Reserve And 2006 Reports

Today was another double header with the reserves/U20’s taking on Hibs this afternoon and the 2004’s hosting Hamilton Accies at night.

Rangers 2 Hibernian 2 (Hibs won 5-4 on penalties)

At lunchtime Rangers reserves/U20’s took on Hibernian in the informal Glasgow FA International Cup. Rangers went in behind after a fairly even first half, but a poor second half show saw then lose a second goal and just when the game looked to be petering out they levelled with two late goals only to lose the penalty shoot out.

Rangers suffered an early blow in the second minute when Jack Thomson picked up an injury and was replaced by Ben Williamson. Hibs had  chance just before the quarter hour when James Maxwell missed a ball across the box and it fell to Fraser Murray who shot across goal and wide of the far post. Rangers immediate reply was a long ball that sent Nathan Young-Coombes clear, he was thwarted when Paddy Martin raced from his goal to block the shot with his leg.

On twenty five minutes Kai Kennedy took a short corner on the left to Jamie Barjonas who turned a defender on the byline and his shot from a tight angle was diverted behind at the near post by Paddy Martin. This time Kai Kennedy’s corner was swung into the box, Lewis Mayo’s powerful header was parried by Paddy Martin to his left and Thomas Block completed the clearance.

Just after the half hour Innes Murray moved the ball forward to Fraser Murray whose shot from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Andy Firth low to his left. The visitors took the lead six minutes before the break, Fraser Murray’s corner from the left was met by Josh Doig at the near post who glanced a header passed Andy Firth.

Rangers reply came from a Jamie Murphy pass inside from the left to Jamie Barjonas  who forced a save from Paddy Martin to his right. The final chance of the half saw Jamie Barjonas fire a thirty yard free-kick just over.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Hibernian 1

Hibs were first to threaten after the break with Jamie Gullan’s run and cross on the left which was volleyed at the back post by Innes Murray and beat away by Andy Firth. A minute later Innes Murray cut in from the left and his twenty-five yard shot was tipped wide by Andy Firth diving to his left.

Hibs doubled their led on fifty-two minutes, Josh Doig broke forward and passed to Jamie Gullan on the left, his cross into the box was poked past And Firth by Ryan Shanley. There was little in the way of goalmouth action until the game entered the final quarter hour when Jamie Barjonas and Kai Kennedy combined to send James Maxwell to the left hand byline and he fired across the face of goal with no takers.

Kai Kennedy then sent a corner in from the right and Jamie Barjonas glanced a header wide of the far post. With two minutes remaining  Kai Kennedy passed to Nathan Young-Coombes inside the box, the referee judged he was brought down as he turned and he converted the spot kick. Two minutes into injury time Nathan Young-Coombes in possession inside the right side of the box attempted a cross which deflected up in the air, Jamie Barjonas header seemed to be handled on the line by a defender but Lewis Mayo was on hand to volley into the net.

The game then went to a penalty shootout, the first nine penalties were scored but Paddy Martin dived to his left to save Nathan Young-Coombes penalty to win the shootout for Hibs.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Hibernian 2 (Hibernian won 5-4 on penalties)

Rangers:- Andy Firth; Zac Butterworth (Rhys Breen 71 mins), Danny Finlayson, Lewis Mayo, James Maxwell; Jack Thomson (Ben Williamson 2 mins), Jamie Barjonas; Kai Kennedy; Eros Grezda (Ciaran Dickson 71 mins), Nathan Young-Coombes, Jamie Murphy (Serge Atakayi HT).

Not Used:- Lewis Budinauckas (Gk), Joao Balde, Ross McAusland.

Hibernian:- Paddy Martin; Tom James, Kosovar Sdiki, Josh Doig, Thomas Block; Ben Stirling, Josh Campbell; Fraser Murray, Innes Murray, Jamie Gullan; Ryan Shanley.

Not Used:- Alan Combe (Gk), Gregor Woods, Callu Yeats, Jack Hodge.

 

Rangers 2 Hamilton Accies 1

Evening saw Rangers 2006’s (Under 14’s) take on Hamilton Accies, the game came to life in the final thirty minute period with Rangers recording a deserved win.

Rangers threatened when Kerr Robertson sent Finlay Curtis down the right and from his cross Accies keeper got there just before Rory Wilson. The visitors then had a quick break down the right and when the ball was passed inside the shot was fired wide of Evan Anderson’s left hand post.

Ten minutes into the second period Hamilton attacked on the left, the cross was headed clear but the shot from the edge of the box came off the inside of Evan Anderson’s left hand post and went across the face of goal. Rangers reply was a Leyton Grant pass forward to Finlay Curtis whose ball towards the box saw Rory Wilson get a touch ahead of a defender but the keeper had advanced from goal to make the save.

Rory Wilson then got the better of the centre back when chasing Finlay Curtis’s ball into the left side of the box but he shot wide of the far post. A good move saw Rangers move the ball from Jamie Bradley on the right through Kerr Robertson and Sean Phinn to Finlay Curtis inside the left side of the box but he shot over.

Nine minutes into the final period Rangers took the lead, Crispin McLean started the move on the right passing to Finlay Curtis who moved it on to Ethan Sutherland on the left hand angle of the box and he shot over the keeper and into the net. Two minutes after the turn around in the third period Rangers scored again, Ethan Sutherland robbing a defender on the edge of the Hamilton box and knocking the ball to Rory Wilson who slotted past the keeper.

With five minutes remaining Ethan Sutherland again won possession on the edge of the Accies box, he passed to Finlay Curtis who shot over. Hamilton grabbed a consolation in the final minute when Rangers lost possession just outside their own penalty area and the ball was fired past Sam Kane.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Hamilton Accies 1

Rangers Squad:- Evan Anderson (Gk), Sam Kane (Gk), Niall Rogerson, Rocco Friel, Leyton Grant, Dylan Brown, Kerr Robertson, Cooper Knox, Crispin McLean, Finlay Curtis, Rory Wilson, Ethan Sutherland, Jamie Bradley, Chris Eadie, Sean Phinn, Grant Marchant.