18’s In Control Against Celtic

Celtic 1 Rangers 2

Rangers Under 18’s produced arguably their best performance of the season to comfortably beat Celtic at The Excelsior Stadium this afternoon. Coming from behind they got their heads in front just before the break and never looked like losing that lead.

Rangers started brightly but it was Celtic who had the first serious effort on goal, Rocco Vata in possession on the right passed inside to Ben Summers who stepped inside a defender onto his right foot and shot narrowly over. Rangers reply saw Mackenzie Strachan’s corner from the left headed up in the air by a Celtic defender, Greig Allen headed goalwards forcing Joe Morrison to push the ball wide of his right hand post. From that second corner again taken by Mackenzie Strachan, Greig Allen headed narrowly over.

Just before the quarter hour mark a good passing move ended with Charlie Lindsay passing to Leyton Dunlop and his shot from the edge of the box saw Joe Morrison tip over. The home side took the lead on eighteen minutes, Magnus MacKenzie and Ben Summers combined on the left and the latter’s cross found its way to Rocco Vata at the the back post, his shot was weak but somehow found the net just inside Jack McConnell’s right hand post.

Midway through the half Rory Wilson picked up a loose ball and as he made his way along the edge of the box it broke for James Graham who shot narrowly over. We didn’t have long to wait for Rangers equaliser which arrived on twenty-six minutes, when the ball was played forward from defence two first times passes from Rory Wilson and Robbie Ure freed James Graham to enter the box and shoot past Joe Morrison.

Beyond the half hour Rory Wilson chased a Mackenzie Strachan pass and rounded Joe Morrison,  his chip from the right hand byline was headed clear in front of goal. Four minutes before the break Robbie Ure picked up the ball on the left and attacked the left hand angle of the box forcing a save from Joe Morrison at his near post.

Rangers took the lead on the stroke of half-time with a superb finish from Rory Wilson, Charlie Lindsay went past a defender into the right side of the penalty area, when he took on a second defender the ball broke for the Rangers striker to volley past Joe Morrison low to his right.

Half-Time:- Celtic 1 Rangers 2

The first effort on goal came from Rangers five minutes after the break, Charlie Lindsay breaking into the penalty area, his shot was straight at Joe Morrison who gathered at the second attempt. Celtic hadn’t seriously threatened Rangers goal since scoring, but Mitchell Robertson got a free header from a Mackenzie Carse corner from the right but it was straight at Jack McConnell who saved easily.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action until the game was inside the final quarter hour, Mackenzie Strachan swung in a free-kick from the right which broke to Greig Allen and it took a last ditch block to deflect the ball over.

With four minutes remaining we had a bizarre and puzzling incident, Rangers appeared to be making their fourth substitution, replacing Kyle Semple with Kelsey Ewan. The referee deemed he was wasting time leaving the field and showed him a second yellow and subsequent red card. It would seem the substitution would not take place and Rangers would finish with ten men. After a discussion with the linesman the change didn’t take place but Kyle Semple remained on the pitch.

I believe the explanation is as follows. Although five substitutes are allowed in the Under 18 League they have to take place in three breaks in play. Rangers already used three breaks in play for their previous three substitutions. Therefore the referee should have advised Rangers of this when they tried to make a fourth change and by definition Kyle Semple couldn’t be wasting time.

The final chance came for Rangers deep into injury time, Robbie Ure raced into the left side of the penalty area and tried to dink the ball over Joe Morrison, it was cleared to the edge of the box and with the keeper away from his goal Darren McInally shot just wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

Full-Time:- Celtic 1 Rangers 2

Celtic:- Joe Morrison; Benny Jackson Luyeye, Evan Easton, Mitchell Robertson, Magnus MacKenzie; Frankie Deane (Corey Thomson 57 mins), Mackenzie Carse; Tsoanelo Letsosa; Rocco Vata (Lewis Dobbie 73 mins), Adam Brooks (Caleb Goldie 80 mins), Ben Summers.

Not Used:- Kai McLean (Gk), Danny Kelly, Louis Mosson, Jude Bonnar.

Rangers:- Jack McConnell; Zak McKay, Greig Allen, Connor Allan, Kyle Semple; Leyton Dunlop; Mackenzie Strachan, Charlie Lindsay (Darren McInally 73 mins); Rory Wilson (Tyler Pasnik 66 mins), Robbie Ure, James Graham (Jack Roberts 57 mins)

Not Used:- Jacob Pazikas (Gk), Kristian Webster, Kelsey Ewan, Ryan Duncan.