Eight Goal Romp For U18’s

Hibernian 1 Rangers 8

Rangers Under 18’s swept Hibs aside in tonight’s league match at the Hibs Training Centre. The game was over as a contest by half time which allowed Rangers to give some game time to all the outfield substitutes.

Yet in the opening minute the home side’s left-back broke forward and his run took in into the left side of the penalty area but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. Rangers response was to immediately take the lead, Nathan Young-Coombes passed in from the left to Josh McPake who shot past the keeper from just inside the box.

On ten minutes Kai Kennedy broke forward before shooting from the edge of the box with the home keeper diving to his left to make the save. Five minutes later Nathan Patterson broke forward and picked out Ciaran Dickson’s run across the penalty area but he was denied when the keeper blocked with his legs.

The first half was just past its midpoint when Josh McPake sent Nathan Patterson to the right hand byline, his cutback picked out Nathan Young-Coombes but his shot was blocked inside the six yard box. The second goal came on twenty-eight minutes, Josh McPake played the ball forward to Ciaran Dickson who passed to Nathan Young-Coombes on the right hand angle of the box, he cut inside and placed a shot beyond the keeper and into the far corner.

The home side tried to respond with an attack on the right, the ball was moved inside for a shot from around twenty-five yards that was just over. Rangers increased their lead eight minutes before the break, the ball came into the box from the left to Ciaran Dickson who side-stepped a defender before shooting past the keeper. A fourth goal arrived on the stroke of half-time, Kai Kennedy fed Nathan Young-Coombes who went past a defender and into the left side of the penalty area and beat the keeper from a narrow angle.

Half-Time:- Hibernian 0 Rangers 4

Rangers continued from where they left off, on the attack, when a ball into the box from the right was cleared to the edge of the penalty area James Maxwell’s shot beat the keeper but rebounded off the his left hand post. Within a couple of minutes Rangers scored again, Josh McPake was the creator cutting back from the right hand byline to Kai Kennedy whose shot found the net via the keeper and his right hand post. 

Just before the hour mark the home side reduced the deficit, a cross from the left went beyond the back post and a looping header went over Brian Kinnear and dropped into the net. Rangers were soon back on attack and from Ryan Muir’s superb run and cross from the right Matty Yates header forced a diving save from the keeper.

Another goal soon followed, Joao Balde’s solo run took him past two defenders into the left side of the penalty area where he passed to Ciaran Dickson who passed the ball past the keeper. With fifteen minutes remaining Joao Balde broke on the left and exchanged passes with Kai Kennedy to progress into the penalty area and shoot past the keeper.

With three minutes remaining James Maxwell attacked the centre of the Hibs defence his pass to Joao Balde on the edge of the box broke to Matty Yates who spun and fired high past the keeper. Credit to the home side who twice came close in the dying minutes. First from a free-kick on the edge of the box the ball was curled over the defensive wall but rebounded from Brian Kinnear’s left hand post. Then in injury time an attack on the right and cut inside was finished with a shot that rebounded off the same post.

Full-Time:- Hibernian 1 Rangers 8

Rangers:- Brian Kinnear; Nathan Patterson (Ryan Muir 47 mins), Harris O’Connor, Kyle McLelland (Danny Finlayson HT), James Maxwell; Ben Williamson; Ciaran Dickson, Joao Balde; Josh McPake (Kieran McKechnie 54 mins), Nathan Young-Coombes (Matty Yates 54 mins), Kai Kennedy.

Not Used:- Lewis Budinauckas (Gk)

Scotland U17’s Draw With Poland

Scotland 1 Poland 1

With both teams having already lost to Portugal and Russia tonight’s game at Firhill between Scotland and Poland was a dead rubber as far as qualification goes. In the end a draw was probably a fair result with Scotland eventually breaking their duck with a late goal.

