Colts End Lowland League With A Win

Rangers 4 Dalbeattie Star 3

A quick dash from Fir Park to take in Rangers Colts final fixture in the Lowland League knowing a win would secure second place. The game was under way when I arrived but only missed a couple of minutes and none of the serious action.

Rangers came close on the thirteenth minute when the ball was worked in from the left to Cole McKinnon on the edge of the box and his shot clipped the bar on the way over. Rangers took the lead three minutes later, Cole McKinnon’s pass sending Tony Weston clear and he continued into the box to shoot high past Darren Holt.

The visitors tested Jay Hogarth in the twenty-sixth minute, Dylan Cairnie laid the ball back to Russell Currie  and the striker’s shot saw Jay Hogarth save low to his right. Two minutes later Tony Weston dispossessed Ryan Muir on the left hand byline and picked on Arron Lyall on the angle of the box but his shot was just wide of the far post.

Dalbeattie Star equalised just before the half hour mark, the ball broke kindly for Russell Currie and his shot from the edge of the box beat Jay Hogarth low to his right. Rangers immediately missed a great chance to restore their lead, Robbie Fraser advanced on the left, his low cross was missed by Tony Weston with Ross McCausland looking sure to score at the back post but he didn’t connect properly and his effort hit a defender.

Dalbeattie then had a couple of chances, first up when they attacked the left side of Rangers penalty area Dylan Cairnie tried his luck from the angle and Jay Hogarth was forced to make the save at his near post. Murray Miller then failed to deal with a bouncing ball inside the right side of Rangers box and Lewis Todd shot just wide of the far post.

Rangers replied when Arron Lyall sent Robbie Fraser racing into the left side of the box but the full back shot into the side netting. Three minutes before the break Arron Lyall cut in from the left, his shot was blocked but broke to Cole McKinnon who rattled the bar from the edge of the box, Tony Weston was on hand to knock the ball into the net but was flagged offside.

The goal before the break came at the other end, Kyle McLelland bringing down a Dalbeattie player inside the box and Russell Currie stepped up to convert from the spot.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Dalbeattie Star 2

Rangers were back on level term five minutes into the second half, Robbie Fraser provided the cross from the left, Tony Weston couldn’t quite convert but Ross McCausland arrived at the back post to smash the ball into the net. The visitors should have been back in front just before the hour, from a cross from the left Russell Currie’s superb cushioned header teed up Lewis Todd but he shot over.

Back to the other end and Arron Lyall in possession on the left  passed inside to Charlie McCann who’s pass released Tony Weston inside the left side of the penalty area but he shot wide of the far post. Rangers then edged ahead on sixty-four minutes, Arron Lyall on the left hand angle passed inside to Tony Weston who moved the ball on to Ross McCausland on the right angle, he laid the ball back to Cole McKinnon who beat Darren Holt low to his right from the edge of the box.

Rangers should have increased their lead with just over a quarter hour remaining, Arron Lyall’s shot was parried by Darren Holt but straight to Robbie Ure, but the substitute didn’t connect properly allowing the keeper to make the save again.  Immediately Dom McMahon broke from halfway and the Rangers defence parted allowing him to race into the box but from a great position he shot over.

The end to end action continued with Ross McCausland breaking down the right before passing inside for Robbie Ure to shoot wide of the far post. With seven minutes remaining a cross from the left found its way to Ryan Muir on the right hand byline and his looping shot bounced of the top of Jay Hogarth’s crossbar.

Rangers appeared to have secured the points with three minutes remaining, a short corner was played to Kane Ritchie-Hosler who picked out Cole McKinnon inside the right side of the box and he shot across Darren Holt and into the far corner. With virtually the last kick of the game a corner was cleared to Harry Emmerson on the left hand angle of the box and his shot looped over everyone and into the net at the far post.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Dalbeattie Star 3

Rangers:- Jay Hogarth; Adam Devine, Kyle McLelland, Johnly Yfeko (Greig Allen HT), Robbie Fraser; Murray Miller (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 60 mins); Cole McKinnon, Charlie McCann; Ross McCausland (Jack Harkness 85 mins), Tony Weston (Robbie Ure 72 mins), Arron Lyall (Charlie Lindsay 85 mins).

Not Used:- Jacob Pazikas (Gk)

Dalbeattie Star:- Darren Holt; Ryan Muir, Liam Douglas, Jack Dickinson, Liam Park; Lewis Todd, Dom McMahon; Lewis Sloan (Harry Emmerson 72 mins) , Steven Degnan, Dylan Cairnie, Russell Currie.

Not Used:- Daryl Smith (Gk), Ross Irving.