The Light Blues produced a remarkable comeback in normal time after finding themselves three goals behind in the match, with goals from Alex Lowry, Zak Lovelace and a late Tony Weston equaliser forcing a penalty shootout.
However, it wasn’t to be for the young Gers as they tasted defeat in a back-and-forth penalty shootout.
The Light Blues were forced into an early change in the match when Kelsey Ewen replaced Jack Harkness who was forced off through injury.
There was early encouragement for Rangers despite the loss of the full-back as Ross McCausland weaved his way to the edge of the penalty area. The Northern Irishman had his effort blocked and, after Alex Lowry and Robbie Ure exchanged passes, the former lifted a clever effort onto the roof of the net.
David McCallum’s side continued to attack with an intent, underlined by a neat piece of play on 11 minutes which ended with Lowry drawing a comfortable save from Josh Clarke.
Robbie Ure was next to go close for the Gers, showing impressive opportunism to pinch a stray pass across the Celtic backline before racing towards goal. His shot, however, was dragged wide of the far post.
Rangers were deriving particular joy down the left-hand side through the lightning pace of Zak Lovelace. The 17-year-old showed nimble footwork to work half a yard on the edge of the danger area just shy of the 20th minute mark, although he could only steer his resulting effort off target.
Despite Rangers’ early endeavour, it was Celtic who broke the deadlock on 24 minutes. Matthew Anderson latched onto the ball at the byline and his pull-back was converted from close range by Adam Brooks.
Celtic had their tails up following the opening goal and they quickly doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark. Rocco Vata burst down the right-hand side, laying the ball back to Brooks once again who arrowed a finish in off the underside of the crossbar.
The Light Blues were left with all to do just five minutes later as Celtic further extended their advantage after Vata raced clear of the Gers defensive line and looping a finish beyond Lewis Budinauckas with the aid of a deflection.
However, McCallum’s side offered an immediate riposte to reduce the deficit and provide a glimmer of hope. Ure robbed the ball inside the Celtic defensive third before he was scythed down, with Lowry keeping his cool from 12 yards out to dispatch the spot-kick and bring the Light Blues back into the contest.
Rangers began the second period where they left off from the first half as they brought the match back to life through a piece of excellent persistence from the front. Lovelace harried Bosun Lawal in possession, outmuscling the Celtic defender 15 yards from goal, before finishing smartly into the bottom with only Clarke to beat in the opposition goal.
The Light Blues were unfortunate not to bring the game back on level terms just six minutes later. On this occasion, it was Lowry who jinked his way towards the danger area, laying the ball into Lovelace who had peeled into space. The Englishman elected to return the pass to the midfielder, who shifted the ball wide to McCausland for the Northern Irishman to draw a reflex stop from Clarke.
It was one-way traffic in the second half as the Gers searched for a leveller, with a wicked free-kick delivery from Bailey Rice forcing Lawal to glance the ball away for a corner as several blue jersey’s lurked in anticipation.
The Gers continued to sustain pressure on the Celtic backline as the contest entered the final 20 minutes. Arron Lyall found space in a congested penalty area as he took aim at goal, with Ewen arriving at the far post to slam a shot against a desperate block from the visiting defence.
McCallum turned to his substitutes bench for the first time on the evening since Ewen’s injury-enforced introduction, replacing Lowry with James Graham as the 19-year-old continues his return to full fitness.
The Ibrox side’s hopes were raised nine minutes from time when they flooded the Celtic penalty area following a transition. Substitute James Graham’s powerful effort was blocked en route, falling kindly to McCausland on the right-hand side of the penalty area to have a pop at goal albeit the linesman had raised his flag for offside.
And the Ibrox side found the all-important equaliser to send the game to spot-kicks two minutes from time. A sweeping move from Rangers found Lovelace in space on the edge of the penalty area, producing a lovely pirouette to wiggle free from his marker before curling his effort agonisingly onto the crossbar. The move appeared dead until substitute Tony Weston pounced on the loose ball, smashing home the rebound to complete an impressive comeback.
The Light Blues could have won it in normal time when Graham was denied by Clarke in the Celtic goal in injury time, proving the cue for the full-time whistle and a penalty shootout to decide the winner.
Rice was first up for Rangers shooting towards the Broomloan Road, and he dispatched cooly to put the Gers into an early advantage after Ben Summers skied his spot-kick with the very next penalty for Celtic.
However, McCallum’s side fell behind in the shootout following misses from McCausland and Graham, although Budinauckas saved from Bruno Davidson to keep the contest alive.
Lovelace dispatched confidently to put the Gers ahead, but they could not find the penalty required to put themselves in a winning position as Celtic ran out 4-3 winners.
RANGERS B: Budinauckas, Harkness (K. Ewen, 3), MacKinnon, Allan, Fraser, Rice, Lyall, Lowry (Graham, 74), McCausland, Lovelace, Ure (Weston, 81)
SUBS NOT USED: Pazikas, Ciubotaru, Strachan, Lindsay
CELTIC B: Clarke, McPherson, Anderson, Lawal, Robertson (Corr, 45), Carse, Vata (Davidson, 73), Letsosa, Brooks (Kelly, 84), Summers, MacKenzie (Thomson, 65)
SUBS NOT USED: Morrison, Ure, Quinn
REFEREE: Iain Sneddon
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