Scotland fell behind to an early goal after only six minutes, Jan Bieganski whipped in a free-kick from the right hand byline which Cieran Slicker failed to hold and Michal Rakoczy pounced to net from close range. Scotland responded within a minute and when Stuart McKinstry’s ball into the box from the right it broke to Kai Kennedy he laid the ball back to Michael Craig on the edge of the box and his shot was just wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

Around the quarter-hour mark Stuart McKinstry passed to Kai Kennedy on the left hand angle of the box, he cut inside and forced Kacper Bieszczad to dive to his left to save. Scotland missed a great chance on twenty-six minutes, Kai Kennedy swung in a free-kick from the right hand touch-line, Connor McAvoy had a free header but it went well wide of the far post.

With the half approaching the final ten minutes Sonny Blu Lo-Everton swung in a corner from the right and Liam Morrison’s header was blocked just in front of the keeper. A couple of minutes later Sonny Blu Lo-Everton attacked the left side of the box, he took on and went past a defender but his shot was weak and Kacper Bieszczad saved easily.

Poland should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, Daniel Dudzinski sent Michal Rakoczy racing clear, he continued into the box and poked the ball past Cieran Slicker, it rebounded of the keeper’s left hand post and eventually fell back at the striker’s feet on the left side of the six yard box, this time he was denied by a brilliant goal line clearance from Cammy Logan.

Half-Time:- Scotland 0 Poland 1

The first chance after the break came to Scotland on fifty-two minutes, Connor Barron played the ball forward so Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and his pass found Cammy Logan inside the right side of the penalty area but he shot just wide of the far post. Midway through the half Kacper Kozlowski took on the defence and broke into the right side of the box but from a tight angle shot across the face of goal. 

Scotland got back on level terms when Thomas Dickson-Peters got on the end of Kai Kennedy’s cross from the left to knock the ball past the keeper. The game became stretched as both teams chased a winner but the defences held firm and the game ended all square.

Full-Time:- Scotland 1 Poland 1

Scotland:- Cieran Slicker (Man City), Cammy Logan (Hearts), Leon King (Rangers), Liam Morrison (Celtic), Connor McAvoy (Fulham); Michael Craig (Tottenham), Connor Barron (Abedeen); Sonny Blu Lo Everton (Watford); Stuart McKinstry (Motherwell), Andrew Winter (Hamilton Accies), Kai Kennedy (Rangers).

Scotland Subs:-  64 Minutes – Thomas Dickson-Peters (Norwich City),  for Stuart McKinstry. 80 Minutes – Liam Miller (Sunderland) For Connor Barron. 87 Minutes – Connor Smith (Hearts) for Andrew Winter.

Not Used:- Finn Ecrepont (Ayr United), Aaron Hickey (Hearts), Reece McAlear (Motherwell).

Poland:- Kacper Bieszczad (Zaglebie Lubin); Nikodem Niski (Legia Warsaw), Filip Dymerski (Lechia Gdansk), Lukasz Bejger (Man United), Jakub Iskra (SPAL Ferrara); Jakub Kaminski (Lech Poznan), Jan Bieganski (GKS Tychy), Kacper Kozlowski (Pogon Szczecin), Nicola Zalewski (AS Roma); Michal Rokoczy (Cracovia); Daniel Dudzinski (Zaglebie Lubin).

Poland Subs:- 74 Minutes – Hubert Turski (Pogon Szczecin) for Michal Rakoczy. 85 Minutes – Jakub Gorski (Koron Kielce) for Nicola Zalewski, Marcel Wedrychowski (Pogon Szczecin) for Jakub Kaninski, Lukas Szramowski (Lech Poznan) for Kacper Kozlowski. 89 Minutes – Krystian Rybicki (Pogon Szczecin) for Daniel Dudzinski.

Not Used:- Mikolaj Bieganski (Skra Czestochowa), Patryk Peda (SPAL Ferrara), Jakub Niewiadomski (Lech Poznan).

