Under 18’s Bounce Back

Rangers 3 Aberdeen 1

Rangers Under 18’s bounced back from a few disappointing recent results with a comfortable win over Aberdeen at The Rangers Training Centre tonight. The sides swopped penalties in the first half but Rangers pulled clear after the break to secure a deserved three points.

Rangers took an early lead from the penalty spot on seven minutes, Kyle Semple played the ball forward to Robbie Ure on the left and as he attacked in the penalty area the referee judged he was tripped by Finlay Murray and awarded what looked like a rather soft penalty, with Charlie Lindsay converting from the spot. Four minutes later the Aberdeen version of Ryan Duncan raced clear through the inside left channel into the penalty area before squaring to Liam Harvey, Jack McConnell blocked the striker’s shot with his foot and Kelsey Ewan cleared the loose ball.

A Charlie Lindsay solo run took him past two defenders inside the box before side footing the ball towards the keeper’s right hand post but the ball lacked pace and Euan Towler was well placed to clear. The visitors equalised from the spot on twenty minutes, Liam Harvey broke into the left side of the box where he was brought down by Greig Allen, Ryan Duncan stepped up to draw the sides level.

Aberdeen then threatened when Timi Fatona crossed from the right with Liam Harvey rising to head narrowly wide of the back post. Seven minutes before the break Rangers were denied by the woodwork, Charlie Lindsay’s corner from the left was beyond the back post where Robbie Ure headed back across goal, Greig Allen met it on the volley but it bounced down off the underside of the crossbar. Jack Roberts stretched to head the rebound goalwards with Blessing Oluyemi gathering comfortably.

Both side came close in the final minute of the first half. Charlie Lindsay danced past two defenders into the right side of the box but he shot narrowly over. At the other end Ryan Duncan cut in from the right, his shot from the edge of the box beat Jack McConnell but bounced off the keeper’s right hand post.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Aberdeen 1

The second half began like the first ended with the teams exchanging early chances. Aberdeen came first with Ryan Duncan teeing up Adam Emslie inside the right side of the penalty  but he was denied by the foot of Jack McConnell. Within a minute Zak McKay was powering into the right side of the box with Blessing Oluyemi standing up to beat away the shot.

Rangers took the lead on fifty-five minutes, Robbie Ure won possession wide on the right, he then exchanged passes with Tyler Pasnik before teeing up Jack Roberts who beat the keeper from around the penalty spot.  Just over ten minutes later Rangers extended their lead, Greig Allen rising to power a header past the keeper from Mackenzie Strachan’s corner from the right.

With twelve minutes of normal time remaining Mackenzie Strachan fed Robbie Ure inside the right side of the penalty area and he forced Blessing Oluyemi to save low to his right. A slack defensive pass with three minutes remaining gave Aberdeen a clear chance, Dylan Lobban passing to Liam Harvey in front of goal with Jack McConnell producing a fine point blank save.

A full six minutes into added time saw Aberdeen send a free-kick from the halfway line into Rangers penalty area where it broke for Ryan Duncan with Jack McConnell again saving at close range.

Full-Time:- Rangers 3 Aberdeen 1

Rangers:- Jack McConnell; Zak McKay, Kelsey Ewan, Greig Allen, Kyle Spence; Mackenzie Strachan; Ryan Duncan, Charlie Lindsay (Kristian Webster 70 mins); Tyler Pasnik (Crispin McLean 86 mins), Robbie Ure, Jack Roberts (Rory Wilson 56 mins).

Not Used:- Jacob Pazikas (Gk), Zander Hutton, Leyton Grant, Zak Queen.

Aberdeen:- Blessing Oluyemi; Timi Fatona (Taylor Mason 68 mins), Finlay Murray, Euan Towler, Ethan Duncalf; Finn Yates, Dylan Lobban, Adam Emslie; Ryan Duncan, Liam Harvey, Alfie Bavidge (Findlay Marshall 80 mins)

Not Used:- Jamie Shingler (Gk), Blair McKenzie.