RANGERS B Team are named City of Glasgow Cup winners after defeating Queen’s Park 3-1 this evening in the final at Broadwood Stadium.
Goals from Cole McKinnon, Robbie Ure and Charlie McCann were enough to secure the youngsters the Glasgow Cup trophy of the 2021/22 season after a strong performance from the squad tonight.
It was an exciting evening in North Lanarkshire for the young Gers as they completed their domestic season with a win a trophy to take back to Ibrox after an undefeated run in the cup campaign this year.
The last time McCallum’s side visited Broadwood Stadium was back in November when they defeated Cumbernauld Colts with a last-minute winner in the Lowland League, and the Gers were able to replicate that winning feeling after being named Glasgow Cup winners in front of a large travelling support.
Lewis Budinauckas started in goals with the defensive backline of Adam Devine, Robbie Fraser, Johnly Yfeko, and Kyle McClelland.
Murray Miller, Kane Ritchie-Holser, and Cole McKinnon were in the midfield with Tony Weston, Charlie McCann, and Ross McCausland up front for the team.
As expected, the game started at a superb pace straight from the referee’s first whistle as both teams looked to gain the early dominance, but it was the Gers who struck first on 3 minutes with Cole McKinnon smashing the back of the net with just two minutes on the clock.
Robbie Fraser made a fantastic run down the left flank to break past the challenge from Grant Gillespie, the youngster pushed towards the front post and cut a sensational ball across the face of the goal to meet McKinnon on the edge of the box.
The young Ger sent a ferocious effort straight into the top right corner of the net past Jacques Heraghty to give McCallum’s side the early lead.
Queen’s Park were quick to react and less than a minute later, Scott Williamson hit the back of the net for the Spiders after a switch from Lewis Moore in the Rangers box, but the flag was raised for offside.
The youngsters continued to battle it out across the pitch, as they looked for opportunities to find the second goal. Adam Devine and Ross McCausland linked up well down the right side to weave past the backline, but a defender was able to intercept and defuse the danger.
The Spiders also created chances to break into the Rangers half and close the deficit, but Lewis Budinauckas and the Gers backline did well to prevent any threats on goal.
On 18 minutes, McKinnon sent another decent effort toward the opposition’s goal, but Heraghty made an important save to prevent the young Gers from doubling their lead.
It was Queen’s Park however who were next to score in the 21st minute. Max Gillies collected the ball near the Gers front post and was able to pick out Dylan Ruiz-Diaz on the penalty spot where he was able to find some space and hit the back of the net.
McCallum’s side almost struck back four minutes later after Devine sent a low effort from the right side of the goal, but his strike rolled agonisingly wide of the back post.
On 28 minutes, Tony Weston headed an effort over the bar after Fraser delivered a lovely cross from the right side to find the Light Blue in the box. The youngster was able to make a good connection but sent it agonisingly over the crossbar.
Four minutes from the half-time whistle, Queen’s Park had the ball in the net, but it was again flagged for offside, and both teams went into the break with a goal each and all to play for in the second 45 minutes.
Both sides carried energy into the second-half, each looking to take the early ascendency. Rangers pressed in the opening minutes after Weston had another dangerous chance on goal, but it just fell wide of the post.
On 49 minutes, Queen’s Park pushed towards Budinauckas in goals and Ruiz-Diaz fired a low strike across the face of goal, but it fell just wide of the back post.
Ten minutes later Murray Miller had a sensational strike tipped over the bar by the Queen’s Park keeper. The B Team began to fall into a rhythm after this, and McKinnon sent two consecutive challenges towards the Spiders’ goal, but the backline made some crucial blocks to deny the youngster a second.
Ricthie-Hosler also had a great opportunity within the opposition’s box, but Heraghty made a sensational save to stop the Light Blues taking the lead.
On 62 minutes McCallum made the first of his substitutions as Tony Weston made way for Robbie Ure.
Robbie Ure was able to slot away the second of the evening for the young Gers in the 69th minute. After goal mouth scramble within a congested Queen’s Park box, Ure was on hand to deliver a tap in at the back post.
The Gers were not finished, and they were awarded a penalty after that man Ure was brought down in the box by Heraghty. Charlie McCann stood up to take the shot and remained composed to calmly slot it past the keeper to deliver Rangers’ third and final goal of the night for the young Gers to be named winners.
RANGERS: Budinauckas, Devine (Harkness, 86), Fraser, Yfeko, McClelland, Miller, Ritchie-Hosler, (McInally, 86) McKinnon, Weston (Ure, 62), McCann (Lindsay, 86), McCausland (Lyall, 71).
UNUSED SUBS: Hogarth, Allan.
QUEEN’S PARK: Heraghty, Kilday (Graham, 67), Morrison, Ruiz-Diaz (Trialist), Moore (Fairlie, 70), Gillies, Biggar, Gillespie (Bannon, 70), Williamson, Bruce, Darcy.
UNUSED SUBS: Russell, Mauchin, Nicol, McCormick.
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