Injury Time Goal Denies U20’s A Win

Wigan Athletic 2 Rangers 2

An avoidable injury time goal cost Rangers Under 20’s a win against Wigan Athletic U23’s at Christopher Park this afternoon. Following up last week’s win over Newcastle United the Ibrox youngster were deservedly in front only to lose an equaliser just before the final whistle.

Rangers came close on nine minutes when Stephen Kelly played the ball to Serge Atakayi on the right, he fed the overlapping Jordan Houston and from his cutback from the byline Andy Dallas shot narrowly over. The home side took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark, when Lewis Mayo allowed a long ball down the left to bounce he was out muscled by Callum Lang who then broke into the right side of the penalty area, Aidan McAdams parried the shot but in his attempt to clear under pressure Danny Finlayson turned the ball into his own net.

Rangers replied within a couple of minutes, Cammy Palmer winning the ball on the halfway line and passing to Zak Rudden, he exchanged passes with Andy Dallas before forcing Owen Evans to save low to his left with a shot from the edge of the box. On the half hour mark Cammy Palmer passed to Zak Rudden who played in Jordan Houston inside the right side of the penalty area with Owen Evans blocking the shot with his legs at the near post.

The home side went straight to the other end and Divin Baningime in possession on the left hand angle of the penalty area played the ball across the eighteen yard line for their Trialist No.7 to force a save from Aidan McAdams diving to his left. Within a couple of minutes Chris Merrie attacked the box and the ball broke to Joe Piggott who again brought the best out of Aidan McAdams saving to his left.

Ten minutes before the break Rangers drew level, Cammy Palmer robbing Chris Merrie twenty-five yards from goal and striding into the penalty area to shoot past Owen Evans. Five minutes later the ball was knocked back into the Rangers box  following a Wigan attack and Callum Lang beat the offside to find himself one on one with Aidan McAdams but he knocked the ball wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

Half-Time:- Wigan Athletic 1 Rangers 1

Two minutes after the break Liam Burt appeared to have been fouled when he won possession midway inside Wigan’s half but Zak Rudden collected the loose ball and broke into the right side of the penalty area where he squared the ball to Stephen Kelly who was denied when Owen Evans saved low to his right at the expense of a corner. The half was only five minutes old when Rangers took the lead, they worked a short corner to Stephen Kelly on the left hand angle of the box, his shot took a deflection and the ball  looped towards the back post, from the right hand byline Danny Finlayson hooked the ball back across goal and into the net.

The remainder of the half was mainly noted for multiple substitutions. With Rangers looking to see the game out and the clock ticking into injury time Lewis Mayo could have played the ball long but he elected to play a pass to Kieran McKechnie midway inside Rangers half. A Wigan player was stronger and got a touch to allow Callum Lang to race to the right hand byline and from his low cross Divin Baningime converted from close range.

Full-Time:- Wigan Athletic 2 Rangers 2

Wigan Athletic:- Owen Evans; Tylor Golden, Trialist No.5 (Emeka Obi 52 mins), Trialist No.4, Ryan Galvin (Trialist No.14 64 mins); Trialist No.7 (Victor Maffeo 52 mins), Will McGuffie (Jensen Weir 70 mins), Chris Merrie (Scott Smith 70 mins), Divin Baningime; Joe Piggott (Charlie Jolley 70 mins), Callum Lang.

Rangers:- Aidan McAdams (Nicky Hogarth 76 mins); Jordan Houston (Nathan Patterson 84 mins), Danny Finlayson, Lewis Mayo, Matthew Shiels; Cammy Palmer (Murray Miller 76 mins); Jamie Barjonas, Stephen Kelly; Andy Dallas (Liam Burt HT), Zak Rudden, Serge Atakayi (Kieran McKechnie 70 mins).