Shootout Win At Solihull

Solihull Moors 3 Rangers 3 (Rangers won 4-3 on penalties)

Lewis Budinauckas was Rangers shootout hero, saving two of Solihull Moors five penalties. He dived to his left to parry Terry Hawkridge’s first penalty, with Jamie Barjonas, Nathan Patterson, Eros Grezda and Kai Kennedy converting for Rangers and Mitch Hancox, Darren Carter and Paul McCallum scoring for Solihull, the spotlight was back on Lewis and this time he dived to his right to save Gael Bigirimana’s spotlkick and take Rangers through to a home tie against Wrexham in the quarter finals.

It was a superb performance from the young Rangers side with an average age of 18.5 against the National League side.

Rangers were under heavy pressure in the opening stages from a barrage of long throws and corners and they fell behind on seven minutes. From Paul McCallum’s long throw from the right Callum Howe rose to nod past Lewis Budinauckas. The young Gets were not behind for long equalizing four minutes later. Kai Kennedy in possession in the left passed to Jamie Barjonas who cut inside and fired a shot into Ryan Boot’s bottom left hand corner from around twenty five yards.

Rangers had the next chance when Nathan Patterson passed to Eros Grezda on the right and cut into the box forcing Ryan Boot to save at his near post. The home side missed a great chance on the midpoint of the half. Adi Yussuf won the ball and played in Paul McCallum inside the left side of the box but he blazed over.

Another Paul McCallum long throw on the half hour gave Rangers problems. This time it came from the left and when it landed at the feet of Callum Howe keeper Lewis Budinauckas produced a fine save before the rebound was fired over. The home side took the lead nine minutes before the break. Darren Carter’s free kick from the right and just inside Rangers half was sent beyond the back post were Callum Howe headed back across goal for Adi Yussuf to nod past Lewis Budinauckas.

Half-Time:- Solihull Moors 2 Rangers 1

Just before the hour the ball was moved from Eros Grezda on the left through Kai Kennedy to Serve Atakayi inside the right side of the box but he shot into the side netting. Within a minute Solihull extended their lead, Darren Carter’s free kick from the right hand angle going over the wall and high past Lewis Budinauckas.

Rangers got back into the game less than ten minutes later, Kai Kennedy won possession and broke forward before passing to Eros Grezda on his left, the winger cut inside and shot past the keeper from the edge of the box. Rangers missed a great chance with the final quarter hour approaching. Eros Grezda exchanged passes with James Maxwell on the left, from his cross Dapo Mebude looked sure to score but didn’t get enough on his header and the ball went wide of the far post.

Rangers drew level with six minutes remaining, from Eros Grezda’s through ball Ryan Boot denied Nathan Young-Coombes at close range but the ball appeared to rebound off the Rangers winger and into the net. Rangers were now pushing for a winner and from Serge Atakayi’s low cross from the right Nathan Young-Coombes was denied by a combination of defender and keeper at the near post.

Deep into injury time Rangers had a final chance, Eros Grezda feeding Kai Kennedy inside the right side of the penalty area and his drive forced Ryan Boot to tip over. So it was on to the shootout and Lewis Budinauckas’s double penalty save to take Rangers through to play Wrexham.

Full-Time:- Solihull Moors 3 Rangers 3 (Rangers won 4-3 on penalties)

Solihull Moors:- Ryan Boot; Josh Neufville, Tyrone Williams, Callum Howe, Mitch Hancox; Darren Carter; James Ball (Gael Bigurimana 56 mins), Terry Hawkridge; Adi Yussuf (Jamie Reckord 83 mins), Paul McCallum, Nathan Blisset (Jake Beasley 54 mins).

Not Used:- Shaun Rowley (Gk), Danny Wright.

Rangers:- Lewis Budinauckas; Nathan Patterson, Danny Finlayson, Rhys Breen, James Maxwell; Ben Williamson (Serve Atakayi HT), Jamie Barjonas; Ciaran Dickson (Nathan Young -Coombes  79 mins); Eros Grezda, Dapo Mebude, Kai Kennedy.

Not Used:- Brian Kinnear (Gk), Zac Butterworth, Murray Miller, Aaron Lyall, Kyle McClelland.