Indeed, it was Accies who took the lead twice in the contest – bookending Cole McKinnon’s leveller in the first half – before an excellent strike from Tom Lawrence, making his first start in Rangers colours in a little under a year, restored parity.
Ross McCausland then put the Light Blues ahead shortly after the hour-mark, before McKinnon netted his second goal of the contest shortly afterwards to seal a come-from-behind triumph.
The Lanarkshire side enjoyed a positive opening period in the game, forcing Kieran Wright into a smart stop after working a cut-back opportunity inside three minutes.
The Gers took a while to find their groove in the contest, although they manufactured a promising move on 11 minutes when Ross McCausland and Josh McPake combined before the latter’s effort was cleared for a corner.
Tom Lawrence enjoyed a positive involvement when he showed tremendous persistence to steal possession on the right touchline before driving infield and teeing up Arron Lyall. The midfielder took aim at goal from the edge of the penalty area, but he could not keep his effort under the crossbar.
Accies broke the deadlock moments later when a cross from the right was converted beyond Wright.
The Light Blues offered an almost immediate riposte when Lawrence’s shot was blocked from a clever Adam Devine cut-back, before a cross from the opposite side fell nicely to McPake and the attacker had his effort thwarted by the goalkeeper.
McCausland looked to have levelled for Rangers when his effort deflected over the goalkeeper from close range, although he could do little else other than watch the ball sail onto the far post and away from the danger area.
However, the Gers were rewarded for their persistence on 36 minutes when they restored parity in the match. A corner from the right was punched clear only as far as Cole McKinnon who volleyed home from 12 yards out.
Rangers almost completed the turnaround on the stroke of the interval when Robbie Fraser’s drilled delivery from the left-hand side was met at the far post by McCausland who could only divert the ball back into the grateful arms of the goalkeeper.
The Light Blues were punished for their profligacy shortly into the second period when Accies restored their lead with a finish from the edge of the penalty area.
The setback immediately sparked Rangers into life, however, as Lawrence showed all his experience and class to bring his side back on level terms. Taking ownership from a quick free-kick, the 29-year-old danced through several Accies challenges before guiding a sumptuous curling finish into the far corner.
The momentum belonged solely with the Gers as the hour-mark approached, with McCausland going close when Fraser’s delivery trickled through to the Northern Irishman at the far post.
It was the same combination who dovetailed effectively to put the Gers ahead for the first time on the afternoon. The delivery on this occasion was of the driven variety from Fraser, putting it on a plate for McCausland to finish inside the penalty area.
A fourth goal of the contest quickly arrived for the Light Blues to provide comfort in the game. Fraser proved the architect once again with a delivery from the left, floating a cross onto the head of McKinnon who nodded beyond the goalkeeper.
Both McPake and McCausland fashioned opportunities to extend the side’s advantage in the dying embers of the contest, before the referee drew the match to a close to seal another triumph for the young Gers.
RANGERS B: Wright, Devine, King, Yfeko, Fraser, Rice, McKinnon, Lyall, Lawrence (Nsio, 58), McCausland, McPake
Subs not used: Munn, Hutton, Allan, Grant, Strachan, Stevens
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