Another Win For 18’s

Rangers 3 Hearts 2

It was good news that today’s Under 18 league game against Hearts was going ahead, after Hamilton Accies clinched the title on Tuesday the word was that completing the league fixtures was optional. Today’s other scheduled games, Motherwell v Hibernian and Aberdeen v Dundee United were postponed, pretty poor for an alleged professional league in my opinion.

The first chance came in the fifth minute, Kieron Willox’s corner from the right was met on the volley at the near post by Jack Roberts who saw his effort deflected wide. Hearts first effort came from a Mackenzie Ross effort from the edge of the box and left of centre which Alfie Halliwell saved low to his right.

Rangers seemed sure to take the lead on twenty minutes, Kieron Willox’s shot from inside the left side of the penalty area was parried by Scott Cowie, the ball went to Chris Eadie who shot over from the edge of the six yard box. Hearts capitalised by taking the lead two minutes later, Ryan Duncan broke through the inside left channel into the penalty area where he shot across goal and Mackenzie Ross was on hand to shoot past Alfie Halliwell.

Rangers then had another incredible miss four minutes later, a slack pass allowed Jack Roberts to break into the left side of the box, he seemed to have laid the ball on a plate for Kieron Willox who shot over the open goal. Just beyond the half hour mark Zak  McKay sent Jack Roberts to the left hand byline and inside the penalty area where he shot across goal from a tight angle.

From Paul Nsio’s through ball Jack Roberts got there just before Scott Cowie with the keeper getting a touch to keep the ball out and with Chris Eadie waiting to pounce a defender made a last ditch clearance.

Half-Time :- Rangers 0 Hearts 1

Rangers came close five minutes after the break, a corner from the left was delivered to the back post where Kristian Webster headed back across goal, Paul Nsio got in a close range header but was denied by a point blank save from Scott Cowie diving to his left. The Hearts keeper was called into action again when he got behind a Jack Roberts shot from the edge of the box after a good turn from the Rangers striker.

Rangers equalised with twenty-five minutes remaining, Connor Campbell played the ball forward to Jack Roberts on the left hand angle of the box, he cut inside past two defenders and he gave the keeper no chance finding the net via Scott Cowie’s right hand post. Hearts hadn’t shown much in attack in the second half but Mackenzie Ross forced a save from Alfie Halliwell with a shot from the left hand angle of the box.

A minute later the visitors had a great chance to take the lead, Tyler Pasnik lost possession just outside his own penalty area allowing Ryan Duncan to advance into the box with Alfie Halliwell stretching to hold the shot under the crossbar. Rangers responded almost immediately by taking the lead, from Zander Hutton’s cross from the right Finley Curtis’s header was kept out by Scott Cowie at point blank range, but he pounced to knock the loose ball into the net.

Rangers extended their lead with nine minutes remaining, Lewis Stewart and Zander Hutton combined on the right and the latter’s ball across the box was converted at the back post by Tyler Pasnik. Hearts reduced the deficit to a single goal with four minutes remaining, Alfie Halliwell dived to his left to parry Szymon Plesiewicz.s shot from the edge of the box but Gregor Burn followed up to net.

The final chance of the game came when Tyler Pasnik crossed from the right hand byline and Zak McKay saw his header held under the crossbar by Scott Cowie.

Full-Time:- Rangers 3 Hearts 2

Rangers:- Alfie Halliwell; Zander Hutton, Jack Wylie, Kristian Webster, Zak McKay; Calum Adamson (Souleyman Mandey 78 Mins); Paul Nsio (Connor Campbell 55 Mins) , Finlay Curtis (Grant Leitch 81 Mins); Kieron Willox (Tyler Pasnik 55 Mins), Chris Eadie (Lewis Stewart 78 Mins), Jack Roberts.

Not Used:- Mason Munn (Gk), Arran Kerr.

Hearts:- Scott Cowie; Rocco Friel (Gregor Burn 74 Mins), Matthew Gillies (Jamie Anderson 52 Mins), Kenzie Nair, Alex Walker; Gregor Crookston (Owen Muirhead), Ryan Duncan, Taylor Hogarth (Harvey Chisolm) ; Gus Stevenson (Szymon Plesiewicz), Mackenzie Ross; James Wilson.

Not Used:- Zach Paris (Gk)