RANGERS B Team leave Broadwood Stadium with three points after beating Cumbernauld Colts 3-2 thanks to a last minute winner.
A goal in each half from Tony Weston and a strike in additional time from Lewis MacKinnon sees David McCallum’s side take three points after the two teams battled it out with high intensity for the full 90 minutes.
McCallum made six changes for tonight’s fixture, with Lewis Budinauckas replacing Jay Hogarth in goals.
That meant it was a back four of Jack Harkness, Robbie Fraser, Greig Allen and Lewis MacKinnon.
Murray Miller, Tony Weston and Charlie McCann were in the middle of the park, with Robbie Ure, Charlie Lindsay and Ross McCausland up front for the young Gers.
The young Gers began the game with intent, and it wasn’t long until that early endeavour developed into the first chance of the game. On seven minutes, Ross McCausland picked up the ball within the Colts half before weaving his way past a defender to fire a shot from the edge of the box. His strike was hit low and hard but was just wide of the post.
The Light Blues didn’t have long to wait for the next chance after Jack Harkness drove down the right wing a few minutes later to whip a dangerous ball into the box to meet Robbie Ure. The striker managed to collect the ball, but his touch sent it over the crossbar.
Tony Weston opened the scoring in the 15th minute for the Gers after a poor pass allowed Weston to intercept the ball. The youngster drove forward with the ball before dancing around the keeper to hit the back of the net.
Less than a minute later, McCallum’s side nearly found their second of the evening. Ure managed to intercept the ball on the halfway line before driving down the left wing and cutting a lovely ball back from the front post to McCausland, but his strike was blocked.
The B team continued to maintain their efforts, creating more opportunities to play through on the Colts goal.
Harkness was involved in some excellent build up play with McCausland, with the two linking up well to drive forward. Harkness delivered a threatening ball into the Colts’ box to meet the head of Ure, but the youngster was just unable to get enough power behind it and Marshall safely collected.
Weston nearly found his second of the evening in the 26th minute when Fraser whipped through a fantastic ball from the left side of the Rangers half to play Weston on. The youngster was able to control the ball, with his resultant strike going over the crossbar.
It wasn’t all one way and Orr’s side found a burst of energy in the last 15 minutes of the first half. Owen Andrew found the ball just within the Rangers box and got a shot away, but Greig Allen made an essential block to deny the home side an equaliser.
The Gers responded with a counter-attack and nearly found the second. McCausland picked up the ball within the Colts half and managed to flick it behind the defensive line to play on Harkness. The youngster linked up with Ure who was able to cut into the box, but his shot was deflected.
A few minutes before the end of the first half, Lewis MacKinnon had an opportunity to hit the back of the net. Rangers were given a free kick 15 yards from the edge of the box, Charlie Lindsay delivered the ball to MacKinnon, who was able to find a pocket of space to connect with the ball. However, his shot was saved by Marshall.
Heading into the second half, the Gers continued to maintain their intensity with McCausland fighting his way towards the front post, but a defender was able to clear his attempt.
Cumbernauld Colts found their equaliser in the 50th minute in the second half, Dominic McLaren managed to link up with Stephen O’Neill’s corner.
Ure nearly found the lead again for the Gers just a few minutes later. Fraser delivered a fantastic ball to meet Ure on the edge of the Colts box, but the youngsters strike sent the ball over the bar.
In the 65th minute, the Colts got their noses in front. Similar to Rangers’ first goal, Shaun Brown managed to collect the ball from a pass back to Budinackas. After challenging the stopper, he was able to send the ball into the back of the net.
Weston found the equaliser and his second of the evening in the 70th minute. Kane Ritchie-Hosler cut the ball into the box, the striker was able to turn and send the ball low towards the bottom left corner for the equaliser.
Juan Alegria then nearly grabbed the leading goal for McCallum’s side. There was great build up play from the Rangers half towards the Colts final third, McCausland drove down to the goal after a great ball from Lindsay. McCausland managed to work his way into the home side’s box and cut the ball to Alegria at the back post, but the Colombian’s shot was sent over the crossbar.
The youngsters continued their search for the winning goal, and it almost came in the last few minutes of the match. Fraser whipped in a dangerous ball from a corner to the back post, Allen made a running effort to tap it in, but it fell just wide of the target.
The winner then did arrive through Lewis MacKinnon in added time at the end of the second half. The defender managed to pick the ball up at the back post of a congested box and send it into the back of the net to secure the win.
RANGERS: Budinauckas, Harkness (Ritchie-Hosler, 51), Fraser, Allen, MacKinnon, Miller, Weston, McCann, Ure (Alegria, 58), Lindsay and McCausland.
SUBS: Cervantes, Allen, Strachan, Lyall.
CUMBERNAULD COLTS: Marshall, Dickson, McLaren, Slattery, Holmes, O’Neill, Winter, McLaughlin, Andrew (MacPherson, 73), Brown, Whitmore (Hatfield, 85)
UNUSED SUBS: Kirwan, Murdoch, McCann, Laverty.
REFEREE: Chris Gentles
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Graham McNeillie and Scott Bunting
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