RANGERS B were knocked-out of the SPFL Trust Trophy this evening with a 5-1 quarter-final defeat to League One leaders Cove Rangers.
It was a difficult test for the young Gers against the experienced SPFL side at a rainy Balmoral Stadium in Aberdeen.
Rangers lined-up with Lewis Budinauckas in goal and a back four of Adam Devine, Lewis MacKinnon, Leon King and Robbie Fraser.
Stephen Kelly captained the side this evening and was joined in a midfield three by Cole McKinnon and Charlie McCann, while Tony Weston, Alex Lowry and Ross McCausland made up the front three.
On the bench this evening were Jay Hogarth, Kyle McClelland, Murray Miller, Charlie Lindsay, Arron Lyall, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Juan Alegria, Chris McKee and Mackenzie Strachan.
The hosts had a raft of experience in their line-up with Iain Vigurs, Mitch Megginson, Fraser Fyvie and Shay Logan among their starting XI.
It was Paul Hartley’s men who took the early lead with just three minutes on the clock. Harry Milne won the ball back in midfield before finding Mitch Megginson, the striker curled an effort towards goal which was pushed away by Lewis Budinauckas but the rebound fell to Fraser Fyvie who tapped home the opener from close range.
Just two minutes later, Cove Rangers were handed the perfect opportunity to double their lead as the referee judged Charlie McCann to have fouled Shay Logan inside the box and pointed to the spot.
Megginson stepped up to take the penalty and drilled a shot into the bottom right-hand corner in a strong start for the hosts.
However, it was a great reaction from the young Gers who had a goal back inside the opening 10 minutes. Ross McCausland went on a strong run down the right-wing before delivering a ball into the box. Tony Weston was first to see a shot blocked, before it eventually fell for Robbie Fraser and the left-back hit a powerful shot high into the back of the net.
Just a few minutes later the home side restored their two goal advantage as a cross into the box by Blair Yule picked out Jamie Masson and he touched the ball beyond Budinauckas.
Tony Weston saw a shot over the bar, before Lewis Budinauckas pulled off a fantastic fingertip save to get a hand to a long-distance effort from Connor Scully.
Rangers were forced into an early change with just 24 minutes played as centre-back Lewis MacKinnon had to come off injured and was replaced by Kyle McClelland.
The Light Blues continued to stay positive in this cup tie as Adam Devine’s delivery met the head of Ross McCausland but he couldn’t keep it on target as it drifted just wide.
Lewis Budinauckas pulled off two fantastic saves in the space of two minutes to deny Cove from further extending their lead.
Firstly, the Gers keeper blocked a drilled effort from Jamie Masson with his feet before Cove broke back up the pitch again as Harry Milne drove one on one through on goal, but Budinauckas got a hand to his shot to tip it wide of the post.
However, the home side did get their fourth goal of the game on the 35th minute as Harry Milne whipped a ball into the box from the left which Fraser Fyvie turned into the back of the net.
Rangers made two changes at the break as Ross McCausland and Leon King were replaced by Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Juan Alegria.
Into the second-half, Budinauckas pushed a shot from Fyvie wide to deny the hosts an early goal in the second 45.
Cove were reduced to 10-men as Harry Milne was shown his second yellow card of the evening as he brought down an advancing Kane Ritchie-Hosler on the right side of the pitch.
Despite Rangers’ efforts as they pushed for another goal back in this game, they were hit on the break as the League One side netted their fifth on the 67th minute. Iain Vigurs played a ball over the top to Leighton McIntosh and he ran through on goal before firing a low shot beyond Lewis Budinauckas.
Chances in the final 20 minutes of the match were few and far between as Stephen Kelly curled a free-kick over the bar, while the hosts saw out this evening’s cup tie to progress to the semi-finals.
RANGERS: Budinauckas, Devine, Fraser, King (Ritchie-Hosler), MacKinnon (McClelland, 24) Kelly, Lowry, McKinnon, Weston (McKee, 87) , McCann, McCausland (Alegria, 46).
Subs not used: Hogarth, Miller, Lindsay, Lyall, Strachan.
Cove Rangers: Gourlay, Neill, Milne, Scully, Ross (Strachan 69), Yule, Megginson (Adeyemo, 71), Masson (McIntosh, 65), Vigurs, Fyvie, Logan.
Subs not used: McKenzie.
Referee: Mike Roncone Attendance: 562
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