RANGERS Under-19s claimed an important three points to go top of the CAS Elite League on goal difference after a 5-1 success over Dundee United at Foundation Park this evening.
An impressive first-half showing saw the young Gers take a three-goal lead into the break thanks to goals from Aiden McCallion, Max Cameron and Luca Rankin. United responded after the restart to pull one back before Zeb Lawson and Coben Fergusson in stoppage time secured the win to leave Rangers in control of their own destiny heading into Friday’s final round of matches when they take on St Mirren.
Malky Thomson’s men knew two victories from their final two league outings would be enough to secure the title. The Head Coach made just the one change from the side that prevailed in the Old Firm in their last outing, with Rydnn McGuire in goal in place of Alfie Halliwell.
The young Gers looked to start quickly at Foundation Park to calm any nerves in their penultimate game of the season. They almost profited from a short kick out from United shot stopper Kuba Zerebecki as it landed at the feet of Zebedee Lawson in the opposing half, but the keeper reacted just in the nick of time to force the winger to run the ball out of play.
Clear openings at either end in the opening 10 minutes were at a premium, but it was the visitors who had started the brighter. Lawson again involved, he skipped by a couple of players coming in off the right flank, but his shot goalwards was deflected wide in the first attempt of purpose in the game.
The direct route turned profitable for the Gers as they found the opener on the quarter-hour mark. Jack Wyllie’s long ball saw Aiden Crilly collect it in behind as he waited for the arrival of the runners. The midfielder found Max Cameron, who worked his way into the box, and there was captain Aiden McCallion on queue to finish from close range and add to his derby goal to put his side ahead.
It was almost two as Rangers upped their intensity levels. Cameron running through, he was well matched by Marcus Buchanan as he looked to finish, as the defender got in a crucial last-ditch tackle as he looked to double the lead.
The home side hadn’t offered much threat after a quarter of the game as the fifth-placed side looked to find a way back into the game. They had an opening on the edge of the area which fell for Emil Franczak, but the midfielder’s left-footed shot flew over McGuire’s crossbar.
For all Rangers’ nice football, it was another long ball that saw them add a second and put daylight between the teams. Sent to Cameron, the forward was in behind and composed himself to work a shooting chance on his right side as he found the far corner with 10 minutes until the interval.
The Light Blues were firmly in control as the game headed towards the interval, limiting United to shots from range and mainly untroubled, as they looked to set up a season finale on Friday and take a step closer to getting their hands on the league trophy.
There was still time before the half-time whistle for Thomson’s men to add a third. Kyle Glasgow popped up on the left flank before acknowledging Luca Rankin inside the area to finish with ease and put clear daylight between the two sides in the penultimate outing of the season.
After such a controlled first-half display, United’s half-time message worked a treat with a response to give them a glimmer of hope in the match. After charging down the left, the ball was fired right across the box for the arriving Cohen Leiper to take in at the far post to eat into the deficit.
Rangers looked to respond themselves to regain their three-goal lead, and once again it was the direct route that almost saw them capitalise. It was Wyllie to Cameron again, but this time the forward dragged his shot just wide of the target via a deflection.
The goal did spark the away side back into life as they went close to a fourth once again. Glasgow, who swapped to the right side for the second period, cut inside on his favoured left foot and tested Zerebecki, but the shot stopper was level to it.
That moment did arrive 13 minutes after the restart as Lawson got in on the scoring. Moving over to the right for the time being, he jinked his way into the box and coolly dispatched the ball into the near post to halt any potential United fightback.
Despite the game being beyond them, United did try to cut into the Gers advantage and almost claimed a second themselves through Jack Anderson. The number 10 popped up outside the area, but his effort was seen over the top by McGuire.
Cameron Fernie looked to make an impact off the bench for the Gers as they counted to enhance their already superior goal difference further. Inside the final 15 minutes in Dundee, the midfielder popped up on the left and cut inside the box, but the Utd keeper was again level to the effort.
DUNDEE UNITED: Zerebecki (McKimmie, 70), Buchanan, Beverley, Reynolds (Carrigan, 18), Shields, Forrest, Leiper (Simpson, 70), Franczak, Hutchison (Samuel, 70), Anderson, Sassetti
SUBS: N/A
RANGERS: McGuire, Kerr (Hutton, 72), Scally, Wyllie, Owen (Hynd, 81), McCallion, Lawson, Crilly (Fernie, 62) Cameron (Fergusson, 81), Rankin (Young, 72), Glasgow
SUBS: Reid, Reid
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