RANGERS B Team secured their place in the next round of the SPFL Trust Trophy after a well-deserved dominant 7-0 win against Dumbarton this evening.
It was an impressive first-half performance from David McCallum’s side after a double from Alex Lowry, and goals from Charlie McCann and Zak Lovelace gave the Gers a strong four-goal lead.
As the squad returned for the second half, the momentum didn’t falter as Lowry completed his hat trick followed by goals from Stephen Kelly and substitute Arron Lyall.
It was a perfect late summer evening at Dumbarton Stadium with the attending supporters eager to see the two sides fight it out for a spot in the next round of the tournament.
The B team boss made six changes to his starting eleven, from the team that faced Dalbeattie Star at the weekend.
Mateusz Zukowski joined the defending backline alongside Robbie Fraser, Connor Allan, and Lewis MacKinnon, with Lewis Budinauckas behind them in goals.
Charlie McCann stepped into the middle of the park with Stephen Kelly and Kane Ritchie-Hosler, with Alex Lowry and Ross McCausland supporting Zak Lovelace up front.
As expected, the cup tie began with real pace as both sides looked to gain the advantage and create some early pressure.
Dumbarton looked bright in the early minutes of the match as the attacking front three caused several problems in the Rangers defence, but Budinauckas remained calm and collected the early efforts to defuse the danger.
However, it was the young Gers who opened the scoring on the seven-minute mark after Lowry sent the ball rolling into the back of the net.
The Light Blue made a superb interception to capitalise on a defensive error in the visitor’s half and give his side the early advantage. The youngster made an excellent run towards Broun and fired it across the face of the goal to slot it in past the keeper.
Dumbarton looked to strike back quickly with their attacking line threatening the Rangers goal, but the Gers backline did well to block the danger.
On the 15 minute-mark, Rangers were awarded a penalty after a clear handball inside the Dumbarton box. Lowry then stood up to execute the spot kick and calmly slotted it past the keeper to double his side’s lead and gain his second of the night.
McCallum’s squad looked hungry for more at this point. Unsurprisingly, in-form Lovelace was next to be amongst the action in the Dumbarton box after he delivered a sensational cross to link up with McCausland at the back post.
The Ger managed to get a touch on the ball to send it towards the goal, but it agonisingly rattled off the post and landed in the arms of Harry Broun.
In the final 15 minutes of the first half, the young Gers looked the more likely to increase their lead with Kelly and Zukowski creating some great passages of play.
On 33 minutes, Kelly picked out an on-running McCann and threaded a fantastic effort to him in the box. The versatile midfielder took some excellent touches to dance past a few defenders to find a pocket of space and get his shot into the back of the net to make it three for the Gers.
In the final moments of the first half, Lovelace continued to be a thorn in the Dumbarton backline. Rangers were awarded a free kick at the corner flag after the youngster was brought down by Broun.
Fraser sent a threatening cross into a congested box to link up with the striker at the back post who sent his effort past the keeper to give his side an impressive four-goal lead at the end of the first half.
As the sides returned for the second half, the Gers maintained their momentum across all areas of the pitch. With less than five minutes into the second 45, Lowry netted the fifth goal to complete his well-deserved hattrick.
McCann played a superb ball from within the Dumbarton half to the youngster driving down the right flank, he took his time to settle and sent another lovely ball across the face of the goal to land in the back of the net.
Dumbarton weren’t without their chances, but Budinauckas made some fantastic saves to maintain the clean sheet.
On 70 minutes and just five minutes from coming on, substitute Lyall sent the ball into the back of the net for the sixth time for the Gers. Kane Ritchie-Hosler made a phenomenal run down the right side before switching to an unmarked Lyall at the back post who calmly slotted it into the back of the goal.
In the last ten minutes of the match, Kelly made it seven for the Light Blues. The Ger picked the ball up on the edge of a congested Dumbarton box and send a low calm and composed effort into the bottom left of the goal to send McCallum’s side into the next round of the competition.
RANGERS: Budinauckas, Zukowski, Fraser (Harkness, 63), Allan, MacKinnon, McCann, Kelly, Ritchie-Hosler (McInally, 80), Lowry, McCausland (Lyall, 63), Lovelace (Young, 73).
SUBS: Pazikas, K. Ewen, Strachan, Lindsay.
DUMBARTON: Broun, Lynas, McGreever, Carswell, Wylde, Wilson, Wilson (Buchanan, 61), Gray, McKee (Orsi, 61), Wallace, Wilson, Gemmell.
SUBS: Long, McNiff, Blair, Love, Bryne, Breen.
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