The Gers wasted precious little time in making their mark as Arron Lyall volleyed home in the third minute of the contest, before the 19-year-old replicated the feat after the restart to double his side’s advantage.
Zak Lovelace then added a third of the afternoon for the visitors with a terrific solo effort to round off the scoring and ensure the Light Blues restored the winning feeling.
David McCallum named two changes to his side from last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Cumbernauld Colts, welcoming Jack Harkness back from injury while Jacob Pazikas replaced Lewis Budinauckas between the posts.
The Light Blues didn’t have to wait too long to break the deadlock on the afternoon, cutting Edinburgh University apart to open the scoring inside three minutes. Charlie Lindsay’s searching pass towards Robbie Ure was headed clear from Ben Mail only as far as Arron Lyall lurking on the edge of the penalty. The ball fell invitingly for the Gers winger to set his sights, caressing a crisp first-time volley into the far corner to leave Cameron Quate in the home side’s goal with no chance.
The visitors threatened with an immediate riposte as Nick Kay raced onto a pass in-behind the Gers defensive line, although a combination of Lindsay and Pazikas narrowed the angle to allow the Light Blues stopper to palm the winger’s resulting effort out for a corner.
Rangers almost engineered a second goal on 22 minutes when Zander Thomson got a boot on Lyall’s driven cross from the right and diverted the ball onto the roof of his own net, much to the relief of the home supporters.
Ross McCausland then showed tremendous pace down the left moments later to race to the byline and pull the ball across the face of goal. Although there were no immediate takers in a blue jersey, Harkness arrived the far post and drew a smart stop from the Edinburgh University goalkeeper with a side-footed effort.
The hosts enjoyed a sighting of goal just shy of the half-hour mark as Vincent Anderson headed over from a cross from the right that caused a few issues inside the Gers penalty area.
David Maskrey shot wide for the hosts minutes later after Kay latched onto a pass down the right before Zak Lovelace scooped the ball goalwards from a penalty box stramash following a Robbie Fraser delivery as the two sides traded opportunities.
Rangers threatened just prior to the interval when Lovelace collected possession on the right-hand side and fed Harkness. The full-back lifted his head and drove a ball across goal that Quate collected at the second attempt as Lindsay lurked with intent looking to stab home the rebound.
Only two minutes had elapsed after the restart when the Light Blues worked their first opening of the half. Fraser sent Lovelace haring beyond the Edinburgh University backline before the Englishman’s powerful effort was thwarted by a combination of the goalkeeper and a goalline clearance from Ryan Murray.
There was a renewed crispness to the Gers’ play to open the second 45 minutes, perfectly encapsulated when Lovelace went close to doubling the side’s advantage. Harkness and McCausland dovetailed to good effect on the right-hand side but, after the latter kept his composure to pick out the Englishman in the penalty area, he could only steer his finish straight at the goalkeeper.
Rangers’ attacking endeavour was then rewarded less than 60 seconds later as Arron Lyall produced his second sumptuous finish of the afternoon. After the ball was worked to the left towards Fraser, the Gers captain stood up an inviting delivery to the edge of the penalty area where Lyall positioned himself perfectly to arrow a spectacular first-time scissor kick volley in and off the far post to strengthen his side’s grip on the game.
The confidence was flowing through the Gers side and they quickly extended their advantage just beyond the hour mark. Lovelace was released down the left-hand side before the 17-year-old leveraged his searing pace to burst beyond a pair of Edinburgh University challenges, steadying himself once he arrived at the edge of the penalty area before burying a devastating finish beyond the home side’s goalkeeper.
Fraser was later unfortunate not to register himself on the scoresheet moments later, sweeping a right-footed effort inches over the crossbar after a precise move from the away side.
Likewise, Lyall was centimetres away from taking home the match ball when McCausland’s initial effort was blocked and the ball fell invitingly for the midfielder to curl a deft outside-of-the-boot effort that whisked the top of the crossbar.
Rangers continued to attack with precision in the second half as McCausland drew a terrific diving stop from Quate in the Edinburgh University goal with a curling effort that looked destined for the top corner.
There were less than ten minutes remaining in the contest when 16-year-old Cameron Scott made his Lowland League debut, replacing Lyall as the away side sought an avenue to further extend their advantage.
The referee then brought the game to an end despite Rangers’ best efforts to find a fourth goal, rounding off a successful afternoon for the Light Blues in the capital in their Lowland League campaign.
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY: Quate, Murray, Hamilton, Mail, Thomson, Murray, Kay, Lawton, Anderson (Hendry, 28), Maurice (Marshall, 60), Maskrey
Subs not used: McDonald, Raphael, Moodie, Ainslie, Gallachers
RANGERS B: Pazikas, Harkness (Kpakpe, 77), Allan, MacKinnon (K. Ewen, 61), Fraser, Strachan, Lindsay (Ciubotaru, 77), Lyall (Scott, 84), McCausland, Lovelace (Graham, 61), Ure
Subs not used: Budinauckas, Grant