Rangers Under 15’s were successful in today’s tournament at St. Andrew’s University, the tournament consisted of ten teams split in to two groups of five. After a series of round robin games the top two in each group contested semi finals and ultimately a final. All games were played over two fifteen minutes halves.
Rangers 1 Aberdeen 0
In a tight game Rangers had the better of the opening period but it was Aberdeen who missed the best chance of the first half. The attack started on the left and when the play was switched to inside the right side of the penalty area the shot was straight at Jack McConnell. Rangers grabbed what proved to be the winner in the opening minute of the second half, Robbie Ure latching on to a short pass back before rounding the keeper and slotting the ball into the net.
Rangers:- Jack McConnell; Kelsey Ewan, Harley Ewan, Logan Dunnachie, Sam Lovie; Conner Allan, Darren McInally; Mackenzie Strachan; Dire Mebude, Robbie Ure, Leyton Dunlop.
Rangers 0 Hearts 0
Hearts were first to threaten on eight minutes when Connor Allan lost possession but their striker shot over. The Hearts striker had another great chance six minutes later when he robbed Harley Ewan on the edge of Rangers box but he shot straight at the Trialist keeper. Rangers had a decent effort before the break when Connor Allan passed to Tyler Pasnik and his shot from the edge of the box forced the keeper to dive to his right to save.
Rangers were dominant after the break and created an early chance when Robbie Ure passed to Matthew Carson on the left, from his cross a great first touch from Tyler Pasnik enabled him to get the shot away that the keeper saved at his right hand post. A couple of minutes later Mackenzie Strachan’s corner from the left found the head of Damiola Fadeun and his downward header bounced up and on to the crossbar, The final chance came when Tyler Pasnik’s flick allowed Gavin Gallagher to tee up Robbie Ure in side the right side of the box but he shot narrowly over.
Rangers:- Trialist; Damiola Fadeun, Logan Dunnachie, Harley Ewan, Matthew Carson; Connor Allan, Luke McGlynn; Gavin Gallagher; Dire Mebude, Robbie Ure, Tyler Pasnik.
Rangers 4 Partick Thistle 0
Next up for the young Gers was Partick Thistle where they recorded a convincing win, although it took them into the second half to make the break through. The only significant first half effort came when Matthew Carson played the ball forward to Tyler Pasnik who cut inside before firing a twenty-five yarder off the crossbar.
Rangers then hit Thistle with three goals in as many minutes early in the second half. First up Dire Mebude drove towards the box, exchanged passes with Gavin Gallagher and set up Tyler Pasnik inside the left side of the penalty area to shoot past the keeper. Dire Mebude then grabbed a goal of his own, breaking into the right side of the penalty area, beating a defender before shooting into the far corner of the net.
The third goal came when Leyton Dunlop passed to Damiola Fadeun on the right, from his pass Robbie Ure showed great feet to make space to shoot past the keeper. The scoring was complete when Darren McInally sent Dire Mebude into the left side of the box to round the keeper and net from a narrow angle.
Rangers:- Jack McConnell; Damiola Fadeun, Kelsey Ewan, Sam Lovie, Matthew Carson (Dire Mebude HT); Luke McGlynn (Connor Allan HT), Darren McInally; Mackenzie Strachan; Gavin Gallagher (Robbie Ure HT), Tyler Pasnik ( Logan Dunnachie 22 mins), Leyton Dunlop.
Rangers 3 St.Johnstone 0
Rangers secured their place in the final with another comfortable win in the last group game against St. Johnstone. Rangers took the lead on five minutes, Kelsey Ewan broke down the right his cross found Robbie Ure on the left side of the box, the keeper parried his shot but when he was challenged by Leyton Dunlop the ball broke for Gavin Gallagher to score from close range. Rangers doubled their lead before the break, Robbie Ure teeing up Connor Allan who beat the keeper from around twenty-five yards.
