RANGERS B Team suffered a defeat in their first Lowland League match of the 2022/23 campaign in a 2-1 loss to Civil Service Strollers in Edinburgh.
An early first-half goal from Lewis MacKinnon wasn’t enough for the Light Blues this evening after Euan Valentine secured a double for the home side in the opening league match.
Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Lewis MacKinnon, Connor Allan and Robbie Fraser made up the defending backline with Lewis Budinauckas behind them in goals.
New signing, Connor Young, was joined in midfield by Charlie Lindsay and Mackenzie Strachan, with Arron Lyall and Ross McCausland supporting Robbie Ure up front.
The Light Blues began their league opener with energy and a strong desire set the match tone, but it was Strollers who had the first opportunity with just a minute on the clock.
Cole broke down the left wing and managed to break away from MacKinnon defending the front post, he picked out Kennedy who had found some space in the box, but Lindsay was on hand to clear the early danger.
This early scare had an immediate effect on McCallum’s squad as the youngsters looked to respond positively and take control of the game quickly. Young linked up well with McCausland in the middle of the park to weave their way towards Whyte in goals, but the home side’s defence did well to break down this attack.
The two sides continued to battle across all areas of the pitch with each team providing excellent transition play into the final thirds, but both lines of defence remained firm.
The Gers did well maintain this pressure and were able to open the scoring in the 17th minute. Lindsay sent a superb delivery into a congested box after Rangers were awarded a free kick close to the half way line. His effort met MacKinnon at the back post who was able to tap the ball past the keeper to open the scoring for the Gers.
The youngsters looked to extend this lead as they continued to create opportunities in the home side’s box. It was Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Ross McCausland who linked up twice in quick succession on the 23rd minute with some lovely passing play down the right side, but they were just unable to seal their second of the night.
However, not long before the end of the first half, Jardine’s side found the equalising goal to close the deficit. After being awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Gers’ box, Euan Valentine sent a curling effort towards the Rangers goal, and Budinauckas was unable to block his strike.
Disappointingly, it was the home side who went into the half-time break in the lead after Valentine scored his double from another free-kick.
As the squad headed into the second half, McCallum brought on new signing, Zak Lovelace to replace Connor Young.
The Light Blues began to find their rhythm in the second half with great build-up play, but the home side’s backline made important interceptions to defuse the danger.
Robbie Fraser was involved in the 52nd minute when he floated a dangerous-looking free-kick into the home side’s box, but Whyte did well to collect the effort.
Fraser was again involved 3 minutes later when he set up MacKinnon on the edge of the penalty box, but his headed effort was again saved by the keeper.
Strollers did threaten the Rangers backline, as Cunningham sent a low effort across the face of the goal, but it fell just wide of the back post.
McCallum made further substitutions in the 70th minute as Graham and Harkness replaced Strachan and Lyall.
In the 74th minute, Robbie Ure almost levelled the game after a superb header from a Lindsay cross, but his effort drifted agonisingly wide.
In the final moments of the match, youngster, Lovelace sent the ball into the back of the net to secure the equaliser, but the linesman’s flag was painfully risen to end the score line 2-1.
RANGERS: Budinauckas, Ritchie-Hosler, MacKinnon, Allan, Fraser, Young (Lovelace, 46), Lindsay, Strachan (Graham, 68), Lyall (Harkness, 68), McCausland, Ure.
SUBS: Pazikas, K. Ewen, H. Ewen, Pasnik,
CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS: Whyte, Irving, Valentine, Kasa, Shaw, Ozturk, Cole, Laird, Cunningham, Kennedy, Faye.
SUBS: Lawson, Balatoni, Moffat, Young, Trialist, Smith, Mackenzie.
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