Colts Win At East Kilbride

East Kilbride 3 Rangers 4

Rangers Colts won by the odd goal in seven in their Lowland League clash at K Park tonight. They were comfortable leading 4-1 but then went through a period where they struggled to get out of their own half and gave up a few chances to the home side. The game was won by the time East Kilbride scored their third goal with virtually the last kick.

Rangers took the lead in the opening minute when Zak Lovelace found himself clear inside the left side of the penalty area and he passed the ball across Curtis Lyle and into the net. Six minutes later Kane Ritchie-Hosler broke through the inside right channel where he played a one-two with James Graham to break deep into the box and only a great challenge from Stephen Bronsky cleared the danger.

On eleven minutes Zak Lovelace passed to Kane Ritchie-Hosler who attacked the penalty area and played in Robbie Ure who was denied by the legs of Curtis Lyle. Rangers were then forced into a change when Zak Lovelace limped off to be replaced by Ross McCausland. Just past the quarter hour mark a slack defensive pass gave Neil McLaughlin a chance and his short from the edge of the box forced Lewis Budinauckas to save low to his right.

Rangers were soon back on attack through Robbie Ure breaking into the right side of the box and again Curtis Lyle blocked the shot with his legs. A couple of minutes shy of the half hour Ross McCausland cut in from the left and shoots straight at the keeper from the edge of the box. 

Just beyond the half hour Rangers doubled their lead, Charlie Lindsay passes to Kane Ritchie-Hosler who goes past a couple of defenders into the right side of the penalty area where he beat Curtis Lyle from a narrow angle. Eight minutes later Rangers made it three, Robbie Fraser’s superb twenty-five yard free-kick giving the keeper no chance.

The home side reduced the deficit a minute before the break from the penalty spot. Ronan Hughes broke forward and exchanged passes with Neil McLaughlin to break into the penalty area where he was brought down, Neil McLaughlin stepped up to convert from the spot.

Half-Time:- East Kilbride 1 Rangers 3

East Kilbride came close three minutes after the break, a throw in from the right bounced across the box to Joao Victoria who’s shot clipped the keeper’s left hand post and wide. Rangers increased their lead just before the hour mark, Robbie Fraser played the ball forward to Robbie Ure inside the left side of the box, he cut inside a defender before teeing up Connor Young for a simple finish.

With the final quarter hour approaching Lewis Budinauckas was called into action twice in as many minutes, saving on both occasions from Neil McLaughlin from a similar position inside the right side of the box. On the next occasion Neil McLaughlin got the better of the Rangers keeper converting when the ball was played in from the right.

Within two minutes the home side had a other chance when a pass sent Reece McGuire through with Lewis Budinauckas coming from his line to make the save. In the dying seconds the Rangers defence was caught out by a long ball and Daniel McManus continued into the box to shoot past Lewis Budinauckas.

Full-Time :- East Kilbride 3 Rangers 4

East Kilbride:- Curtis Lyle; Aidan McDonald, Stephen Bronsky (Conor Morgan HT), Jonny Page, BJ Coll (Kyle Munro HT); Andy Black (Daniel McManus HT), Ronan Hughes; Neil McLaughlin; Cami Elliott, Bob McHugh (Reece McGuire 59 mins), Joao Victoria (Ben Hughes 75 Mins)

Not Used:- Adam McLean (Gk), Billy Mortimer

Rangers:- Lewis Budinauckas; Jack Harkness, Lewis MacKinnon, Connor Allan, Robbie Fraser; Mackenzie Strachan; Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Charlie Lindsay; James Graham (Connor Young 52 Mins), Robbie Ure, Zak Lovelace (Ross McCausland 13 mins)

Not Used:- Jacob Pazikas (Gk), Arron Lyall, Tyler Pasnik, Kristian Webster.