Heavy Defeat At ‘Boro

Middlesbro’ 4 Rangers 0

While it was great to be watching live football again it was a disappointing performance and result from Rangers Development Squad against Middlesborough at their Rockcliffe Hall training centre this afternoon.

Trailing to an early penalty Rangers probably edged the rest of the first half in terms of open play but where clearly second best after the break. The quality of the goals conceded would be a major disappointment.

There was only four minutes on the clock when the home side took the lead from the penalty spot. The play was switched from the right to their attacker breaking into the left side of the penalty area and he was brought down by Kieran Wright as he tried to round the keeper for a clear penalty which was duly converted by Tyrone O’Neill. Rangers replied on eighteen minutes when a good passing move ended with Nathan Patterson passing inside to Josh McPake whose shot from the edge of the box forced the keeper to save low to his right.

Middlesborough had an opportunity on twenty-five minutes from a free-kick on the right hand angle of the box, Billal Brahimi fired a shot over the defensive wall that Kieran Wright saved comfortably. Rangers next chance came when Nathan Patterson in possession on the left picked out Trialist No 7 inside the right side of the box but he volleyed over from a good position.

Seven minutes before the break Rangers came close to drawing level, Jordan Houston exchanged passes with Trialist No 7 on the right side of the box before picking out Andy Dallas who shot just wide of the far post.

Half-Time:- Middlesbro’ 1 Rangers 0

Six minutes after the break Rangers fell further behind to a poor goal, Kieran Wright should have cleared a through ball but gambled on it reaching his penalty area, the home side’s trialist left side attacker got their first to poke the ball past the keeper and roll the ball into the net. Midway through the half Josh McPake cut in from the left and his shot forced the keeper to scoop the ball wide of his near post.

The home side then threatened with a long-range shot that Kieran Wright held under his crossbar. Within a minute Middlesborough had a second penalty, Nathan Patterson attempted a tackle with the wrong foot and brought down Billal Brahimi who got up to convert the penalty.

Rangers should have scored with five minutes remaining, from a short corner on the right Jamie Barjonas delivered the ball to the back post but Danny Finlayson headed against the post from point-blank range. With three minutes remaining the home side sent in a low corner from the right, a back-heel flick knocked it on and a further back heel flick diverted it past Kieran Wright. To sum up the day the last action of the match saw Josh McPake find Andy Dallas in space in side the right side of the penalty area but he fired wide of the far post.

Full-Time:- Middlesbro’ 4 Rangers 0

Rangers:- Kiern Wright; Jordan Houston, Kyle Bradley (Ciaran Dickson 66mins), Danny Finlayson, Nathan Patterson (Trialist No 7 72mins); Cammy Palmer; Jamie Barjonas, Josh McPake; Trialist No 7 (Trialist No 14 HT), Andy Dallas, Liam Burt.

Not Used:- Nicky Hogarth (Gk)