Challenge Cup Win For Colts

Dumbarton 2 Rangers 3

Rangers Colts seemed to be coasting to the next round with a three goal lead and five minutes remaining on the clock but two late Dumbarton goals made it a nervy ending, but they defended well and finished the game on the front foot to progress safely. Rangers opted to use the option of the two over age players allowed, with Niko Katic and Jake Hastie in tonight’s starting lineup.

Rangers had the first effort on goal on four minutes, when the ball was moved inside from the left Cole McKinnon’s twenty five yarder was just wide of Callum Erskine’s left hand post. Rangers took the lead on twenty one minutes, Alex Lowry passed the ball forward to Jake Hastie and his shot from the edge of the box gave the keeper no chance.

Rangers doubled their lead five minutes later, Adam Devine provided the low cross from the right and Alex Lowry knocked the ball past the keeper from close range. Around the half-hour mark Robbie Fraser on the left played the ball forward to Alex Lowry who laid it back into the path of Charlie Lindsay but his shot was straight at Callum Erskine.

With eight minutes of the half remaining Dumbarton had their first real effort on goal, former Rangers Academy player Carlo Pignatiello swung in a free-kick from the right and Gregor Buchanan header just over at the back post. Rangers were soon back on attack and an interchange of passes created a shooting chance for Charlie McCann on the edge of the box and he forced Callum Erskine to turn the ball over.

Half-Time:- Dumbarton 0 Rangers 2

The first effort of the second half came when Carlo Pignatiello’s corner from the left had Rangers defence under pressure and when the ball came back to the Dumbarton midfielder inside the left side of the box his effort was parried by Lewis Budinauckas at his near post. On the hour a brilliant solo run by Charlie McCann saw him weave his way through the Dumbarton defence but he was denied when Callum Erskine diverted his shot over with an outstretched leg.

Rangers extended their lead with a quarter hour remaining, Charlie McCann broke forward and his chipped pass over the defence sent Tony Weston clear to slam the ball past the keeper. The home side pulled a goal back with four minutes remaining, Callum Wilson’s free-kick from the left was headed past Lewis Budinauckas by Gregor Buchanan at the back post.

Within two minutes Rangers lead was down to a single goal, Callum Wilson was again the creator on the left and his ball into the box was swept home by Eoghan Stokes. Rangers dealt with a few balls pumped into the box and it was the Ibrox youngsters who ended the game on the front foot with Charlie McCann breaking into the right side of the penalty area and forcing a save from Callum Erskine.

Full-Time:- Dumbarton 2 Rangers 3

Dumbarton:- Callum Erskine; Edin Lynch (Ryan Schiavone 59 mins), Ryan McGeever, Gregor Buchanan, Paddy Boyle; Stuart Carswell (Paul Paton 59 mins), Andy Geggan; David Hopkirk (Callum Wilson 69 mins), Carlo Pignatielllo, Ross McLean (Eoghan Stokes 77 mins); Kalvin Orsi (Kris Syvertsen 69 mins).

Not Used :- Sam Muir, Evan Maley, Kirk McKnight, Conner Duthie.

Rangers:- Lewis Budinauckas; Adam Devine, Kyle McClelland, Niko Katic (Leon King 70 mins), Robbie Fraser; Charlie McCann; Cole McKinnon (Murray Miller 77 mins), Charlie Lindsay (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 85 mins); Jake Hastie (Arron Lyall 77 mins), Tony Weston, Alex Lowry (Chris McKee 70 mins).

Not Used:- Jay Hogarth (Gk), Lewis Mackinnon, Mackenzie Strachan, Robbie Ure.