 

 

15’s (2005’s)Win At Braidhurst

Motherwell 1 Rangers 2

Rangers U15’s (2005’s) recorded a fine win over Motherwell at Braidhurst High School this afternoon. With Scott Cowie, Zak McKay and Tyler Pasnik off to Abu Dhabi with the 2004 squad it was a weakened lineup. They suffered an early blow when Jamie Newton picked up an injury and had to be substituted.  The young Rangers side edge ahead in a fairly even first half. They were under the cosh a bit in the first quarter-hour of the second period and Jacob Pasikas was forced to make a few saves. The home side eventually drew level but it young ‘Gers soon edged ahead again and saw out the game well.

The first serious threat in the game came just before the quarter-hour mark when Motherwell broke into the right side of the penalty area and it took a superb Adam Forrester block to divert the ball for a corner. Rangers responded when a Ryan Murray cross that found the head of Ricco Diack who forced the keeper to dive to his left to save.

The next attack came with Motherwell attacking on the left and from the low driven cross Jacob Pazikas dived out to parry. With the mid-point of the half approaching Ricco Diack broke in to the right hand angle of the box where he was brought down, Tiaman Scott stepped up but was thwarted with the keeper diving to his right to save the spot kick.

Within minutes Ricco Diack was again breaking into the right side of the box on a Kian Gunn pass, he turned a defender but shot narrowly wide of the far post. Rangers took the lead four minutes before the break, Zak Queen’s free-kick from wide right and twenty-five yards out caught out the keeper as it sailed over his head and in at the far post.

Half-Time:- Motherwell 0 Rangers 1

Motherwell started the second half on the front foot and two minutes in when Brodie Kerr headed clear a cross from the right it was volleyed just wide Jacob Pazikas’s left hand post. Five minutes later they created another chance with an attack into the left side of the penalty area but the shot was just wide of the far post.

In Motherwell’s next attack on the left the attacker went past two defenders and into the box with Jacob Pazikas blocking the shot with his legs. The home side were dominant and created another chance before the hour mark, created on the right and played across the box Rangers again had Jacob Pazikas to thank for another fine save.

The game then settled into a more even pattern but it was the home side that struck on seventy-three minutes. The attack came the left with Rangers struggling to clear the cross it was eventually knocked over the line from close range. The youngsters showed their character by regaining the lead within three minutes. From Euan Ross’s free-kick wide on the right Adam Forrester headed in off the inside of the far post.

Rangers saw out the game well and deep into injury time Callum Sandilands played in Ricco Diack on the right side of the box but his powerful shot came back off the crossbar.

Full-Time:- Motherwell 1 Rangers 2

Rangers Squad:- Jacob Pazikas (Gk), Adam Forrester, Brodie Kerr, Kristian Webster, Ryan Murray, Callum Sandilands, Euan Ross, Jamie Newton, Zak Queen, Ricco Diack, Tiaman Scott, Kian Gunn, Kole Connelly, Elliott Dunlop.

2003’s Lose To Odd Goal In Nine

Rangers 4 Queen’s Park 5

Rangers 2003’s suffered a defeat to Queen’s Park at The Hummel Training Centre tonight. With only six 2003’s available it was a mixed lineup, Rangers took the option of fielding  one of the 2002’s allowed, and four 2004’s, Two of the three outfield substitutes were 2005’s.

Rangers fell behind early when a cross from the left was cleared to the edge of the box and the ball was fired past Jay Hogarth. With nine minutes on the clock the visitor’s should have doubled their lead, the attack came on the left and the low cross was missed by the attacker inside the six yard box.

The second goal came four minutes later when Rangers failed to clear a corner from the right the ball was hooked past Jay Hogarth. At this point Rangers were forced into a change when the injured Mackenzie Strachan was replaced by Connor Allan. Rangers pulled a goal back before the twenty-minute mark, Ryan Muir crossed from the right the ball was fumbled over the line by the Queen’s Park keeper.

Within two minutes Rangers were level, Robbie Fraser passed to Aaron Lyall on the right, he cut inside and gave the keeper no chance with a shot from the edge of the box. Eight minutes before the break Rangers edged ahead, the referee adjudged Ryan Muir was impeded, the incident was clearly inside the penalty area. The referee originally awarded a free-kick then changed his mind and pointed to the penalty spot and Alex Lowry stepped up to convert.

