Colts Grab Late Winner

Rangers 2 East Kilbride 1

Adam Devine’s strike four minutes from time secured the three points against East Kilbride at Dumbarton this afternoon. It was a deserved win for the Rangers youngsters although the visitors had their chances too.

Rangers took the lead on sixteen minutes, Tony Weston won possession in midfield, took a couple of steps forward before shooting low past Connor Brennan from around twenty-five yards. Just over five minutes later Robbie Fraser on the left passed to Charlie McCann who moved it inside to Alex Lowry whose shot from the edge of the box went narrowly over.

The game had gone beyond the half hour mark when Chris Erskine’s corner from the right caused the Rangers defence problems and it deflected for another corner. Neil McLaughlin took this one from the left, Steven Saunders headed back across goal for Luke Kenny who headed just wide of Lewis Budinauckas right hand post.

Within a minute Chris Erskine crossed from the right for Neil McLaughlin to head towards goal with Lewis Budinauckas saving comfortably. The Rangers keeper was called into more serious action a few minutes later, leaping to tip over James Stevenson’s thirty yard free-kick. The final goalmouth action of the half saw Neil McLaughlin cut inside Adam Devine to force a save from Lewis Budinauckas.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 East Kilbride 0

Rangers came close to doubling their lead three minutes into the second half, Charlie McCann’s superb pass inside James Stevenson released Adam Devine, from his low cross Robbie Ure couldn’t get a clean connection which allowed Connor Brennan make the save. East Kilbride capitalised on that let off by drawing level within sixty seconds, Neil McLaughlin’s shot from the edge of the box beat Lewis Budinauckas with the aid of a deflection.

With the hour mark approaching Alex Lowry came close from a thirty yard free-kick which was only just wide of Connor Brennan’s left hand post. The midpoint of the half had just past when Charlie Lindsay played a short corner on the left to Robbie Fraser, he passed to Alex Lowry on the angle of the box and he shot narrowly over.

With fifteen minutes remaining Murray Miller broke towards the East Kilbride penalty box and when challenged the ball broke to Tony Weston who shot narrowly wide of the keeper’s right hand post. A couple of minutes later James Stevenson won possession wide left and on the halfway line, he continued into the penalty area to force a superb save from Lewis Budinauckas low to his right.

The visitors came close again a few minutes later Chris Miller passed the ball to James Stevenson wide on the right and from his low cross Craig Malcolm was stretching to get a touch that diverted the ball just wide of the far post. With four minutes remaining, Charlie McCann picked out Adam Devine wide on the right, he cut inside before firing a left foot shot low past Connor Brennan’s left hand.

East Kilbride tried to respond and when Chris Erskine nodded the ball into the box from the right hand angle it took a brave Lewis Budinauckas save at the feet of Daniel McManus to prevent an equaliser. The final action saw Chris McKee chase a long ball and when he was brought down by Luke Kenny the referee thought it was worthy of a red card. From the resultant free-kick Alex Lowry’s strike forced Connor Brennan into a save low to his left.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 East Kilbride 1

Rangers:- Lewis Budinauckas; Adam Devine, Kyle McClelland (Lewis Mackinnon 80 mins), Leon King, Robbie Fraser; Charlie McCann; Cole McKinnon (Murray Miller 60 mins), Charlie Lindsay; Tony Weston, Robbie Ure (Chris McKee 60 mins), Alex Lowry.

Not Used:- Aaron Cervantes (Gk), Mackenzie Strachan, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Arron Lyall.

East Kilbride:- Connor Brennan; Luke Kenny, Steven Saunders (Blair Malcolm 84 mins), Steven Old, James Stevenson; Chris Miller; Daniel McManus, Greig Stewart (Anthony Brady 67 mins); Chris Erskine, Craig Malcolm, Neil McLaughlin.

Not Used:- Jacob Kean (Gk), Shaun Rodgers, Ciaran McAninch.