David McCallum’s side will continue their development journey and take key moments of learning from this afternoon’s challenging defeat against the Galashiels side.
Both teams started with intensity from the first whistle making strong interceptions and decent opportunities within each half.
Tony Weston opened the scoring in the second minute of the first half for the young Gers. Ross McCausland drove the into the Gala box and made a neat cut back to meet the foot of Weston. Weston’s powerful first strike flew low across a congested box and into the bottom left corner of the net.
Only a few minutes later, Kane Ritchie-Hosler nearly found the second. Ritchie-Hosler linked up well with Charlie McCann, weaving between the Gala backline but his low strike flew across the face of goal just inches away.
The home side began to build some momentum driving into the Light Blues final third to pressure the backline, but the defenders did well to clear any chances on goal.
Zander Murray found the equaliser in the 15th minute with a good finish. Chalmers drove into the Gers final third at speed before crossing into Murray in the Light Blue box, who slipped it past Jay Hogarth.
Gala had the opportunity to make it two after Chalmers fired a low shot towards the Gers goal, but Hogarth calmly collected to deny them a second.
The Galashiels side continued to press the Light Blues making a number of interceptions from open play and their perseverance paid off in the 33rd minute. Murray and Chalmers linked up again after a cross delivery into the Rangers box, with Chalmers heading the ball past Hogarth.
The B Team did rally in the last five minutes of the first half. McCann made a great run past several red shirts to get a shot on goal, but his strike was deflected by a defender. McCausland also had a shot on goal after a great link up with Adam Devine down the right wing, but the youngsters’ shot was blocked.
McCann nearly found the equaliser in the start of the first half. Rangers were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Gala box after a foul on Ricthie-Hosler. McCann took the shot, but it rattled off the top left-hand corner of the post.
Cole McKinnon found the equaliser a few minutes later after a lovely delivery from the right wing by Devine but it was disallowed for an offside ruling.
The Gers found their rhythm after this continuing to drive into the Gala final third. Robbie Fraser pressed towards the home side’s box and crossed the ball across the face of goal. Unfortunately, no blue shirts were able to connect with the delivery and the ball struck the right post.
The Light Blues nearly found their second in the 57th minutes but the Gala keeper and backline made three consecutives saves from the youngsters on-target shots.
Weston nearly found the second for the Gers in the 72nd minute, McKinnon made an excellent cut back cross from the right of the box to meet the head of Weston in the box, but his header was wide of the goal.
Gala almost made it three after an interception within the Rangers final third. Phil Addison took a strike out with the box, but his shot struck the post and rolled across the face of goal.
RANGERS: Hogarth, McClelland (C), MacKinnon, Fraser, Devine, Miller (60), McCann, McKinnon, McCausland, Ritchie-Hosler (68), Weston (73).
SUBS: Cervantes, Ewen, Lindsay (60), Lowry (73), Lyall (68), Strachan, Ure.
GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS: McCready, Docherty, Hall, Aitchison, Jordan, Hall, Healy, Chalmers, Murray (78), Beaumont (77), Berry (89).
SUBS: Grant (78), Touray, Gray (89), Roue, Addison (77), McBride, Beveridge.
REFEREE: Daniel Graves
ASSISTANT REFEREE’S: Steven Wilson + Stuart Robertson
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