to his left to parry and reacted to keep out Dapo Mebude’s shot from the rebound.

With ten minutes remaining Joao Balde broke to the edge of the box and his shot was parried by Archie Mair who was back on his feet to keep out Matty Yates effort from the rebound. With a couple of minutes remaining Josh McPake’s run along the byline set up a chance to seal it, his cut back found Dapo Mebude whose shot was deflected just wide of the far post. 

In the dying minutes the visitors piled long balls into Rangers box and even had the keeper up for a corner but Rangers held on to secure the points.

Full-Time:- Rangers 1 Aberdeen 0

Rangers:- Lewis Budinauckas; Nathan Patterson (Euan Deveney 41 mins), Danny Finlayson, Jay Mack, Zac Butterworth; Murray Miller (Ben Williamson 79 mins); Cammy Palmer, Ciaran Dickson (Joao Balde 72 mins); Josh McPake, Dapo Mebude, Kai Kennedy (Matty Yates 64 mins).

Not Used :- Lewis Muir (Gk), James Maxwell, Ryan Muir.

Aberdeen:- Archie Mair; Danny George Strachan, Lloyd Robertson, Kyle Dalling, ????? McLachlan; Jack Chesser, Connor Barron (Lyle Robert Booth 83 mins); Sean Linden (Tyler Chicken 66 mins), Ethan Ross, Max Barry (Tyler Dylan Alexander 66 mins); Kieran Shanks (Lewis Duncan 77 mins).