Win For Ten Man Colts

Rangers 3 Stirling University 2

When Jack Harkness was red carded just after the break  and Stirling Uni equalised from the resultant penalty perhaps a win was looking unlikely, but James Graham restored Rangers lead and where as the visitors had some chances Rangers had as many to extend that lead.

Rangers had an early effort from Robbie Ure inside the left side of the penalty area that Ben Fry saved at his near post. The opening goal was only briefly delayed and Rangers took the lead on five minutes, Thompson Ishaka and Ross McCausland combined to send Charlie Lindsay through and he continued into the box to shoot past Ben Fry.

The visitors drew level just before the twenty minute mark, The ball was played in from the left and Jason Jarvis shot into Lewis Budinauckas’s bottom left hand corner from the edge of the box. Seven minutes before the break a Thompson Ishaka flick teed up Robbie Ure for a shot from the edge of the box that forced a save from Ben Fry low to his left.

A great turn from Robbie Ure inside the box created a shooting chance from the left side of the penalty area but he shot across the face of goal. A bizarre own goal gave Rangers the lead a couple of minutes before the break, Jack Harkness hit the right hand byline and when Matthew Burrows attempted to clear the low cross the ball hit the back of prone keeper Ben Fry’s head and into the net for an Own Goal. 

Thomspon Ishaka attacked the penalty area and when he was challenged the ball broke to Ronnie Ure but he shot straight at Ben Fry. There was still time for a chance at the other end when a slack pass from Jack Harkness gave possession to Ben MacIver Redwood inside the right side of the box but he shot across goal and wide of the far post.

Half-Time:- Rangers 2 Stirling University 1

A couple of minutes after the break Jack Harkness brought down James Stokes inside the box for a clear penalty, but looked like a clear attempt to play the ball and the red card shown was a bit harsh with respect to the double jeopardy rule, James Berry converted the spotkick. The visitors came close a couple of minutes past the hour when the ball was knocked into the right side of the penalty area and Jason Jarvis shot wide of the far post.

When a corner was cleared from Rangers penalty area it was only as far as James Berry and his shot forced Lewis Budinauckas to turn the ball wide of his left hand post. Rangers regained the lead with just over twenty minutes remaining, Robbie Ure sent James Graham into the right side of the box, he went past two defenders as he made his away across the box, Matthew Burrows blocked his initial effort but he reacted to fire the rebound into the net.

A similar chance soon followed with Robbie Ure again the provider this time teeing up James Graham on the left side of the box but on this occasion Ben Fry made the save. With the game inside the final quarter hour a long throw caused problems inside Rangers box and when the ball broke for James Berry, Lewis Budinauckas made the save.

James Graham broke down the left before passing inside to Robbie Ure who shot straight at Ben Fry. In injury time Matthew Burrows had a chance inside the left side of the penalty area but he shot over.

A Robbie Ure flick on then provided a chance for James Graham who attempted to lob the advancing keeper but his effort was too high. Deep into injury to time Robbie Ure picked out Arron Lyall’s superbly timed run to send him through on goal, Ben Fry stuck out a foot to block the shot with James Graham firing the rebound wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

Full-Time:- Rangers 3 Stirling University 2

Rangers :- Lewis Budinauckas; Jack Harkness, Lewis MacKinnon (Kelsey Ewan 71 Mins), Connor Allan, Robbie Ftaser; Mackenzie Strachan; Charlie Lindsay (Kevin Ciubotaru 96 Mins), Arron Lyall; Thompson Ishaka ( James Graham 68 Mins); Robbie Ure, Ross McCausland.

Not Used:- Jacob Pazikas (Gk), Paul Nsio, Tyler Pasnik, Jack Roberts.

Stirling University:- Ben Fry; Matthew Burrows, Jake Service, Marcus Lavery; Ben Head (Ewan McGill 80 Mins), James Russell (Ciaran McAinch 74 Mins), Kames Berry, James Stokes (Archie Munro 86 Mins); Ben MacIver Redwood, Jason Jarvis, Cammy McKinley (Calum Rae 74 Mins).

Not Used:- Yan Gromov Godik (Gk), Finlay Bainbridge, Jamie Thompson.