Academy Round Up

The weekend gave me the opportunity to take in two 11-a-side games and one 9-a-side game as Rangers took on Hearts at various age groups.

Hearts 3 Rangers 1

The first eleven a side game was at lunchtime on Saturday at The Heriot-Watt Sports Academy and it was the Under 15’s (2008) age group. There was a bit of a delay as the referee hadn’t turned up with the game eventually kicking off with a member of Hearts coaching staff taking on the whistle. Hearts were dominant in the first have and took a three goal lead early in the second half, Rangers came back strongly and tested the Hearts keeper on a few occasions but could quite pull back the three goal deficit.

Hearts took the lead on fourteen minutes, the attack took them to the right hand byline and when the ball was played across goal it was knocked past Colbi McQuarrie. Rangers reply saw Aiden McCallion break toward the Hearts penalty area but his shot from the edge of the box was just wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

Midway through the half the home side came close to doubling their lead, the attack started on the right and when the ball was centred it took a well placed Aiden McCallion to head the shot off the line. Just before the half hour mark Hearts worked a short corner on the right and well the ball was crossed into the box Jayden Millarvie dived high to his right to keep the shot out. A few minutes later the second Hearts goal did come, the cross was provided from the left and a header planted past Jayden Millarvie.

Half-Time:- Hearts 2 Rangers 0

The second half was ten minutes old when Hearts grabbed a third goal, Jayden Millarvie produced a fine save diving to his right to parry a shot from deep inside the left side of the box, but it was a Hearts player who reacted quickest to fire the loose ball into the net. Rangers had their closest effort when Sam McLachlan’s free-kick from the right hand angle of the box found the head of Brandon Ramage and the Hearts keeper dived to his right to produce a fine save.

Rangers next chance saw Ronald Mynell played through but just as he was about to shoot the ball took an awkward bounce and he shot over. A Ronald Mynell solo run then took him past two defenders and deep into the Hearts penalty area with the keeper coming from his line to make the block.

Rangers got on the scoresheet when Thomas Falconer’s free-kick from the right was cleared to the edge of the box and Zak Richford’s shot looped over the keeper and into the top left hand corner. Rangers final chance came when Oliver Goodbrand sent Aiden McCallion through but the keeper raced from his penalty area to clear the danger.

Full-Time:- Hearts 3 Rangers 1

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

Rangers 3 Hearts 1

Sunday morning saw the action move to The Rangers Training Centre for the U16’s (2007’s) clash, it was an entertaining competitive game with Rangers running out deserved winners.

Rangers started brightly and on five minutes Connor Campbell picked out Chris Eadie inside the penalty area but a superb challenge from Kenzi Nair cleared the danger. A minute later Chris Eadie hit the right hand byline with Coupar Wilkie diving to gather his low centre.

Just after the half hour James Wilson was through inside the left side of Rangers penalty area, he knocked the ball past Greig Thackray but Cameron Scott was well placed to head from the goal line. Hearts came close again when a throw in on the right saw a great turn from James Wilson inside the box with Greig Thackray saving his shot at point range.

Just on the half time whistle James Wilson spun and shot from the right hand angle of the box with Greig Thackray saving low to his right.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Hearts 0

Rangers took the lead three minutes after the break, from Harry Weir’s left hand corner Jack Wylie rose to power a header past Coupar Wilkie. Rangers doubled their lead from the penalty spot five minutes later, a great Callum Adamson turn took him past a defender and into the right side of the penalty area where is was hauled to the ground, he stepped up to do the job from the spot.

Another five minutes had elapsed when Lewis Stewart picked out Chris Eadie inside the box, a great first touch set him up nicely but Coupar Wylie came from his line to block the shot, the ball broke to Connor Campbell but his shot was deflected wide. Midway through the half Hearts were back in the game, the initial shot from a narrow angle inside the right side of the box was parried by Colbi McQuarrie but the rebound was converted at the back post.

Hearts then had a free-kick from around twenty-five yards but it didn’t trouble Colbi McQuarrie as the shot was straight at the keeper. With six minutes remaining Rangers restored their two goal advantage, Callum Adamson providing the pass to send Chris Eadie through to continue into the box and shoot past the keeper.

Rangers could have added to their tally in the closing minutes, Callum Adamson won a challenge and the ball broke for Chris Eadie to break into the box with Coupar Wylie turning the ball wide. The corner was taken short and passed to Lewis Stewart on the left hand angle of the box and his shot bounced off the crossbar.

Rangers should have scored with the last attack of the game, Jack Wylie broke into the right side of the box and his cross come shot was parried straight to Chris Eadie but he volleyed over from close range.

Full-Time:- Rangers 3 Hearts 1

Rangers Squad:- Greig Thackray (Gk), Colbi McQuarrie (Gk), Arran Kerr, Jack Wylie, Cameron Scott, Connor Campbell, Leo Fisher, Grant Marchant, Grant Leitch, Harry Weir, Chris Eadie, Josh Gentles, Callum Adamson, Lyle Wark, Lewis Stewart, Duncan Barlow

Hearts Squad:- Coupar Wylie (Gk), Gregor Burn, Bruno Pilch, Jamie Anderson, Kenzie Nair, Matthew Gillies, Gus Stevenson, Owen Muirhead, Szymon Plesiewicz, James Wilson, Jay Boyle, Alfie Osborne, Jay Mill, Aaron Mulvanny, Adrianos Anangnostou, Lewis Barnes, Blair Mulvanny, Lyndon Tas.

Footnote:- The U13 (2010’s) nine-a-side game took place on Saturday morning at The Orium Astro pitch  where Rangers lost 5-1 to an impressive Hearts side. Rangers goal coming from Daniel Owonyomi.