18’s Lose To Kinetic Academy

Rangers 2 Kinetic Academy 3

Rangers Under 18’s hosted Kinetic Academy at The Rangers Training Centre yesterday afternoon, Croydon based Kinetic Academy encourages every student to stay in education and complete a university recognised course, all whilst pursuing their football dreams. Sixty players have progressed into professional football in the past eight seasons, including Joe Aribo who needs no introduction, Josh Maja who began at Sunderland and is currently at Stoke City on loan from Bordeaux and Yeboah Amankwah who recently moved from Man City to Belgian club Lommel.  Rangers signed Kevin Ciubotaru from The Kinectic Academy earlier this year.

It was a disappointing performance from Rangers losing to what is essentially an non professional academy.

Kinetic took the lead on five minutes, from Adrian Fererria’s free kick wide on the right hand touchline Omaru King rose to head past Jacob Pazikas. They came close to a second just before the quarter hour mark, Conor Darwish advanced on the left and passed to Chuks Uzor-Greey inside the box who side stepped Kristian Webster before firing against Jacob Paziks’s right hand post.

Rangers were forced into a change on twenty four minutes when Bailey Rice was replaced by Paul Nsio. A couple of minutes later Tyler Pasnik came close from a free kick right of centre and on the edge of the box with his effort only just wide of the keeper’s left hand post. The remainder of the half passed with neither goal being seriously troubled, although Rangers were forced into another change when Kerr Robertson was replaced by Christian Mulindwa six minutes before the break.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Kinetic Academy 1

The second half was only four minutes old when Rangers equalised, a clearance from Rangers box sent Tyler Pasnik racing down the left and when he crossed into the penalty area Jack Roberts volleyed past Reggie Rose. A further four minutes had passed when Zak McKay cut in from the left and passed to Jack Roberts who’s shot from the edge of the box forced Reggie Rose to save low to his right.

Kinetic regained the lead on fifty six minutes from a brilliant free-kick, from the left hand angle of the box Demmy Nicolaou fired his shot into the top right hand corner of Jacob Pazikas’s net. Rangers were immediately forced into another change with Niall Rogerson replacing Paul Nsio. Ten minutes later Christian Mulindwa disposessed Adrian Fererria on the edge of Kinetic’s box but Reggie Rose pushed his shot over.

Kinetic’s response was to extend their lead, a clearance sent Omaru King racing through the inside right channel, he continued into the penalty area before passing to Ben Hogarth who shot past the keeper. Rangers were thrown a lifeline with twelve minutes remaining when a mix up between defence and keeper presented Kieron Willox with a simple chance and he scored from the six yard line.

Rangers had a few half chances in the closing minutes, Jack Roberts laid the ball back to Christian Mulindwa on the edge of the box but he shot straight at Reggie Rose. Kieron Willox then sent Jack Roberts into the right hand angle of the box but again his shot was straight at the keeper. The final effort on goal came when a corner from the right was hooked back across goal from beyond the back post by Kristian Webster, Jack Roberts stretched to head goal wards with Reggie Rose clutching the ball under his crossbar. Kinetic Academy held on comfortably for a deserved victory.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Kinetic Academy 3

Rangers:- Jacob Pazikas (Greig Thackray 74 Mins); Zak McKay, Kristian Webster, Leyton Grant, Kevin Ciubotaru; Bailey Rice (Paul Nsio 24 Mins ( Niall Rogerson 57 Mins)); Kerr Robertson (Christina Mulindwa 39 Mins), Finlay Curtis; Kieron Willox, Jack Roberts, Tyler Pasnik.

Kinetic Academy:- Reggie Rose; Rafiq Lamptey, Demmy Nicolaou, Andre Grey, Conor Darwish; Rory Edwards; Adrian Fererria (Huseyin Yildiz 69 Mins), Jack Low; Errol Mundle-Smith, Chuks Uzor-Greey (Ben Hogarth HT), Omaru King (Jack Brysland 76 Mins)

Not Used:- Jacob Mazionis, Hamza Esa, Nana Kafour.

Footnote:- The Kinetic Academy take on St. Mirren U18’s today, nothing planned so I think I’ll go along.