Shootout Win For 16’s

Rangers 1 Hearts 1 Rangers Won 5-4 on penalties

With the sides level after ninety minutes and the first eight penalties scored Alfie Halliwell dived to his right to push Bruno Pilch’s penalty on to the post, this setup Harry Weir’s spotkick conversion to take Rangers through to the CAS Cup Final. It was a deserved win for the young Rangers side, Hearts edged the first half but Rangers had the majority of chances after the break.

Hearts had the first chance in the opening minute when a ball through the inside right channel released James Wilson with Alfie Halliwell gathering at the second attempt. Rangers immediately sprung to the other end and Chris Eadie’s shot from inside the left side of the penalty area bounced off the crossbar.

A couple of minutes later Rangers carved out another chance when Arran Kerr released Lewis Stewart inside the right side of the box but he shot wide of the near post. The end to end start continued with Alfie Halliwell producing a double save from James Wilson, saving the initial shot and reacting quickly to save the rebound.

Hearts then had a free-kick on the right hand angle of the box which James Wilson fired straight at Alfie Halliwell. Some good play from Josh Gentles ended with a through ball and Coupar Wilkie saved bravely at the feet of Chris Eadie.

It was Rangers turn to have a free-kick in a good area just a couple of minutes shy of the half hour which Finlay Curtis fired straight at Coupar Wilkie. Hearts were soon threatening at the other end when James Wilson cut in from the right and forced a save from Alfie Halliwell.

Within a minute the visitors attacked down the right and from the cross James Wilson volleyed wide of the near post. Hearts were having a good spell and barely sixty seconds later Bruno Pilch’s effort from the left hand angle of the box clipped the outside of the near post.

Five minutes before the break Josh Gentles got on the end of Harry Weir’s free-kick from the left with Coupar Wilkie parrying his close range header.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Hearts 0

Rangers had a great chance in the opening minute of the second half when Lancelot Pollard latched on to a short Kai Smutek pass back with Coupar Wilkie advancing from goal to block with a foot. Rangers next chance began with a Lancelot  Pollard pass to Finlay Curtis on the left and he picked out Chris Eadie inside the left side of the box with Coupar Wilkie again making the save.

Hearts then produced their first chance of the half, James Wilson breaking into the left side of the box to force another save from Alfie Halliwell. Back to the other end and Lewis Stewart on the right sent Chris Eadie through with Coupar Wilkie again getting the better of the Rangers striker.

Hearts then took the lead on the hour mark, Kai Smutek rising at the back post to nod in a corner delivered from the right. A couple of minutes later a well worked Rangers free-kick saw Harry Weir pick out Lewis Stewart’s run from inside the box out to the eighteen yard line and his shot was kept out by Coupar Wilkie diving high to his left to turn the ball wide.

Lewis Stewart was the architect of Rangers next chance, attacking the right side of the penalty area before cutting back to Finlay Curtis who’s shot was blocked by Coupar Wilkie. Rangers had another chance with twenty minutes remaining when Harry Weir’s corner from the left found its way to Cammy Scott on the far side of the box but he shot over.

With eleven minutes remaining Rangers got the equaliser they deserved, Leo Fisher played the ball forward from defence to Harry Weir and his superb pass picked out the run of Chris Eadie who shot past Coupar Wilkie. There was no real chances in the remainder of the ninety minutes and so to the shootout. Chris Eadie, Lewis Stewart, Grant Marchant and Cammy Fernie all converted as did Hearts first four penalty takers. This setup Alfie Halliwell for his superb save and Harry Weir for his winning penalty.

Full-Time:- Rangers 1 Hearts 1 Rangers Won 5-4 on penalties

Rangers:- Alfie Halliwell; Arran Kerr, Duncan Barlow, Leo Fisher, Cammy Scott; Grant Leitch (Grant Marchant HT); Harry Weir, Finlay Curtis (Cammy Fernie); Lewis Stewart, Chris Eadie, Josh Gentles (Lancelot Pollard HT).

Not Used:- Greig Thackray (Gk)

Footnote:- Rangers U13’s and U15’s lost their semi finals yesterday both to Aberdeen, 7-4 and 3-1 respectively. With Hearts beating St.Mirren (U13’s) and Motherwell (U15’s) in the other semi finals. These finals will both be Aberdeen v Hearts clashes. 

Rangers will meet the winners of Aberdeen v Celtic semi final in the U16’s final.

The U14’s semis finals were also played today between Hearts v Hamilton Accies and Celtic v Aberdeen.