After a close opening to the match, the Light Blues put a real stamp on proceedings and took control with a quick fire double through Charlie Lindsay’s strike from the penalty spot and James Graham’s run and finish. Remaining defensively sound throughout the second period, the Gers saw out the contest for an impressive victory against a Tranent side who ended the match with nine men after two late dismissals.
David McCallum made three changes to the side that defeated Cowdenbeath in the Gers’ last league outing. Lewis Budinauckas started between the posts, Lewis MacKinnon came into the team at centre-back for the suspended Johnly Yfeko, and James Graham started in the forward line for Zak Lovelace who was part of the travelling first-team squad away at Livingston.
Both sides started in promising fashion but it was the visitors who had the best early opening in Dumbarton. Nicholas Reid picked the ball up and threaded an outside of the foot through ball to striker Martin Maughan who was running in behind, but he fired his shot wide of the far post.
The eight-minute mark brought the Light Blues’ first effort on goal in the contest. Mackenzie Strachan picked out Ross McCausland in a promising position on the left side of the penalty box, the forward then found fellow frontman Robbie Ure but his deflected shot rolled into the hands of the goalkeeper.
Arron Lyall had started brightly for the Gers, picking up pockets of space and often being the midfield man to join the attack as the hosts looked to break the deadlock in a goalless opening 15 minutes.
Rangers then had a golden opportunity to go in front from the penalty spot. After some good initial work by James Graham on the right hand side his cross met Ure at the back post. Taking his touch in the box, the striker was bundled over inside the area by Cammy Ross as the referee awarded the spot kick.
Charlie Lindsay stepped up from 12 yards and dispatched the spot kick well into the bottom right corner to give the Light Blues the lead on the day and register his second goal in as many games as the hosts went in front just beyond the 20th minute mark.
The Gers added to their lead just shortly after. A long through ball down the side was well picked up by forward James Graham who had also started lively; in behind the Tranent backline he did well to keep his composure and poke the ball past Kelby Mason in the opposing goal to double the Light Blues’ lead on the day.
The hosts looked to keep pushing as they remained on top in an impressive spell in the match, maintaining defensively solidity and keeping safe possession of the ball. Lindsay was continuing to have an influence on the match, picking up the ball in between the lines and trying to create further openings for McCallum’s men.
Rangers went close to what would have been a superb third goal, Lindsay playing in Graham at the edge of the box who did brilliantly to flick it round the corner and find the midfielder inside the area after he had continued his run. Looking for his second of the day, he fired his effort at goal but Mason did well to make the stop and divert it away.
The away side started the second half well as they went in search of a goal to halve the deficit and keep the contest alive. After a series of corners which were defended well by the hosts, Reid found himself in a dangerous central position outside the area, although after shifting the ball onto his right side he fired over the top of the bar.
Rangers had their first opening after a clever interchange involving Fraser and Lindsay down the left side, the latter picking the ball up in behind the back line but he couldn’t find a teammate in the centre as he looked for a cut-back.
Tranent went as close as they have so far to finding a goal themselves, Martin Maughan latched onto a flick inside the area but he dragged his shot just wide of the far post as the game reached the hour mark.
Conditions underfoot got trickier at Dumbarton but Rangers were remaining defensively strong amid some Tranent pressure while remaining a threat themselves when they went forward as well.
James Graham had the Gers’ best chance to add to their lead as he found himself in-behind the Tranent backline. Charging through the middle looking for his second of the day, he did well to withstand the challenge of Craig Barr but his side-footed effort was kept out well as the forward was denied.
Calum Donaldson was shown a second yellow card to add to Tranent’s misery after he fouled Ure at the corner flag and was given his marching orders as the game approached its conclusion.
The away side were then reduced to nine men immediately after when Kieran Somerville was shown a straight red card for dissent, with the Gers holding out well for their fourth victory on the spin and another three points.
RANGERS: Budinauckas, Harkness (K. Ewen 38), MacKinnon, Allan, Fraser, Strachan (Young 71), Lyall, Lindsay, Graham (Kpakpe 85), McCausland, Ure.
Subs not used: Pazikas, Ciubotaru, Webster, Curtis
TRANENT JUNIORS: Mason, Donaldson, Somerville, Barr, Bauld, Murphy, Anderson (Miller 78), Healy, Maughan (McGowan 69), Reid (Keating 61), Ross (Walsh 69).
Subs not used: Scott, Greig, Rutherford
REFEREE: Calum Scott