RANGERS B Team collected three points after a 4-3 victory against East Kilbride at K-Park this evening.
Three first-half goals from Zak Lovelace, Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Robbie Fraser and a second-half goal from Connor Young saw the young Gers bank their first win of the 2022/23 campaign.
Robbie Fraser, Connor Allan, Lewis MacKinnon, and Jack Harkness were the defending backline with Lewis Budinauckas behind them in goals.
Charlie Lindsay was joined in midfield by Mackenzie Strachan and Kane Ritchie-Hosler, with Zak Lovelace, and James Graham supporting Robbie Ure up front.
The Light Blues began the game with a clear desire to bounce back from Friday evening’s opening league defeat in Edinburgh. They started with energy from the referee’s first whistle and didn’t have long to wait as in-form youngster Lovelace netted the opening goal with just 25 seconds on the clock.
The young Ger collected the ball in the middle of the park and made a sublime run down the left flank before cutting back into the home side’s box and firing a powerful low effort past Lyle to give the Gers the early advantage.
McCallum’s team continued to pressurise the East Kilbride backline as they looked to double their early lead. Ure and Lovelace worked well to weave between the East Kilbride midfield towards the goal, with Ure who sent a great effort towards the back of the net, but the keeper managed to safely collect.
Rutkiewicz’s side did fight back as their front three began to threaten the Rangers defensive line, but Budinauckas made some crucial saves to ensure that the Light Blues remained in the lead.
On 15 minutes, goal scorer Lovelace was replaced by Ross McCausland after he appeared to suffer a knock. McCausland then came close to securing the second goal of the night after he broke past the home side’s backline, but his effort was safely collected by Lyle.
15 minutes before the end of the first half, Ritchie-Hosler sent a ferocious strike into the top left corner of the net after some brilliant build-up play.
The young Ger danced his way into a congested East Kilbride box before he found some space to send his shot past Lyle and give his side the two-goal lead.
The youngsters continued to dominate and were looking the more likely to net another before the end of the first half. On 39 minutes they were awarded a free kick after Lindsay was brought down. Fraser stood up to take the shot and he sent it straight into the top corner of the East Kilbride goal to give his side a deserved three-goal lead.
In the closing minutes of the first half, East Kilbride were awarded a penalty after Elliot was brought down in the Rangers box. McLaughlin converted the resultant spot kick past Budinauckas to close the gap to two, as the teams headed into the half time break.
As the second half commenced, Rangers continued to carry that final third threat towards the East Kilbride goal with Ure creating great build-up play, but the home side’s backline made important interceptions to defuse the early danger.
Rutkiewicz’s side were on the counter attack following this, McLaughlin sent a strike from within a congested box but it rattled off the post and was cleared by Allan.
On 54 minutes, McCallum brought Connor Young on to replace Graham and the youngster made an immediate impact after he netted the fourth and his debut goal.
Ure managed to cut the ball back to the on-running Ger on the edge of the box where he took one touch to secure the fourth of the evening.
Despite the score, McCallum’s squad didn’t drop momentum or desire, as the Light Blues maintained their pace and rhythm to pressurise the backline and threaten Lyle in goals.
East Kilbride did continue to find opportunities to put pressure on the Rangers final third, but Budinauckas made some critical saves.
With just over 10 minutes left on the clock, East Kilbride were able to find their second of the evening with McLaughlin who fired a close-range effort past Budinauckas.
In the final moments of the match, the home side continued to pressurise the Rangers backline as they searched for a third goal, and they were able to do after Daniel McManus slotted one past Budinauckas in the 93rd minute to end the score 4-3.
RANGERS: Budinauckas, Fraser, Allan, MacKinnon, Harkness, Lindsay, Strachan, Ritchie-Hosler, Lovelace (McCausland, 13), Graham (Young, 53), Ure.
UNUSED SUBS: Pazikas, Webster, Pasnik, Lyall.
EAST KILBRIDE: Lyle, MacDonald, Coll, Page, Bronsky, Black, Hughes, Victoria, Elliot, McHugh, McLaughlin.
UNUSED SUBS: Morgan, Mortimer, Hughes, Munro, McGuire, McManus, McLean.
ㅤ
PROGRAMME SUBSCRIPTION: Rangers fans can now purchase a matchday programme subscription for the 2022/23 season. Additonally, MyGers members who purchase a subscription will be allocated 20 MyGers points. You have until 31 July 2022 to purchase online here.
SEASON 22/23 AWAY KIT: Our new away kit, featuring a red diagonal print and the classic Rangers scroll crest in blue, is now available. Available in a number of size options in-store and online. More than Ready.
ㅤ
ㅤ