RANGERS Under-19s recorded a dramatic last-gasp 3-2 victory in this evening’s CAS Elite League Old Firm clash at Barrowfield.
The young Gers twice went ahead in the contest through strikes from Cameron Fernie and Chris Condy before they were pegged back by the hosts.
A share of the spoils looked certain heading into stoppage time, but a well-worked move from Rangers saw Condy’s low cross turned into his own net by a Celtic defender to deliver all three points.
Liam Ross made a raft of changes to his side from last week’s much-changed starting lineup against St. Mirren.
Among those introduced was a revamped and relatively experienced backline, who were tested early on when a delivery from the left was nodded over the top by Thomas Hatton at the far post.
Rangers almost played their way into trouble from their own corner moments later when Lyle Wark was robbed at the edge of the penalty area and Celtic raced 70 yards the opposite direction. Rydnn McGuire, however, was at his best to thwart Lucas Clearie after he was teed up by Hatton.
Minutes later, the young Gers broke the deadlock.
It was a fine, incisive move from the visitors which unlocked the Celtic defence, releasing Arran Kerr in-behind before the young defender lifted his head and squared the ball across for Fernie to tap home from close-range.
McGuire was again tested when Kayden Daly shot goalwards before Clearie lashed an effort at goal which the Gers goalkeeper thwarted.
The away side very nearly played their way into trouble in their attempts to clear from a corner, but Hatton’s strike was of the dragged variety and through a crowd of bodies.
However, the hosts eventually levelled on the half-hour mark when the dangerous Hatton flashed a delivery across the edge of the danger area where Conor Daly was positioned perfectly to stroke a finish into the bottom corner.
Rangers began to ratchet up the intensity before the interval when a wicked Zebedee Lawson free-kick delivery was glanced goalwards by Condy but agonisingly against the post.
The forward almost turned scorer moments later when Max Cameron sped down the left and centred dangerously, although Condy couldn’t quite contort his body to nod at goal.
Lawson then ought to have worked the goalkeeper when he shifted back onto his favoured left foot after Condy stole possession high, but the winger lifted his finish off target.
The game lulled to open the second half - with Kayden Daly firing wide for the hosts - before it sprung into action before the hour mark.
Indeed, it was positive work from Lawson which won possession high for Rangers, with the Englishman lifting his head and threading a gorgeous pass through to Condy who finished superbly into the near post.
It was just reward for the forward who can’t seem to stop scoring at the moment.
Aiden Crilly then sent Kerr scampering forward from his full-back position, with the young full-back winning his duel but lashing a tame effort towards goal on his weaker left side.
Inches separated Cameron from a superb long-range strike, before McGuire reacted superbly - not for the first time on the evening - to deny Jacob Donnelly with his feet at the other end.
Rangers were throwing bodies in front of everything as the home side searched for a leveller, which they found with seven minutes remaining when Joshua Mulgrew latched onto a pass over the top and saw his effort deflected over McGuire.
The momentum was with the hosts and they could have found the winner themselves in the latter stages when Daly, already on the scoresheet, worked a half yard of space before blazing over.
That set the stage for Rangers to claim all three points in stoppage time.
Again, they were too physical for their hosts, with Fernie releasing Condy down the right whose delivery flashed past Kerr in the penalty area before diverting off a Celtic defender and into the bottom corner.
Cue the scenes of jubilation at the full-time whistle as the young Gers celebrated an excellent victory.
RANGERS: McGuire, Kerr, Hynd, Campbell (Young, 75), Wark, Crilly (Owen, 89), Hutton, Fernie, Lawson (Barr, 82), Cameron, Condy
Subs not used: Reid, Caldwell, Molloy
CELTIC: Shaw, Sedwell, Haney, Charlton, Borland, Meechan, Hatton (Keenan, 45), Donnelly, Clearie (Skorb, 65), K. Daly (Mulgrew, 72), C. Daly
Subs not used: Dembele, Meikle, Heron, Obidiwe
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