Five Star First Half For 18’s

Rangers 6 Hearts 1

Rangers Under 18’s blew Hearts away with a stunning first half performance at The Rangers Training Centre tonight. The five first half goals finished the game as a contest and it was only natural that the second half was a closer affair.

Rangers took the lead in the eighth minute, Robbie Ure capitalised on a slack pass and broke through the inside left channel into the penalty area where he was brought down by keeper Liam McFarlane with Rory Wilson converting from the spot. The lead was doubled on the quarter hour, Rory Wilson appeared to have a poor touch on the edge of the box but immediately won the ball back and shot past the keeper from the edge of the box.

The next chance came when Robbie Ure fed James Graham inside the left side of the penalty area but he shot straight at Liam McFarlane. The third goal came on the twenty minute mark, a good passing move ended with Robbie Ure releasing Charlie Lindsay inside the left side of the box and he shot across the keeper into the far corner.

Rangers continued to create chances and when Robbie Ure broke on the left and centred for James Graham he looked certain to score but Liam McFarlane advanced from his line to make a fine save. Just over ten minutes later James Graham got his goal, the ball was cleared from the Hearts box and was picked up by the Rangers attacker who sent a twenty-five yarder past the keeper.

Five minutes before the break a superb Leyton Dunlop tackle won possession and his twenty-five yard shot was parried by Liam McFarlane with the ball just evading the on rushing Rory Wilson. There was still time for Rangers to add a superb fifth before the break. A James Graham flick freed Mackenzie Strachan on the right and he switched play to Rory Wilson breaking into the left side of the box who beat the keeper with an emphatic finish.

Half-Time:- Rangers 5 Hearts 0

The visitors grabbed the first goal of the second half three minute in, Bobby McLuckie got to the left hand byline and the Rangers defence appeared to allow his cross to run along the six yard box presenting Callum Sandilands with a simple finish from close range. Rangers were soon back on the attack with Rory Wilson passing to Charlie Lindsay who’s flick found Robbie Ure, he went past a defender into the left side of the penalty area before shooting narrowly wide of the far post.

With twenty minutes remaining a solo run took Robbie Ure past two defenders before forcing a save from Liam McFarlane diving to his right. The keeper surpassed that less than ten minutes later, Tyler Pasnik cut in from the left and his shot looked destined for the net but the keeper got a touch to divert the ball past his left hand post.

The game had entered the final ten minutes when Rangers scored a fifth, Tyler Pasnik was the provider his pass sending Connor Allan through, Liam McFarlane blocked his initial effort but he followed up to knock the rebound into the net. The final chance saw Harley Ewan rise to head a Mackenzie Strachan corner from the left narrowly over.

Full-Time:- Rangers 6 Hearts 1

Rangers:- Jack McConnell; Kelsey Ewan, Greig Allen (Kristian Webster HT), Connor Allan, Zak McKay; Leyton Dunlop (Harley Ewan 73 mins); Mackenzie Strachan, Charlie Lindsay (Darren McInally 60 mins); James Graham (Tyler Pasnik 60 mins), Robbie Ure, Rory Wilson (Jack Roberts 60 mins).

Not Used:- Jacob Pazikas (Gk), Kyle Semple.

Hearts:- Liam McFarlane; Kenzi Nair, Michael Aitken, Macauley Tait; Sam Spence, Callum Sandilands (Callum Hambrook 65 mins), Luke Rathie, Finlay Pollock, Bobby McLuckie (James Wilson); Murray Thomas (Ewan Simpson 55 mins), McKenzie Kirk (McKenzie Ross 77 mins)