Reserves Put Five Past Young Killie Side

Rangers 5 Kilmarnock 0

A look at the lineups pre-match suggested a comfortable win for Rangers against a young Kilmarnock side and that was the way it panned out. From Jordan Houston’s second minute penalty the result was never in doubt as the Killie youngsters battled well but were never an attacking threat.

There was barely two minutes on the clock when Dapo Mebude was scythed down inside the right side of the box by former Ranger Euan Deveney for a clear penalty that Jordan Houston stepped up to convert. Rangers dominated possession but it was the half-hour mark before they doubled their lead. Jordan Houston played the ball forward, Andy Dallas let it run though to Dapo Mebude who broke into the right side of the penalty area and shot across the keeper into the far corner.

Rangers third came eight minutes before the break, Cammy Palmer played the ball forward and Dapo Mebude’s layoff allowed Andy Dallas to break through into the centre of the box, Curtis Lyle came from his line to block the initial shot but the Rangers striker followed up to net the rebound. With half-time approaching the ball broke to Andy Dallas inside the box, a superb turn created the space but he shot narrowly over.

A minute before the break Rangers scored a fourth, Stephen Kelly breaking forward before playing Andy Dallas through in the left side of the penalty area and the striker shot high past the keeper.

Half-Time:- Rangers 4 Kilmarnock 0

Rangers had an early chance after the break when Nathan Patterson got to the right hand byline and cut the ball back for Dapo Mebude to shoot wide of the near post. On fifty-five minutes Stephen Kelly switched play to Nathan Patterson on the right who again got to the byline, his cutback found Liam Burt who stepped inside a defender before firing  a shot off the keeper’s left hand post.

Rangers had a couple of chances either side of the midpoint of the half. First up Cammy Palmer played the ball forward to Dapo Mebude and his turn allowed him to get shot away from the edge of the box that Curtis Lyle saved low to his left. Then Josh McPake passed to Andy Dallas who broke into the left side of the box with Curtis Lyle turning the ball wide of his near post.

With the final quarter-hour approaching Rangers scored again, some neat footwork from Josh McPake took him past a defender in midfield and he sent Andy Dallas clear to continue into the box a slot past the keeper. Kilmarnock hadn’t threatened but with twelve minutes remaining Danny Higgins attacked the centre of Rangers defence, his shot was powerful enough but lacked direction and Robbie McCrorie held comfortably.

Full-Time:- Rangers 5 Kilmarnock 0

Rangers:- Robbie McCrorie; Jordan Houston (Nathan Patterson HT), Niko Katic (Matthew Shiels 70 mins), Lee Wallace, Borna Barisic (Danny Finlayson HT); Cammy Palmer; Stephen Kelly, Josh McPake (Scott Gray 85 mins); Dapo Mebude, Andy Dallas, Liam Burt.

Not Used:- Aidan McAdams (Gk), Chris McKee, James Maxwell.

Kilmarnock:- Curtis Lyle; Craig Ross, Luke Barlow, Edin Lynch (Callum Shiels 80 mins), Euan Deveney; Kenny Barr, Danny Higgins, Adam Frizzell, Andy Monk; Innes Cameron, Josh Rennie (Josh Walker 60 mins)

Not Used:- Ross Miller (Gk), Aiden Murphy.