RANGERS B Team will take more learning opportunities from this afternoon’s 1-0 defeat against Bo’ness United at Newton Park.
RANGERS B Team will take more learning opportunities from this afternoon’s 1-0 defeat against Bo’ness United at Newton Park.
A first-half goal from Max Christie’s side sees the Gers drop points from today’s fixture in the Lowland League.
This is the second meeting of both teams since they kicked off their league campaign against each other at Dumbarton back in July.
McCallum made three changes to his starting eleven for this afternoon’s fixture, with Jay Hogarth replacing Lewis Budinauckas in goals.
That meant it was a back four of Adam Devine, Robbie Fraser, Greig Allen and Lewis MacKinnon.
Charlie McCann, Alex Lowry and Cole McKinnon were in the middle of the park, with Juan Alegria, Kane Ritchie – Hosler and Ross McCausland upfront for the young Gers.
The young Gers started well from the first whistle, maintaining most of the possession, and developing play into the Bo’ness United final third.
However, it was Bo’ness who had an opportunity in the third minute, Gregor Nicol took a low shot from the edge of the box, but Jay Hogarth calmly collected.
Bo’ness built on this and began to pressure the B Team’s half, but the youngsters did well to defend their goal.
The Light Blues started to create some excellent passing play and movement to push further forward into the Bo’ness final third. Alex Lowry crossed a dangerous ball to the back post where Adam Devine headed it towards Juan Algeria, but a defender cleared it.
Both sides continued to battle it out, trying to push their way through the back lines. In the 16th minute, the home side nearly found the opener. Nicol and Kyle Wilson linked up well to weave their way towards Hogarth in goals. Wilson fired a low shot towards the Rangers goal, but Hogarth stood firm and made a critical save.
In the 22nd minute, Algeria had a fantastic opportunity to get the first for the Gers. Cole McKinnon found a small pocket of space to deliver a wonderful through ball past the United backline to meet Algeria. The Colombian managed to round the keeper and run through on goal, he took a low shot, but Greg Skinner made a sliding effort to clear the ball from the line and deny what would have been a superb opener.
The Gers did their best to build on this chance, but the Bo’ness defence held firm. In the 35th, Reiss Peggie almost put Bo’ness ahead. Nicol cut the ball from the right-wing across the floor towards Peggie at an open back post, but he couldn’t get a touch on the ball and Lewis MacKinnon was able to clear.
Rangers were on the counter-attack after this, with Devine driving down the wing and sending in a lovely ball to Lowry at the back post, but the youngster sent it over the crossbar.
In the last minute of the first half and after a series of corners for Bo’ness, Murray Galbraith delivered the cross ball to meet Danny Carstairs at the front post who headed the ball backwards and into the back of the net.
Heading into the second half, the young Gers built on their momentum. In the 52nd minute, Lowry took a corner and delivered a threatening ball towards the back post to meet McKinnon, the youngster took a powerful first touch but sent it over the crossbar.
Ross McCausland tried to fight his way into the Bo’ness box, he was able to dance his way around a number of defenders before taking a shot, but it was intercepted by a blue shirt.
On the 60th minute, Devine crossed an excellent ball from the right, flying across the face of the goal, but unfortunately, Tony Weston was unable to connect.
Shortly after, Weston hit the back of the net from the edge of the box, but the flag went up and he was ruled offside by the linesman.
The Gers began to build their rhythm, driving into the final third and creating better opportunities for goal.
In the 75th minute, McKinnon nearly found the equaliser. Robbie Fraser delivered a dangerous ball from a corner to McKinnon at the back post. The youngster managed to header the ball, but it was just inches off the post.
In the last 10 minutes, Weston had another great opportunity for a goal. Charlie McCann fed an excellent ball through to the striker into the box, but Andy Murphy came out to collect, ending the final result in defeat.
RANGERS: Hogarth, Devine, Fraser, Allen, MacKinnon, McCann, Lowry (Weston, 59), McKinnon, Alegria, Ritchie-Hosler (Lindsay, 73, McCausland (Lyall, 82).
UNUSED SUBS: Budinauckas, Harkness, Miller, Ure.
BO’NESS UNITED: Murphy, Skinner, Carstairs, Gemmell, Nicol, Peggie, Locke, Galbraith, Jacobs, Wilson, Anderson (Stevenson, 72).
UNUSED SUBS: Hawkins, Flynn, Johnston, Macauley.
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