Youth Cup Progress For U18’s

Rangers 1 Hearts 0

A Chris Eadie goal fourteen minutes from time saw Rangers progress to the Youth Cup Semi Final, In a close game the tie against Hearts could have gone either way but the Rangers youngsters got the vital goal.

Rangers had the first chance on three minutes, from a free kick just outside the box and close to the byline Paul Nsio laid the ball back to Blaine McClure and from his cross Findlay Curtis stooped to head just wide of the keeper’s left hand post. Five minutes later at the other end Gus Stevenson broke into the right side of Rangers box with Mason Munn keeping the shot out with an outstretched foot.

A further ten minutes had passed when Gus Stevenson got the right hand byline inside the box, he looked up and picked out Bobby McCluckie who was denied by a brilliant Leyton Grant block. Rangers had territorial advantage for the rest of the half until just before the break when Hearts had a chance from a free-kick on the edge of the box, Bobby McCluckie never really got much behind the shot and Mason Munn save comfortably.

There was still time for Rangers to threaten the Hearts goal twice before the break, Archie Stevens got to the right hand byline, his cross broke to Findlay Curtis with Lydon Tas gathering the shot at the second attempt. Almost immediately Josh Gentles broke through the inside left channel into the box where he cut the ball back to Findlay Curtis who didn’t get a clean strike and Lydon Tas saved easily.

Half-Time:- Rangers 0 Hearts 0

Rangers had the first threat of the second half six minutes after the break, Josh Gentles got a near post flick on Blaine McClure’s left hand corner that Lydon Tas clutched under the bar. With twenty-six minutes remaining Findlay Curtis broke into the right side of the box where he saw his shot deflected wide.

A couple of minutes later the visitors missed the chance of the match, Bobby McCluckie broke on the left and he picked out the unmarked Gus Stevenson around the penalty spot, he looked sure to score but shot wide of the far post. Rangers were immediately back on the attack when Leyton Grant switched play to Kieron Willox wide on the left, he went past a defender into the box but his attempt from a narrow angle was blocked by Lydon Tas at the near post.

Mason Munn kept the game goalless with seventeen minutes remaining, Owen Muirhead won possession on the edge of the box and shot was destined for the net until the Rangers keeper got down to his left to turn the ball wide. Four minutes later the deadlock was broken, from Paul Nsio’s pass forward Chris Eadie got ahead of the defender and went past the advancing goalkeeper to roll the ball into the empty net.

Hearts tried to respond and with nine minutes remaining, Gus Stevenson released Bobby McCluckie inside the left side of the box and it took an outstretched Mason Munn foot to keep the ball out. In the final minute Zander Hutton hit the right hand byline before passing to Chris Eadie inside the box where he laid it back to Callum Burnside but the substitute was denied by a fine block from Gregor Burn.

Full-Time:- Rangers 1 Hearts 0

Rangers:- Mason Munn; Zander Hutton, Leyton Grant, Connor Campbell, Cammy Scott; Blaine McClure (Cammy Bell 89 Mins); Callum Adamson (Kieron Willox 57 Mins), Paul NsIo; Findlay Curtis (Callum Burnside 74 Mins); Archie Stevens, Josh Gentles (Chris Eadie 57 Mins).

Not Used:- Alfie Halliwell (Gk), Arran Kerr, Duncan Barlow.

Hearts:- Lydon Tas; Kai Smutek, Alex Walker (Euan Banks 80 Mins), Kenzie Nair; Mackenzie Ross, Gregor Crookston  (Callen Robb 90 Mins), Owen Muirhead, Lucas Smith; James Wilson (Gregor Burn 60 Mins), Bobby McCluckie..

Not Used:- Coupar Wilkie (Gk), Euan Glasgow, Charlie Sanders, Alfie Hutchison.