Another Win For Under 18’s

Rangers 4 Hamilton Accies 0

Rangers Under 18’s recorded their 20th League win of the season at home to Hamilton Accies last night. A late first half goal from Darren McInally gave Rangers a lead at the break that was probably a bit harsh on Accies. Rangers could and probably should have added more than three goals to their tally after the break.

The visitors had the first chance on three minutes, breaking into the right side of the penalty area with Jacob Pazikas standing up to beat the shot away. Accies next attack came on the other side of the penalty area and on this occasion Jakob Pazikas clutched the shot under his crossbar.

Rangers came close to taking the lead on nine minutes, Mackenzie Strachan fed Jamie Newton on the left, when the cross found its way to Leyton Dunlop at the back post his shot beat the keeper but was cleared from the line by a defender. Jacob Pazikas was soon back in action, making a fine block when the Accies forward turned a defender on the edge of the box to make space for the shot.

There was a lull in goalmouth action for a long spell in the rest of the first half, until five minutes before the break. James Graham went past a defender inside the right side of the box with the keeper turning the shot wide of his near post. Rangers made the break through three minutes later, a good passing move ended with Leyton Dunlop’s pass sending James Graham through, as he took on a defender on the edge of the box the ball broke to Darren McInally who shot into the keeper’s bottom right hand corner.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Hamilton Accies 0

Rangers doubled their lead five minutes after the break, Robbie Ure was played into the left side of the penalty area where the keeper forced him wide but he found the net from a tight angle. Accies responded with a header from a right wing corner that Charlie Lindsay cleared from the line.

Within a minute Jack McConnell was called into action again producing a fine double save, he parried the initial shot at close range from inside the right side of the box and showed great reactions to turn the shot from the rebound wide of his left hand post. Rangers then broke and with Charlie Lindsay the furthest player forward but inside his own half and clearly onside, he continued into the box but was denied by the keeper with a fine save low to his left.

The game had reached the hour mark when Rangers scored a third, a good passing move ended with Robbie Ure teeing up Charlie Lindsay inside the box to beat the keeper from around the penalty spot. Just over ten minutes later James Graham’s superb turn on the right hand byline left a defender on the ground and his cross found Jack Roberts at the back post, he looked sure to score but somehow his header bounced across goal and wide of the far post.

Within two minutes Rangers had another incredible miss, Charlie Lindsay sent Jack Roberts breaking into the right side of the penalty area where he cut the ball back to Leyton Dunlop on the six yard line but he shot over. The visitors were still threatening to get on the scoresheet and Jack McConnell had to make a save from a shot from inside the right side of the penalty area.

Rangers were soon back on the attack with Charlie Lindsay sending Zak McKay into the left side of the box but the keeper parried his shot diving to the left. Rangers completed the scoring in the final minute, Leyton Dunlop in possession on the right laid the ball back to Charlie Lindsay who dribbled past two defenders into the box before playing the ball across goal and presenting Jack Roberts with a tap in.

Full-Time:- Rangers 4 Hamilton Accies 0

Rangers:- Jakob Pazikas (Jack McConnell HT); Jack Harkness, Kristian Webster, Connor Allan, Jamie Newton (Zak McKay HT): Mackenzie Strachan (Kelsey Ewan 50 mins); Darren McInally (Christian Mulindwa 70 mins), Charlie Lindsay; Leyton Dunlop, Robbie Ure (Jack Roberts 60 mins), James Graham.

Not Used:- Harley Ewan, Ryan Duncan.