The first minute of the second half saw Rangers score a third from the penalty spot. Robbie Ure passed to Matthew Carson on the left and from his low cross Leyton Dunlop was bundled over and he stepped up to convert the penalty.
Rangers:- Trialist; Kelsey Ewan, Logan Dunnachie, Harley Ewan, Matthew Carson; Luke McGlynn; Gavin Gallagher, Connor Allan; Dire Mebude, Robbie Ure, Leyton Dunlop.
Rangers 5 Dundee o
With Motherwell winning the other group Rangers semi final opponents were Dundee, who finished a head of neighbours Dundee United, Fife Elite and Queen’s Park. It was a one side affair with Rangers winning comfortably.
The first goal came when Sam Lovie broke on the left and his low cross was prodded past the keeper by Connor Allan. The same player was on target again, when sent through the inside right channelby Robbie Ure, Connor Allan gave the keeper no chance from just inside the box. With two minutes of the half remaining Darren McInally broke on the right, from his low cross Mackenzie Strachan saw his initial effort saved but he followed up to net the rebound. A Dire Mebude solo run took him past two defenders and deep into the left side of the penalty area but the keeper save at his near post.
There was no respite for Dundee after the break with Rangers scoring an early fourth, Sam Lovie passing to Robbie Ure inside the left side of the penalty area where he turned past a defender before shooting past the keeper. The fifth soon followed, Matthew Carson skipping past three defenders on the left before crossing for Robbie Ure to head into the net. Matthew Carson was again the provider with an attack and cross from the left but on this occasion the keeper diverted Leyton Dunlop’s effort over.
Rangers:- Jack McConnell (Trialist HT), Damiola Fadeun, Kelsey Ewan, Harley Ewan (Logan Dunnachie HT), Sam Lovie; Luke McGlynn, Mackenzie Strachan; Darren McInally (Gavin Gallagher HT); Tyler Pasnik (Leyton Dunlop HT), Connor Allan (Robbie Ure HT), Dire Mebude (Matthew Carson HT).
Rangers 2 Motherwell 1
The final was contested between Rangers and Motherwell, who won a penalty shootout over Hearts after a 1-1 draw. It was a game Rangers pretty much controlled, lost their first goal and Motherwell almost took it to a penalty shootout.
In Rangers first serious attack Dire Mebude attacked on the right, exchanged passes with Kelsey Ewan before forcing the keeper to divert the ball onto his near post and behind. Rangers took the lead when Luke McGlynn broke forward before playing in Dire Mebude who was brought down inside the right side of the box. Robbie Ure stepped up to convert from the spot.
Robbie Ure passed to Dire Mebude on the right side of the box in the opening minute of the second half, he went passed a defender but the keeper advanced from his line to block the shot. A Sam Lovie solo run took him past three defenders on the left before forcing the keeper to dive to his left to turn the ball wide. Rangers took a short corner with Darren McInally passing to Dire Mebude who drove into the right side of the box and shot past the keeper.
Motherwell reduced the deficit with their first real attack on the game, the attack came from the left hand byline, the ball was only cleared to the penalty spot from where it was fired into the roof of the net. With five minutes remaining Leyton Dunlop latched on to a short pass back and poked the ball past the keeper but a defender got back to clear from the line. In the final minute Motherwell sent a free kick from the left and midway inside Rangers half, it landed at a Motherwell player and Jack McConnell was forced to save at his near post at close range. The resultant corner was cleared and the referee blew for full-time.
Rangers:- Jack McConnell; Kelsey Ewan (Damiola Fadeun 24 mins), Logan Dunnachie, Harley Ewan, Sam Lovie (Matthew Carson 24 mins); Darren McInally; Luke McGlynn (Mackenzie Strachan 18 mins), Connor Allan; Dire Mebude, Robbie Ure (Leyton Dunlop 24 mins), Gavin Gallagher.
Footnote:- Tomorrow sees a similar Under 14’s tournament and Sunday is the U13’s turn, both at St.Andrew’s University.
Rangers Youths 
Leave a comment