Late Glasgow Cup Win For Colts

Partick Thistle 1 Rangers 2

A nightmare start saw Rangers Colts come from behind with a Josh McPake double, the winner coming five minutes from time securing the points in tonight’s Glasgow Cup sectional tie at Firhill.

The home side took the lead in the opening minute when Kieran Wright’s attempted pass went straight to Lewis Mansell, the first Thistle player to touch the ball, and he dispatched it into the net from around twenty-five yards. Rangers first real chance came just before the quarter hour mark, James Maxwell found himself in possession on the left hand angle of the box and his shot forced Jamie Sneddon to dive to his left to parry.

Around four minutes later Kai Kennedy fired just over from a free-kick around twenty-five yards. Just before the hour mark Kai Kennedy sent a free-kick from the left towards the back post with Joe McDonald just getting there before Rhys Breen to clear for a corner.

A few minutes later Josh McPake collected a loose ball and broke towards the penalty area but his shot goes just wide of Jamie Sneddon’s left hand post. With half-time approaching Kai Kennedy played a one-two with James Maxwell on the halfway line and broke down the left, he cut inside before shooting from the edge of the box and just wide of the far post.

Kai Kennedy was playing with confidence and three minutes before the break he went past two defenders on the left of Thistle’s box, his cutback found Josh McPake whose shot was blocked and when the ball broke to Lewis Mayo on the edge of the box his drive was deflected over by a Thistle head.

Half-Time:- Partick Thistle 1 Rangers 0

Rangers dominated possession in the early stages of the second half but clear chances were at a premium and there was almost seventy minutes on the clock when Kai Kennedy on the left hand angle of the box crossed to the back post where Danny Finlayson nodded the ball inside to Ciaran Dickson, the midfielder returned the ball to Danny Finlayson with Jamie Sneddon blocking the shot with his legs.

Rangers got back on level terms on seventy-seven minutes, James Maxwell got to the left hand byline, from his centre Joao Balde’s effort was blocked but the ball broke to Josh McPake at the back post where he fired into the net. What proved to be the winner came with five minutes remaining, the ball broke to Josh McPake on the edge of the box and he shot into Jamie Sneddon’s bottom right hand corner.

Rangers had one last chance to add to their tally when Lewis Mayo won possession and played Robbie Ure through but a Thistle defender got back to deflect the youngster’s shot wide of goal.

Full-Time:- Partick Thistle 1 Rangers 2

Partick Thistle:- Jamie Sneddon; Bradley Renfrew, Ruaridh McIntryre, Joe McDonald, Andy Rodden (James Lyon 82 mins); Craig Slater, Billy Owens; Gary Harkins (Dean Watson 79 mins); Alex Jones (Evan Galasso 70 mins), Lewis Mansell, Mitch Austin.

Not Used:- Luke Scullion (Gk), David McNair, Lorenzo Giovanazzi, Oliver Black.

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Danny Finlayson, Kyle McClelland, Rhys Breen, James Maxwell; Murray Miller (Joao Balde 76 mins), Ben Williamson; Ciaran Dickson, Josh McPake (Robbie Ure 87 mins), Kai Kennedy.

Not Used:- Brian Kinnear (Gk), Leon King, Mackenzie Strachan, Leyton Dunlop.