16’s Win Over Morton

Rangers 2 Morton 0

Rangers Under 16’s (2003) recorded a comfortable win over Morton at Auchenhowie yesterday afternoon. The scoreline doesn’t really reflect Rangers dominance with keeper Jack McConnell never seriously tested during the ninety minutes.

Rangers first chance came on six minutes when Robbie Fraser sent Cole McKinnon racing through the inside right channel. He took his shot early from outside the box and the keeper got down to his right to parry with a defender following up to clear for a corner. Just before the quarter-hour mark a good passing move ended with Aaron Lyall’s reverse pass on the edge of the box freeing Lewis Robertson inside the right side of the penalty area with the keeper blocking the shot with his foot.

Just the other side of the quarter-hour mark Rangers took the lead, Adam Devine’s pass sent Aaron Lyall racing into the right side of the box and he lobbed the advancing keeper, the ball seemed to be going just wide of the far post until Cole McKinnon hooked it back across goal for Aaron Lyall to net from close range.

Rangers came close just after the half-hour, Adam Devine played the ball forward to Aaron Lyall who took on two defenders to break into the right side of the box but shot across goal and just wide of the far post.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Morton 0

Rangers continued to dominate after the break and the visitor’s were reduced to ten men on the hour, their centre back receiving a second yellow for a cynical foul on Lewis Robertson. Rangers doubled their lead ten minute later, Robbie Fraser passed to Matthew Henderson who attacked the penalty area before passing to Robbie Ure who shot past the keeper.

A few minutes later when Alex Lowry’s cross from the left was cleared to the edge of the box, Aiden Berry’s shot forced the keeper to tip over. Rangers next chance came when Robbie Fraser picked out Alex Lowry inside the penalty area, his shot beat the keeper but a defender got back to clear from the line.

Rangers continued to look to increase their lead and when Cole McKinnon broke forward to shoot from twenty-five yards the keeper got down to his left to turn the ball wide. Alex Lowry then passed to Robbie Ure inside the box who went past a defender but was denied when the keeper blocked with his legs.

The final chance came with Alex Lowry attacked the penalty area just right of centre,  he tried to pick his spot but the ball bounced off the far post.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Morton 0

Rangers Squad:- Jack McConnell (Gk), Adam Devine, Aiden Berry, Leon King, Matthew Henderson, Robbie Fraser, Rhys Caves, Alex Lowrie, Aaron Lyall, Cole McKinnon, Lewis Robertson, Darren McInally, Ben Gordon, Robbie Ure, Trialist.

16’s Win In Fife

Fife Elite 0 Rangers 2

Rangers Under 16’s (2003) got back to winning ways with a victory against Fife Elite at the Michael Woods Centre in Glenrothes. Rangers were pretty much in control for most of the game although it was into the second half before they made the breakthrough, with the three 2004 substitutes coming on to make a significant impact.

Chances in the first half were few with the best coming on seven minutes, Lewis Robertson picked up a loose ball midway inside the Fife half and burst into the right side of the penalty area but shot just past the far post. Seven minutes before the break Cole McKinnon rose to meet Robbie Fraser’s corner from the right but headed straight at the keeper.

In a rare home attack just before the break, they progressed into the left side of the box and the ball across goal needed a superb clearance over his own crossbar by Leon King.

Half-Time:- Fife Elite 0 Rangers 0

Seven minutes after the break Adam Devine on the right played the ball forward, Cole McKinnon got there just before the keeper and nodded goalwards but a defender got back to clear. Robbie Fraser took the corner on the right short to Alex Lowry who’s cross was headed against the bar by Cole McKinnon.

Rangers came close again a couple of minutes later, when Cole McKinnon crossed from the left Rhys Caves header looked destined for the net until the keeper dived to his left and diverted the ball on to the crossbar. The home side almost capitalised on those let offs just after the hour, the attack and cross came on the right with the header going just wide of the far post.

A fine passing move led to the opening goal with twenty minutes remaining with Cole McKinnon’s final pass feeding Robbie Ure who found the net despite a valiant attempt from the keeper. Ten minutes later a quick Cole McKinnon throw-in released Robbie Ure into the left side of the penalty area and he turned inside a defender before shooting past the keeper.

Rangers next chance came when Leon King broke forward from defence and played in Robbie Ure on the right side of the box, when he converged with keeper and defender the ball broke to Cole McKinnon who volleyed just over. The final chance came when Dire Mebude broke on the right and exchanged passes with Robbie Ure before skipping past and defender and into the right side of the box but was denied when the keeper blocked with his legs.

Full-Time:- Fife Elite 0 Rangers 2

Rangers:- Jack McConnell; Adam Devine, Aidan Berry (Ben Duncan), Leon King, Matthew Henderson; Rhys Caves; Robbie Fraser, Alex Lowry (Darren McInally); Aaron Lyall (Dire Mebude), Cole McKinnon, Lewis Robertson (Robbie Ure).

Disappointing Defeat For 16’s

Rangers 0 Dundee United 2

Rangers Under 16’s (2003’s) suffered a defeat at the hands of Dundee United at Auchenhowie this afternoon. To be honest they never looked like wining after going behind early in the game.

The visitors had a great chance in the opening minute when a ball over the top of the Rangers defence sent their striker through on goal but he shot narrowly wide of Jack McConnell’s left hand post. Rangers replied when Cole McKinnon got to the left hand byline and his cutback picked out Alex Lowry whose shot forced the keeper to save low to his right.

Within a minute Dundee United took the lead, the attack came down the right and the United player worked his way along the byline before shooting past Jack McConnell. Rangers then came close on a couple of occasions just before the half hour mark. On the first occasion Adam Devine’s cross from the right was cleared only to Alex Lowry on the edge of the box but he was denied by a fine diving save to the keeper’s left.

In the next attack Matthew Henderson hit the left hand byline and his cross was met on the full volley by Cole McKinnon, the shot was powerful but straight at the keeper. The visitors responded with an attack that started on the right, they worked deep into the penalty area and Jack McConnell was forced to block the shot with his legs to prevent a goal.

Eight minutes before the break United doubled their lead, when the ball was played in to the box from the right a great turn by former Ranger Aaron Bryson created the space for him to poke the ball past Jack McConnell.

Half-Time:-  Rangers 0 Dundee United 2

The second half was tame by comparison with Dundee United comfortably holding their lead. There was seventy minutes on the clock when Leon King’s free-kick on the edge of the box and left of centre forced the keeper to save low to his left. The only other real chance came at the other end with two minutes remaining, the ball was worked from the right to the left hand angle of the box and the shot forced Jack McConnell to stretch and tip over.

Full-Time:- Rangers 0 Dundee United 2

Rangers Squad:- Jack McConnell (Gk), Adam Devine, Leon King, Ben Gordon, Matthew Henderson, Rhys Caves, Robbie Fraser, Alex Lowry, Aaron Lyall, Cole McKinnon, Lewis Robertson, Aiden Berry, Dire Mebude, Trialist.