On the stroke of half-time a ball over the top caught out Rangers defence and the attacker went past the advancing Jay Hogarth on the left hand angle of the box before rolling the ball into the net.

Half-Time:- Rangers 3 Queen’s Park 3

Eight minutes after the break Rangers replaced 2003’s Adam Devine and Robbie Fraser who have a schools cup final tomorrow night with Boclair Academy, with 2005’s Zak McKay and Tyler Pasnik. On the hour Alex Lowry switched play to Aaron Lyall on the right,he was clearly fouled as he worked his way along the byline, Alex Lowry made his usual excellent job from the spot. At this point Sam Lovie picked up an injury and with no outfield substitutes available Rangers had to see out the game with ten men.

Two minutes later Queens Park attacked into the right side of the penalty area and Jay Hogarth was forced to save at his near post. With eighteen minutes remaining the sides were level, again Rangers were caught out with a ball over the top with a finish over Jay Hogarth finding the net.

Almost immediately  a superb Aaron Lyall pass sent Adam Mansouri racing clear but was denied when the Queens keeper advanced from his line to make the block. With a quarter-hour remaining the visitor’s attacked the left side of the box, a one-two allowed them to break through and the ball was fired past Jay Hogarth. 

Queen’s Park managed the rest of the game keeping possession well and another attack into the left side of the penalty area forced Jay Hogarth to make a block at close range.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Queen’s Park 5

Rangers:- Jay Hogarth; Ryan Muir, Logan Dunachie, Adam Devine (Zak McKay 53 mins), Sam Lovie; Mackenzie Strachan (Connor Allan 13 mins), Robbie Fraser (Tyler Pasnik 53 mins); Alex Lowry; Aaron Lyall, Adam Mansouri, Lewis Robertson.

Not Used:- Grant Thackray (Gk)

Under 16’s (2004’s) Win At Barrowfield

Celtic 0 Rangers 2

Rangers Under 16’s (2004’s) recorded a fine win over Celtic at Barrowfield this morning. After an opening twenty minutes where they were second best they got a foothold in the game a ran out comfortable winners.

Both sides lined up with overage players, Rangers fielded Adam Mansouri and Lewis Robertson, while Celtic used three in Vincent Angelini, Bashir Mahmoud and Connor Beedham. Celtic were dominating the early stages with Rangers struggling to get out of their own half with Ben Summers and Josh Adam looking dangerous, although they failed to trouble Jack McConnell in the Rangers goal with any effort high and wide.

The game had passed the half hour mark when Ben Summers cut in from the right but his shot was weak and straight at Jack McConnell. Eight minutes before the break Rangers took the lead, the ball was played out to Lewis Robertson on the left,  he picked out Mackenzie Strachan arriving on the edge of the box and he placed a shot beyond Vincent Angelini to the keeper’s left.

Rangers doubled their lead five minutes later with a superb goal. It started with Darren McInally on the left, he passed inside to Leyton Dunlop who picked out Connor Allan’s run into the left side of the penalty area, he cut inside a defender before shooting past Vincent Angelini.

Half-Time:- Celtic 0 Rangers 2

Twenty minutes into the second half Connor Allan switched play from the right to Tyler Pasnik on the left, he went past Tsoanelo Letsosa into the penalty area but Vincent Angelini advanced from his line to block with his legs. With fifteen minutes remaining Sam Lovie crossed from the left, from beyond the back post Robbie Ure headed back across goal with Logan Dunachie only just failing to reach the ball as it flashed across goal.

