Colts Rue Missed Chances

Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

Rangers Colts lost to a Manchester United side that were on average a couple of years younger, the only goal came from Ethan Wheatley but Rangers will be looking back on a number of missed chances in a game they should never have lost.

Rangers had an early chance on four minutes when the Trialist No 9 released Ross McCausland inside the right side of the box with Elyh Harrison standing up to beat the shot away. Man Utd replied when Ethan Wheatley capitalised on a Johnly Yfeko slip to break into the right side of the box where he cut the ball back to Shola Shoretire who shot over.

Robbie Fraser then advance to the left hand byline where he cut the ball back to Zak Lovelace who saw his shot deflected wide of the near post. Back to the other end and Shola Shoretire passed to Ethan Williams inside the box with Kieran Wright producing a fine save.

The visitors took the lead just beyond the quarter hour mark, Shea  Lacey was the provider when his cross from the right picked out the unmarked Ethan Wheatley who headed past Kieran Wright. On twenty minutes Johnly Yfeko broke from defence and his pass sent Zak Lovelace clear, he tried to round Elyn Harrison as he came from his box, but the keeper managed to kick the ball clear,

Rangers were then forced into a change when the Trialist No 9 limped off to be replaced by Arron Lyall. A couple of minutes beyond the half hour mark Arron Lyall passed to Archie Stevens inside the box, a great turn created space for a shot but is was too high. Ross McCausland then advanced along the right hand byline, Elyh Harrison blocked the shot from a tight angle and the ball was cleared for a corner.

Just before the break Paul Nsio attacked the penalty area where he exchanged passes with Ross McCausland but shot straight at the keeper.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

The early threat to goal came from a Ethan Williams twenty-five yarder that was straight at Kieran Wright. Rangers came close to a leveller two minutes later when Ross McCausland’s layoff teed up Cole McKinnon who saw his shot come back of the keeper’s right hand post.

The next chance came from a free-kick on the right hand angle of the box and Bailey Rice forced a save from Elyn Harrison low at his left hand post. Rangers were creating chances and when Robbie Fraser advanced on the left his cross went across the box to Ross McCausland beyond the back post, he cut the ball back to Adam Devine who saw his shot blocked.

On the hour mark Ross McCausland went past a defender into the right side of the box and he forced a save from the keeper. A piece of good play then end with a pass to Archie Stevens inside the left side of the box were he stepped inside a defender but shot wide of the far post.

Rangers next chance came when Jack Harkness burst into the right side of the box and his short forced substitute keeper Kie Plumley to push over. That save was bettered with twelve minutes remaining, Adam Devine broke into the left side of the box and from his pass Cole McKinnon looked sure to score from around eight yards until Kie Plumley produced a stunning point blank save.

That was the end of real chances as the game petered out and the United youngsters held on for a win.

Full- Time:- Rangers 0 Manchester United 1

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Adam Devine, Leon King, Johnly Yfeko, Robbie Fraser (Jack Harkness 70 Mins); Bailey Rice; Cole McKinnon, Paul Nsio; Ross McCausland, Trialist No 9 (Arron Lyall 21 Mins), Zak Lovelace (Archie Stevens 31 Mins).

Not Used:- Mason Munn (Gk), Connor Allan, Greig Allen, Mackenzie Strachan.

Manchester United:- Elyh Harrison (Kie Plumley 61 Mins); James Nolan, Sonny Aljofree (Willy Kambwala 61 Mins), Louis Jackson, Harry Amass (Habeeb Ogunneye HT); Maxi Oyedele, Shola Shoretire; James Scanlon; Shea Lacey (Joe Hugill HT), Ethan Wheatley (Mateo Mejia 61 Mins), Ethan Williams.