Jekyll & Hyde From Colts

Rangers 5 Gala Fairydean Rovers 2

It was very much a Jekyll & Hyde performance from Rangers Colts at Dumbarton tonight, coasting at the break after three superb first half goals there was a complete change round after the break. Gala really should have levelled the game before Rangers made the points secure in the final four minutes.

Rangers had the first chance in the fourth minute, Tony Weston outside the left side of the penalty area passed to Charlie Lindsay inside the box with the midfielder shooting narrowly over. Two minutes later Rangers were in front, Tony Weston suppling the cross from close to the right hand byline for Aaron Lyall to volley past Josh Blair at the back post.

The game still hadn’t reached the quarter hour mark when Rangers doubled their lead, Aaron Lyall in possession left of centre picked out Ross McCausland in side the penalty area and he side stepped a defender before picking his spot. Rangers made it three on the half hour, Robbie Fraser providing the cross from the left for Ross McCausland to volley past Josh Blair.

Rangers really should have added a fourth ten minutes before the break, Adam Devine switched play from the right to Robbie Fraser on the left, his cross picked out Tony Weston who looked certain to score but shot over. Gala had show little in attack but just before the break Zander Murray on the right side of the box he passed across the eighteen yard line to Marc Berry who shot just wide of Jay Hogarth’s right hand post.

Half-Time:- Rangers 3 Gala Fairydean Rovers 0

The second half was barely a minute old when Rangers failed to clear a ball into the box and it fell for Marc Berry to fire into the net. Rangers reply saw Aaron Lyall in possession on the left and when he passed inside Ross McCausland’s shot was straight at Josh Blair.

A couple of minutes later Rangers defence was caught out by Josh Blair’s clearance and Zander Murray raced clear, the striker’s shot beat Jay Hogarth but came back off the crossbar. Just before the hour mark Ryan Schiavone attacked down the right and his cross set up a scramble inside Rangers penalty area with Marc Berry’s shot being deflected wide.

A Charlie Lindsay solo effort saw him leave two defenders in his wake before firing a twenty-five yarder narrowly over. Rangers came closer still as the half approached the midpoint, Robbie Fraser crossing from the left and Tony Weston heading against the crossbar.

With twenty minutes remaining Rangers lead was reduced to a single goal, a corner from the left saw Rangers struggle to clear and the ball eventually fell for Lewis Hall to shoot past Jay Hogarth. Two minutes later a miscued Greig Allen header really should have lead to a Gala equaliser, Marc Berry raced clear but shot over with just the keeper to beat.

A point blank save from Josh Blair kept the deficit at a single goal, Ross McCausland cut in from the right and picked out Tony Weston who was denied by the keeper. A fourth Rangers goal with four minutes remaining secured the win, Charlie McCann’s long pass picked out Aaron Lyall on the right who went past a defender and crossed to find Ross McCausland arriving at the far post, his shot was blocked on the line but fell for Kane Ritchie-Hosler to supply a simple finish.

In injury time Tony Weston was brought down as he advanced into the right side of the penalty area, with Charlie McCann converting the resultant penalty.

Full-Time:- Rangers 5 Gala Fairydean Rovers 2

Rangers:- Jay Hogarth; Adam Devine, Greig Allen (Darren McInally 84 mins), Kyle McClelland (Connor Allan 72 mins), Robbie Fraser; Charlie McCann; Cole McKinnon, Charlie Lindsay (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 66 mins); Ross McCausland, Tony Weston, Aaron Lyall.

Not Used:- Lewis Budinauckas (Gk), Jack Harkness.

Gala Fairydean Rovers:- Josh Blair; Callum Hall, Gregor Jordan, Lewis Grant, Liam Campbell; Aaron Darge; Ryan Schiavone (Scott Cusick 63 mins), Ciaren Chalmers (Phil Addison 63 mins), Lewis Hall, Marc Berry; Zander Murray.

Not Used:- Kit McRitchie (Gk), Sean Docherty, Martin Scott, Ross Aitchison.