The Light Blues started well and were rewarded with a well-taken Charlie Lindsay opener. After dominating for large spells,they were reduced to 10-men after Thompson Ishaka was shown a straight red card midway through the opening period. Kyle Ewing and Jack Hodge goals turned the game on its head as the hosts went at the break in front but two second half penalties from Arron Lyall swung the match back in Rangers’ favour with both sides ending the match with10-men following Tony Coutts’ late dismissal.
The Light Blues saw the closing stages out to claim victory in their final away match of the Lowland League season.
David McCallum named four changes to his side from their 4-0 Glasgow Cup win in midweek, with Jacob Pazikas, Mackenzie Strachan, Charlie Lindsay and James Graham all coming into the team for their penultimate league fixture of their league season.
Rangers almost had an opening after just 30 seconds in Falkirk, Lewis MacKinnon’s long through ball from the centre of defence was almost met by striker James Graham, but the hosts’ keeper Ross Connolly did well to come out and gather.
The away side took the lead after just four minutes of play as they made a fast start on the day. Thompson Ishaka did well to pick up the loose ball at the edge of the area after the Gers won the ball high, he slipped through the advancing Charlie Lindsay who had broken from midfield who then cooly dispatched the ball into the far corner to give the Light Blues an early breakthrough.
A set-piece routine almost came off for the Gers as they looked to build on their impressive start. A Robbie Fraser corner was played in low to the unmarked Arron Lyall but the midfielder fired his strike into the side netting at the near post.
McCallum’s men were on top for the majority of the opening 20 minutes as they looked to threaten to go further ahead. The hosts had offered little in the way of an attacking sense as they struggled to get a foothold in the match.
The Gers were reduced to 10-men just moments later. The referee stopped the game for a head knock before Thompson Ishaka got involved in an altercation which saw the forward dismissed for a coming together with Connor Greene.
Kyle Ewing got on the end of a corner kick delivery for the hosts who had some added beliefas they now had the man advantage. Meeting the cross at the back post, the centre-back headed just wide in what was East Stirling’s first effort of the contest after 30 minutes in Falkirk
Lindsay had a free kick effort from a wife left position beaten away by Connolly, as the Light Blues still looked like they could add to their lead when they went forward on the counter attack with the man less.
The hosts got themselves on level terms through a corner kick delivery which had produced their best moments of the match up to that stage. Shaun Brown’s in swinging left footed cross was met by defender Kyle Ewing who headed home from close range as East Stirlingshire levelled up the match 10 minutes before the break.
East Stirlingshire went ahead on the day five minutes later as things really changed in their favour following the red card. Scott Honeyman battled with Lewis MacKinnon in the box and the defender made a vital block for the hosts as the shot was heading goal bound, the ball broke for Jack Hodge who fired past Jacob Pazikas to put the hosts in front.
Rangers almost had an instant reply as they looked to get on level terms straight away. Arron Lyall did well down the left channel as he drifted wide, his delivery found Robbie Ure unmarked in the box but he fired his right footed effort on the volley past the far post.
The same pair went close to combining again in the last of the first-half action. Lyall did brilliantly to glide past multiple players as he again moved to the left flank, he lifted a cross to the far post looking for Ure but the striker couldn’t quite reach the ball on the stretch.
Rangers came out the traps in the second period as they looked to find a way back into the match. Connor Allan had a moved into midfield following the introduction of Kelsey Ewen at the break, the Gers number four broke in behind the backline and looked for Ure with a cut back but the striker fired over the top.
The hosts had a great opportunity to go further ahead through Jack Hodge. The goal scorer of the second found himself in plenty of space in behind the Gers backline, with time on his hands he drove into the box but Pazikas did well to read the shot and make the stop to deny the hosts from stretching their lead.
The Light Blues had an opportunity to get on level terms after Jack Harkness was brought down inside the box. The right-back did well to carry the ball over 20 yards after a series of Rangers pressure, making his way to goal he was bundled over by Connor Greene as the referee pointed to the spot. Arron Lyall stepped up right footed and dispatched the spot kick as the visitors got back on level terms.
Rangers took added confidence from getting back on level and were keeping comfortable possession and limiting the hosts to few chances. Harkness was getting more and more involved down the right channel as he found himself in behind but his whipped cross looking for Ure was turned over by Greene to safety.
The away side went close to going in front for the second time on the day through Ure. A flighted pass over the top saw a mix up in the East Stirlingshire backline as Tony Coutts couldn’t deal with the initial ball, it fell for the striker but his effort on the volley was well kept out by Connolly with his feet.
Rangers had the chance to complete the turnaround from the penalty spot. Allan did well to get to the ball first before Connolly, his sliding tackle broke for James Graham to tap into the empty net but the assistant referee deemed the forward to be offside, he pulled the play back for the challenge and pointed to the spot for a second time. Lyall stepped up once again and dispatched the ball the same way to add his second of the afternoon and fire the Gers ahead with just over six minutes to go.
Pazikas made an impressive stop late on to preserve the lead from Niyah Joesph’s header as he got a fingertip on it to turn it over the top. Tony Coutts was shown a second yellow card shortly after in the last of the action for a foul on Ure as the Gers held on to mark their last away fixture of the season with a win as they get ready to round off their league campaign at home to Caledonian Braves on Tuesday evening.
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE: Connolly, Coutts, Brown, Greene, Ewing, McAlpine (Sabitini 54), Denholm (Kirkpatrick 70), Fotheringham, Joesph, Hodge (Prince 89), Honeyman.
SUBS: Moyes, MacDonald.
RANGERS B: Pazikas, Harkness, Fraser, Allan, MacKinnon, Strachan (Ewen 45), Ishaka, Lindsay, Ure, Lyall, Graham.
SUBS: Budinauckas, Ciubotaru, Kpakpe, Willox, Roberts.