RANGERS B Team collected an important three points this evening at Parkhead in the Old Firm after a tremendous 1-0 victory.
A second half goal from Cole McKinnon was the reward from the youngsters’ positive and dominant away performance in the league campaign
The young Gers started the fixture looking to carry the same levels of performance from their superb win against the same opposition at Ibrox back in March.
B team boss David McCallum made three changes to his squad after the weekend’s domestic game, with Lewis Budinauckas replacing Aaron Cervantes in goals.
Greig Allen stepped into the backline to join Adam Devine, Robbie Fraser and Kyle McClelland in front of the goal.
Murray Miller, Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Cole McKinnon were in the midfield with Tony Weston, Charlie McCann, and Ross McCausland up front for the Light Blues.
As expected, the game started with intensity straight from the referee’s first whistle with the Gers looking to pressurise the home side quickly.
Ross McCausland made a few good runs into the home side’s final third but was unable to find the necessary space to get his shots away.
The youngsters did well to maintain the early pressure with Kane Ritchie-Hosler weaving past the defence towards the goal. He managed to get into some space before firing a low effort, but Oliwayemi was able to collect.
Tony Weston was close to breaking the deadlock at the ten-minute mark with a great opportunity on goal. He made a great interception from a loose defender’s pass back to advance to the edge of the box, he chipped the ball over the head of the keeper but put too much force behind his effort with the ball going agonisingly out for a goal kick.
Shortly after, McCausland linked up well with Weston to threaten the home side’s defence once more. Weston picked up a stray ball after a deflection off Ricthie-Hosler, the youngster pushed forward and danced between a few green shirts before switching to McCausland on the edge of the box. The Light Blue sent the ball across the floor towards the bottom right corner, but Oliwayemi managed to get an arm to it.
The Gers continued to create danger in the opposition’s half whilst defusing any threats in their own final third with Lewis Budinauckas making important blocks.
McCallum’s side were dominant in possession throughout the first half as they looked to find the opening goal. Just before halt-time, Cole McKinnon sent a powerful effort towards the goal after great build-up play from McCausland, but his shot was again collected.
It was a strong first forty-five from the youngsters as they headed into the break with the score line remaining goalless.
The Gers carried their levels with Greig Allen who had the first great opportunity in the second half. Devine sent a superb delivery into the box to link up with the Ger pushing past the backline, but he was just unable to connect with his efforts.
Rocco Vata sent a strike from outside the Rangers box, but Budinauckas was able to comfortably get a hand to his shot to keep the score level.
McCann then had a ferocious strike towards the goal on 65 minutes after the Light Blues were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, but the keeper just got a touch to his shot.
The Gers didn’t have long to wait though as McKinnon sent the ball into the back of the net less than a minute later to gain the long-awaited and deserved first goal. McCann delivered a fantastic ball from the corner flag into the congested box where the youngster managed to get some height and a good connection with his head to put it past Oliwayemi.
This seemed to elevate McCallum’s squad further as they looked hungry and indeed likely to add to their advantage, Weston was again on the attack after breaking past the backline, but his shot was just wide of the back post before the flag went up for offside.
The home side did threaten the Gers backline with a few dangerous chances, but Budinauckas pulled off a number of sensational saves to ensure another fantastic victory for the Light Blues.
RANGERS: Budinauckas, Devine, Fraser, Allen, McClelland, Miller, Ritchie-Hosler (Ure, 64), Mckinnon, Weston (Lindsay, 88), McCann, McCausland (Lyall, 82).
UNUSED SUBS: Hogarth, Harkness, Strachan, McInally.
CELTIC: Oliwayemi, Corr, Anderson (MacKenzie, 52), O’Too, Lawal, Carse, Dembele, Moffat (Summers, 70), Kenny (Brooks, 70), Wylie, Vata (Dawson, 80).
UNUSED SUBS: Mullen, Letsosa, Dede
REFEREE: Matthew MacDermid
ASSISTANT REFEREE’S: David Dunne and Colin Drummond
4th OFFICIAL: Jordan Curran
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