Full-Time:- Celtic 0 Rangers 2

Celtic:- Vincent Angelini; Ben McPherson, Bashir Mahmoud (Robbie Logue), Dylan Corr, Connor Beedham; Tsoanelo Letsosa; Josh Adam, Mackenzie Carse; Ben Summers, Luke Mahady (Liam McLeish), Matthew Anderson (Frankie Deane)

Rangers:- Jack McConnell; Jack Harkness (Logan Dunachie 65 mins), Kelsey Ewan, Harley Ewan, Sam Lovie; Darren McInally; Mackenzie Strachan (Gavin Gallagher 65 mins), Connor Allan; Leyton Dunlop (Zak McKay 65 mins), Adam Mansouri ( Robbie Ure 55 mins), Lewis Robertson (Tyler Pasnik 55 mins).

Not Used:- Scott Cowie (Gk)

16’s Held By Queen’s Park

Rangers 1 Queens Park 1

Rangers U16’s (2003’s) were held by Queens Park in their sectional CAS Cup tie at the Hummel Training Centre. It was a 2003 game, but the sixteen man Rangers squad only included six 2003’s, nine 2004’s and they used the option of using an over age 2002.

Rangers had a chance in the opening minute, Adam Devine sent Lewis Robertson down the left, his cut back found Mackenzie Strachan arriving at the edge of the box but his shot was weak and the keeper saved comfortably. Just before the twenty-minute mark the visitor’s took the lead from the spot. The attacker came into the left side of the penalty area where he was tripped by Harley Ewan and the penalty was duly converted.

Rangers had a chance ten minutes before the break, the ball was played forward into the left side of the penalty area but his shot was parried wide of his near post by the keeper.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Queens Park 1

An early chance at the start of the second half when Lewis Robertson sent Adam Devine to the left hand byline and his cross picked out Robbie Ure but he headed straight at the keeper. Two minutes later Aaron Lyall exchanged passes with Robbie Ure on the edge of the box before shooting just wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

Rangers equalised a couple of minutes shy of the hour mark, Rangers attacked through the middle which Queens Park resisted but the ball eventually broke to Robbie Ure inside the box and he shot past the keeper. On seventy-two minutes Lewis Robertson’s free-kick from the right fell for Robbie Ure beyond the back post but he shot across the face of goal.

Queens responded with an attack down the left and when the ball was passed inside the shot from the edge of the box was powerful but straight at Jay Hogarth. With six minutes remaining another Queens attack down the left created a chance when the ball was passed inside and Jay Hogarth was forced to dive low to his right to make the save.

A minute later a superb Alex Lowry free-kick from the left was glanced goalwards by the head of Logan Dunachie but the ball went just wide of the far post. The game ended with a scramble in the visitor’s six yard box but neither Robbie Ure or Connor Allan could force the ball over the line before the keeper dived on the ball.

Full-Time:- Rangers 1 Queens Park 1

Rangers:- Jay Hogarth; Ryan Muir (Leyton Dunlop), Kelsey Ewan, Leon King (Logan Dunachie), Adam Devine; Robbie Fraser; Mackenzie Strachan (Darren McInally), Alex Lowry; Aaron Lyall (Connor Allan), Robbie Ure, Lewis Robertson.

Not Used:- Jack McConnell (Gk).

High Scoring Win For Reserves

Partick Thistle 2 Rangers 5

Rangers reserves came out on top in a high scoring game at Lesser Hampden this afternoon. The game was finished as a contest at the break with the young Rangers side three goals up by that stage. 

Rangers took the lead from the penalty spot on nine minutes, Serge Atakayi took on Mohamed Niang inside the left side of the box and close to the byline, the winger went down under a challenge and the referee adjudged it was a foul and pointed to the spot. Josh McPake stepped up to convert from twelve yards. Just before the twenty-minute mark Calum Wilson attacked the right side of Rangers penalty area going past two defenders but shot into the side netting.

Rangers doubled their lead just after the half hour mark. When Danny Finlayson’s cross from the right was headed clear it was controlled by Liam Burt on the edge of the box and he found the net via the keeper’s left hand post. Four minutes before the break Rangers scored again, the ball came in from the right to Matthew Shiels on the edge of the box, he nutmegged a defender and stepped into the box before shooting past the keeper.

