Reserves In Pole Position

Rangers 4 Hamilton Accies 1

Rangers Reserves moved into a promising position in the Reserve League with a win over Hamilton Accies at The Hummel Training Centre this afternoon. With Rangers locked on thirty-five points with both Hibs and Celtic and only goal difference separating the sides. With Hibs having already completed their fixtures it looks likely the games involving Rangers and Celtic will decide who finishes as champions. Rangers sit second one goal behind Hibs and three goals ahead of Celtic.

Rangers threatened on six minutes with Glenn Middleton progressing into the box along the right hand byline and his shot was blocked by the foot of Ryan Fulton. From the throw in on the right Rangers took the lead, Harris O’Connor found Cammy Palmer inside the box and from a tight angle he lobbed the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Just after the quarter-hour the ball was played to Harris O’Connor on the right, his ball into the box picked out Cammy Palmer who shot into the side netting. Rangers next chance came from a Glenn Middleton free-kick on the edge of the box that was just too high. Eight minutes before the break saw a good passing move where Stephen Kelly moved the ball from left to right via Andy Dallas on the Glenn Middleton on the right side of the box, he passed back inside to Cammy Palmer whose shot forced a save from Ryan Fulton low to his right.

Rangers doubled their lead two minutes later with a superb goal, Ross McCrorie passed to Jamie Barjonas on the left, he moved it on to Matthew Shiels, his cross was perfect for Andy Dallas to glance a header in off the far post. A minute before the break the ball broke to Jamie Barjonas and his thirty yarder beat Ryan Fulton but came back off his left hand post.

Hamilton hadn’t carried much of a threat but in first half injury time a long ball had Rhys Breen stretching and his header went back towards Rangers goal and Lewis Mayo was forced to intercept and head just wide of Kieran Wright’s left hand post. Reegan Mimnaugh swung over the corner from the right and Jamie Hamilton rose at the back post to head past Kieran Wright.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Hamilton Accies 1

Rangers restored their two goal lead nine minutes after the break, there seemed little danger when Matthew Shiels laid the ball back to Jamie Barjonas wide on the left but he gave the keeper no chance with a superb strike. Rangers scored a fourth a couple of minutes later, the ball broke to Andy Dallas, he passed to Glenn Middleton on the left hand angle of the box and he shot across the keeper into the far corner.

The remainder of the game was mainly noted for a series of substitutions from both sides, with Hamilton gaining more possession than in the previous hour, but Rangers saw out the game comfortably to secure three points and a three goal swing on their rivals.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Hamilton Accies 1

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Harris O’Connor (Matty Yates 77 mins), Lewis Mayo, Rhys Breen, Matthew Shiels; Ross McCrorie (Joao Balde 60 mins); Cammy Palmer (Zack Butterworth 72 Mins), Jamie Barjonas (Cole McKinnon 77 mins); Glenn Middleton (Kieran McKechnie 60 mins), Andy Dallas, Stephen Kelly.

Not Used:- Nicky Hogarth (Gk)

Hamilton Accies:- Ryan Fulton; George Stanger, Jamie Hamilton, Delphin Tshiembe (Hamish Morrison HT), Lennard Sowah (Liam Scullion 60 mins); Reegan Mimnaugh; Charlie Reilly, Steven Boyd, Leon McCann; Andrew Winter, Sean Slaven (Niyah Joseph 60 mins).

Not Used:- Jamie Smith (Gk), Taylor Wilson, Kyle Munro.