U15’s Take On EPL Academies

Rangers Under 15’s travelled through to The Orium today to take on Manchester United and Newcastle United in two fifty minute games, Hearts also played both English sides but as the games were played at the same time I could only watch the Rangers games.

Rangers used a total of twenty-one players which included three U16 players that fitted in with the English U15 age profile and three U16’s who would have been classed as U16’s in England.

Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Rangers were pinned back for most of the game against Manchester United but defended manfully and limited the chances for the opposition. The only time a keeper was called into action came in the first half when an attack took the visitors into the left side of the box with Rydnn Maguire diving to his left to save the shot.

Rangers ventured forward once in the first half which saw Olly Goodbrand hit the left hand byline, from his cross Cormack Christie was stretching to reach and could only head the ball over.

The second have followed a similar theme with Rangers defending well and limiting the chances so much that Greig Thackray never had to make a serious save.

Full-Time:- Rangers 0 Manchester United 0

Rangers First Half:- Rydnn Maguire; Jack Caldwell, Olly Hynd, Duncan Barlow, Olly Goodbrand; Aidan McCallion; Harry Weir, Alex Smith; Ronald Nimyel, Cormack Christie, Flynn O’Brien.

Rangers Second Half:- Greig Thackray; Arran Kerr, Evan Molloy, Leo Fisher, Thomas Forrester; Aiden McCallion; Callum Fernie, Lyle Wark; Brandon Ramage, Trialist, Jose Calela.

 

Rangers 1 Newcastle United 1

The second game was a much more even and open affair with Newcastle taking the lead on the half-time whistle and Rangers levelling right at the end of the second half.

Rangers were pinned back in the opening five minutes but again defended well with Greig Thackray not being called to make a save. Rangers then mounted an attack on six minutes, Callum Fernie played the ball forward to Jose Calela inside of the box where his touch took him wide of the keeper but he could only shoot into the side netting.

A good passing move ended with Arran Kerr picking out Brandon Ramage inside the right side of the box but he shot over. Lyle Wark played the ball forward to Jose Calela whose back heel flick sent the Trialist in a race with the keeper, he got there first but the ball came off the advancing keeper.

Newcastle then threatened at the other end with an attack along the right hand byline and from the shot Greig Thackray stuck out a foot to block the shot. A similar chance soon followed and when the shot from a tight angle came in Greig Thackray produced another save. Right on the stroke of half-time when he was beaten by a shot from around thirty yards into the top corner.

Rangers had an early chance after the break when Ronald Nimyel broke into the right side of the penalty area and when he shot across the face of goal the ball just evaded Flynn O’Brien arriving at the back post. Newcastle replied with an attack of their own into the right side of the penalty area with the shot being deflected just wide of Rydnn Maguire’s left hand post.

Keeper and defender then prevented Newcastle doubling their lead, the attack came into the left side of the penalty area, Rydnn Maguire dived to his left to parry the shot and a brilliant Duncan Barlow challenge prevented a certain goal at the far post. With the final whistle imminent Alex Smith released the Trialist into the right side of the box where he shot across the keeper into the far corner.

Injuries to Olly Goodbrand and Cormack Christie forced Rangers into two second half substitutions.

Full-Time:- Rangers 1 Newcastle United 1

RangersFirst Half:- Greig Thackray; Arran Kerr, Evan Molloy, Leo Fisher, Thomas Forrester; Callum Fernie: Lyle Wark, Alex Smith; Brandon Ramage, Trialist, Jose Calela.

Rangers Second Half:- Rydnn Maguire; Jack Caldwell, Olly Hynd, Duncan Barlow, Olly Goodbrand (Arran Kerr); Aidan McCallion; Harry Weir, Alex Smith; Ronald Nimyel, Cormack Christie (Trialist), Flynn O’Brien.

 

Hearts lost 0-1 to Newcastle United and drew 3-3 with Manchester United.