Comfortable Win For U15’s

Rangers 5 Dundee United 1

Rangers U15’s recorded a comfortable win over Dundee United at The Rangers Training Centre tonight, the game was played over three thirty minute periods and the truth is the Rangers youngsters could have won by a bigger margin.

The game a preceded by a minute’s silence as a mark of respect following today’s sad passing of Jimmy Bell.

It was the visitors who had the first chance on seven minutes, a ball was played over the Rangers defence and with them claiming offside the United attacker lobbed the ball over Colbi McQuarrie but was wide of his left hand post. Rangers reply saw Jack Caldwell advance through the inside right channel and pass to Flynn O’Brien but his shot was weak and the keeper saved easily.

Just before the quarter hour mark Lewis Marshall delivered a free kick from the left side of the box and Oliver Goodbrand glanced a header just wide of the far post. Within sixty seconds Lewis Marshall’s pass sent Brandon Ramage racing into the box but a combination of defender and keeper diverted the ball behind for a corner.

A slack pass from defence then presented Dundee United with a chance breaking into the right side of the penalty area with Colbi McQuarrie standing up to make the save. Rangers response was to take the lead on eighteen minutes, when the ball was played down the right Oliver Goodbrand both out muscled and out paced a defender to continue into the box and shoot across the keeper and into the net.

Rangers came close again when Aiden McCallion fed Jack Caldwell on the right and his cross bounced on the top of the crossbar on the way over. Rangers doubled their lead a couple of minutes before the end of the second period from a dubious penalty. Alex Smith played the ball forward for Oliver Goodbrand to break into the left side of the box, the United defender appeared to clear with a fine challenge and everybody watching was surprised when the referee pointed to the spot which Olly converted.

Rangers continued to dominate and the first chance of the second period came when Flynn O’Brien released Brandon Ramage inside the box but he shot straight at the keeper. Ten minutes into the second period Dundee United attacked on the right, Colbi McQuarrie made a brave save from the low cross but was injured and was replaced by Sam Reid.

The visitors then had a great chance from an attack down the left and when the ball arrived at the back post the shot went back across goal and just wide. Rangers then extended their lead with a minute of the period remaining, Alex Smith was the creator leaving two defenders in his wake as he attacked the edge of the box before slipping Brandon Ramage through to shoot past the keeper.

The third period was only three minutes old when Rangers scored a fourth from their second penalty, but on this occasion there was little doubt about the reward. Lewis Marshall provided the pass to Sam McLachlan inside the left side of the penalty area where he was clearly tripped and he made an excellent job with the penalty. Flynn O’Brien than showed excellent skill to go past two defender inside the box, he poked the ball goalwards but the keeper stuck out a foot to block.

In Rangers next attack only a fine save prevented another Rangers goal, after some good play from Sam McLachlan on the left side of the box his cross picked out Flynn O’Brien who’s volley looked goal bound till the keeper dived high to his right to turn the ball wide. The visitors immediately pulled a goal back, the attack started down the left and when the ball was passed inside the initial shot was blocked but the rebound was fired into the net.

With fifteen minutes remaining a fine passing move ended with a Flynn O’Brien flick releasing Brandon Ramage who was denied by a fine tip over from the keeper. Rangers scored a fifth with ten minutes remaining, Alex Smith passed to Matthew McIvor on the right who returned the ball inside the the box where Alex sidestepped a defender and calmly placed the ball past the keeper.

Dundee United then attacked on the right and a goal looked likely when it arrived at the back post until Matthew McIvor arrived to clear for a corner. Sam Reid was then called into action when Dundee United attacked on the left before cutting inside and shooting with the Rangers keeper saving low at his near post.

Rangers finished with a couple of efforts that brought out the best from the United keeper. Sam McLachlan crossed from the left side of the penalty area to find Matthew McIvor arriving at the back post where the keeper made a point blank save. The final action saw Aiden McCallion’s cross from the right cleared to the left hand angle of the box, Thomas Falconer’s shot looked to beat the keeper with the aid of a deflection but he somehow managed to keep the ball out.

Full-Time:- Rangers 5 Dundee United 1

Rangers Squad:- Colbi McQuarrie (Gk), Sam Reid (Gk), Jack Caldwell, Olly Hynd, Matthew McIvor, Thomas Falconer, Lewis Marshall, Alex Smith, Aiden McCallion, Flynn O’Brien, Brandon Ramage, Oliver Goodbrand, Lyle Hunter, Sam McLachlan, Zak Richford.