Thistle managed to threaten before the half-time whistle, Mohamed Niang breaking on the right and his low cross broke for Dean Watson at the back post but he fired over.

Half-Time:- Partick Thistle 0 Rangers 3

The second half started in similar fashion with Rangers gaining an early penalty. Liam Burt was brought down by Mohamed Niang inside the left side of the box and close to the byline, Josh McPake again made a superb job from the spot. Thistle had a chance when a ball in towards Rangers six yard box found Evan Galasso unmarked but he failed to get a proper connection on his flick and Kieran Wright saved comfortably to his right.

The Rangers keeper was called into more serious action sixty seconds later, Souleymane Coulibaly broke to the edge of the box and his powerful shot forced Kieran Wright to dive to his right to parry. Thistle pulled a goal back on sixty-five minutes, Lee Duncanson crossed from the left and Souleymane Coulibaly headed past Kieran Wright.

Midway through the half Cammy Palmer’s superb pass picked out Liam Burt just inside the centre of Thistle’s penalty area but he shot just wide of Aaron Lennox’s left hand post. With seven minutes remaining Stephen Kelly swung over a corner from the left and Rhys Breen rose to head narrowly wide at the back post.

Rangers fifth goal was barely delayed sixty seconds, Ciaran Dickson sliding in to knock the ball forward and send Dapo Mebude clear, he continued into the box and cut inside a defender before shooting past the keeper and in off his left hand post. With five minutes remaining Souleymane Coulibaly attacked the left side of Rangers penalty area where he was brought down by Danny Finlayson and he stepped up to fire the penalty past Kieran Wright.

Full-Time:- Partick Thistle 2 Rangers 5

Partick Thistle:- Aaron Lennox; Mohamed Niang, Sam Duncan, Ruaridh McIntyre, Andy Rodden (Jordan Kemoe 61 mins); Calum Wilson; Souleymane Coulibaly, Anton Eadie; Dean Watson, Evan Galasso, Lee Duncanson.

Not Used:- Luke Scullion (Gk), Evan Griffiths

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Danny Finlayson, Aidan Wilson, Rhys Breen (Nathan Patterson 84 mins), Matthew Shiels; Lewis Mayo; Stephen Kelly, Cammy Palmer (Ciaran Dickson 74 mins); Liam Burt (Kai Kennedy 74 mins), Josh McPake, Serge Atakayi (Dapo Mebude 74 mins).

Not Used:- Brian Kinnear (Gk), James Maxwell, Chris McKee.

 

16’s Hit With Last Gasp Leveller

Rangers 2 Kilmarnock 2

A goal in the dying seconds of the match cost Rangers U16’s (2004’s) a win against Kilmarnock at the Hummel Training Centre last night. Over the piece a draw was probably a fair result but coming so late it was harsh on a young Rangers side, who fielded four 2005’s, including the centre back pairing of Brodie Kerr and Kristian Webster.

Kilmarnock’s striker had already missed a couple of early chances when on the third occasion he broke into the left side of the penalty area and forced a fine save from Jack McConnell low at his near post. Another Killie attack, this time into the opposite side of the penalty area saw the shot deflected just wide of the far post.

Rangers response to those early Killie chances was to take the lead, Robbie Ure got to the byline on the left, he picked out Connor Allan with his cutback and he fired high past the keeper. With the twenty-five minute mark approaching Sam Lovie won the ball on the left hand angle of the box before cutting inside and shooting narrowly over.

Ten minute before the break Sam Lovie again won possession and headed for the left hand byline, he cut the ball back for Robbie Ure but his shot was weak and the keeper saved comfortably.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Kilmarnock 0

Four minutes after the break the game was level, the Kilmarnock striker broke on the left and went past Brodie Kerr before cutting inside and shooting past Jack McConnell. Rangers responded with a Connor Allan attack into the left side of the box before passing inside with the Killie keeper saving bravely Tyler Pasnik’s feet.

