RANGERS B Team put on a dominant performance and collected three points after beating Edinburgh University 8-2 at Dumbarton in the Lowland League.
Two hattricks from Charlie McCann and Tony Weston, and goals from Chris McKee and Robbie Ure strengthens the B team’s league position before Christmas.
The Young Gers returned to league action this afternoon as they continued their campaign journey against Dorian Ogunro’s side.
Five changes were made for today’s match with Jay Hogarth returning in goals to replace Lewis Budinauckas.
Adam Devine, Leon King, Robbie Fraser and Kyle McClelland were the backline in front of him.
Murray Miller, Tony Weston, Charlie McCann were in the midfield with Christopher McKee, Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Arron Lyall up front for the Young Gers.
Tony Weston opened the scoring in the first ten minutes of the game after Adam Devine ran down the right before finding Arron Lyall, he was able to link up with Kane Ritchie-Hosler whose shot was deflected. Weston picked up the resultant stray ball and managed to deliver the finish.
Rangers then doubled their lead less than a minute later, with Chris McKee getting the ball across the line for the Young Gers. The youngster was able to maintain possession in a congested Edinburgh Uni box and strike the ball low towards the bottom-left corner and into the back of the net.
The Light Blues fell perfectly into rhythm following this, they created some excellent build-up play to dominate the Edinburgh University final third and further threaten the backline.
Murray Miller delivered a superb cross to an on running Devine down the right, who cut it into Ritchie-Hosler in the box. His strike was blocked but fell to Devine at the front post who was able to get it across the line, but the flag went up and the effort ruled offside.
Charlie McCann netted the third in the 23rd minute for the Young Gers, McKee picked the ball up and switched it to McCann outside the box. The Light Blue took a touch before sending a powerful low ball into the bottom right corner for a wonderful goal.
Dorian Ogunro’s side found a few opportunities in the Rangers final third in attempt to seek a goal, Alex Bannon tried to challenge Jay Hogarth from distance, but the keeper was able to get low and comfortably save the effort.
The young Gers did carry their momentum into the second half, but Bannon was able score for the visiting side and close the deficit to two in the 52nd minute. Isaac Watson picked the ball up within the Rangers final third and crossed it towards the back post to link up with Bannon who headed the ball into the back of the net past a diving Hogarth who was just unable to get a hand to it.
But this early second-half set-back didn’t disrupt the youngsters’ mindset and it was McCann who secured his double of the afternoon after sending the ball past Hegarty from a free-kick. The youngster stood up to take the free-kick after being brought down by Robbie Sinclair just outside the box. He remained calm and composed to send it past the wall and into the right of the goal to make it 4-1.
McCann was able to complete his hattrick and give the Young Gers a four-goal lead in the 70th minute after smashing the back of the net for the third time. The youngster collected the ball on the edge of the visitors’ box, he took a first touch before sending it whizzing past a diving Hegarty.
Weston strengthened the Rangers lead less than a minute later, Chris McKee squared the ball to Weston inside the box who took one touch and fired it into the back of the net.
Shortly after, Edinburgh Uni were awarded a penalty after Lawson was brough down inside the box. He stood up to take the shot and was able to send it past Hogarth.
A few minutes following the visitors’ goal, Robbie Ure found the back of the net after coming on as a substitute. The big forward further strengthening the Rangers advantage in the latter stages of the match.
It was Weston who netted his hattrick not long before the final whistle to deliver a dominant 8-2 result after Ure played the ball across the face of goal and Weston who was able to tap it in to secure his hat-trick.
RANGERS: Hogarth, Devine, Fraser, king, McClelland (MacKinnon, 62), Miller, Weston, McCann, McKee (Ure, 72), Ritchie-Hosler (Lindsay, 57), Lyall.
UNUSED SUBS: Budinauckas, McKinnon, Lowry, Allan.
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY: Hegarty, Murray, Condie, McGuire, Hamilton, Sinclair, Bannon, Dick, Hendry, Baird, Lawson.
UNUSED SUBS: Thomson, Maurice, Turnbull, Watson, Anderson.
REFEREE: Craig Wilson
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Brian Christie + Michael MacDermid
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