Rangers took the lead eleven minutes into the second half, Robbie Ure collected the ball from Tyler Pasnik on the left before cutting inside to the left hand angle of the box and firing an unstoppable shot into the far top corner. Rangers next chance came when Gavin Gallagher challenged for the ball midway inside the Killie half, the ball broke for Tyler Pasnik whose shot from around twenty-five yards forced the keeper to save low to his left.

With the game in the final minute the Killie keeper sent a free-kick from halfway into the Rangers box. The danger seemed to be averted when the ball was cleared to wide right, but when the cross came into the box a looping header found the net just inside the far post.

Rangers 2 Kilmarnock 2

Rangers:- Jack McConnell; Jack Harkness, Brodie Kerr (Zak McKay 56 mins), Kristian Webster, Sam Lovie; Darren McInally (Gavin Gallagher 56 mins); Mackenzie Strachan, Connor Allan; Leyton Dunlop, Robbie Ure, Tyler Pasnik.

Not Used:- Scott Cowie (Gk)

18’s Win In Perth

St.Johnstone 1 Rangers 3

Rangers Under 18’s remain unbeaten when they recorded a comfortable win on The McDiarmid Park all-weather pitch this afternoon. The young Gers side were perhaps guilty of over playing in a first half that ended goalless, but they were more ruthless after the break to secure the three points.

There was twenty minutes on the clock before any keeper was called into serious action, Joao Balde getting a touch to Kai Kennedy’s corner from the left which the home keeper blocked before the ball was cleared. A couple of minutes later Ciaran Dickson cut the ball back from the right hand byline for Kai Kennedy to shoot, Joao Balde got a touch but was again denied by the keeper.

On the twenty-fifth minute Dapo Mebude broke from halfway and his pass found Kieran McKechnie breaking into the box, under pressure from a defender he managed a toe poke towards goal but the keeper saved. Rangers continued to look the most likely but were taking that extra touch or attempting a final pass and the half time whistle blew with the game goalless.

Half-Time:- St. Johnstone 0 Rangers 0

Four minutes after the break Rangers were unfortunate when Ciaran Dickson’s volley from Kieran McKechnie’s corner from the right looked net bound till it hit a defender full in the face. The breakthrough was only delayed a couple of minutes, Joao Balde’s pass sending Dapo Mebude through to outpace a defender and continue into the box to shoot past the keeper.

Two minutes later Ciaran Dickson on the left side of the penalty area, passed to Joao Balde inside the box and his back heel teed up Dapo Mebude who shot narrowly over. Rangers doubled their lead just after the hour mark. A loose ball sat up perfectly for Ciaran Dickson to leave the keeper stranded from fully twenty-five yards.

With the final quarter-hour approaching St Johnstone attacked, Zack Butterworth seemed to have done enough when he forced the attacker towards the right hand byline, but he cut back inside to get a shot away that Brian Kinnear got down to save. Rangers response was to grab a third two minutes later. It was a free-kick routine straight from the training ground, Ben Williamson passed across the edge of the box to Ciaran Dickson on the left hand angle, his cross to the back post was headed back across goal by Kyle McClelland setting up a simple task for Chris McKee to nod into the net.

The home side rallied by notching a goal right away, the ball was played in from the left and the shot from the edge of the box beat Brian Kinnear to his left hand side. Saints had a mirror image of the attack with seven minutes remaining, this time the ball was passed in from the right to the edge of the box, on this occasion Brian Kinnear saved low to his right. Rangers played out the final six minutes with ten men when Murray Miller took a knock and the five allowed substitutes had already been used.

Full-Time:- St. Johnstone 1 Rangers 3

Rangers:- Brian Kinnear; Nathan Patterson (Zack Butterworth 68 mins), Harris O’Connor, Kyle McClelland, James Maxwell (Ryan Muir 75 mins); Murray Miller; Ciaran Dickson, Joao Balde (Ben Williamson 65 mins); Kieran McKechnie (Chris McKee 65 mins), Dapo Mebude, Kai Kennedy (Matty Yates 68 mins).

Not Used:- Nicky Hogarth (Gk)