The young Gers came into this competition determined to learn, and they will now turn their attention to their match with East Kilbride.
Both sides held a minute’s silence before kick-off in honour of former Rangers captain Alistair “Ally” Dawson who unfortunately passed away yesterday. Ally worked extensively with the Rangers’ Academy and Rangers Soccer Academies after retiring from football.
Rangers B held a lot of possession in the first half, intercepting the ball from the opposition throughout the period and created numerous chances for themselves but were just unable to finish their opportunities.
Arron Lyall saw Rangers’ first chance of goal, whipping the ball into the box but his cross fell into the arms of the keeper.
Moments later, Robbie Fraser almost secured the first goal after driving down the wing past the red defenders but his strike flew low past the post.
Civil Service Strollers almost opened the scoring, Macallan Whyte’s goal kick linked with Mark James McConnell whose first touch in the box was cleared by Leon King.
The Reds’ came close again after Joao Balde’s corner kick struck the inside post of the goal before falling out of play for a goal kick.
Robbie Ure hit the back of the net for the Light Blues but the goal was disallowed as Adam Devine was ruled offside by the linesman.
Kyle McClelland was given a yellow after fouling a red shirt and the referee awarded a free kick to the away side just outside the box. Matthew Shaw stood up to take the set-piece and Jay Hogarth was unable to get a hand to it as it hit the back of the net.
A few minutes later, the young Gers were given a free kick in the away side’s final third. Kane Ritchie-Hosler took it and his ball was met by Robbie Fraser in the box whose header was just unable to get past the keeper and was then cleared by McConnell.
Rangers almost equalised seconds before the half time whistle, Fraser made another excellent run down the left wing getting past a number of red shirts, he made a low cross across the face of goal to link up with Ure but Whyte safety collected the ball in his arms.
Civil Service Strollers made it two in the second half after Robert Cole’s strike hit the crossbar but Alieau Badra Faye followed up on the deflection past Hogarth.
Joao Balde then took a corner for the away side and his cross fell into a crowded box and dropped at the feet of Lewis Duffy who managed to make it a third for the Edinburgh side.
Rangers got one back towards the end of the game. Alex Lowry played an excellent through ball to Devine whose low cross linked with Tony Weston to put it past Whyte.
RANGERS: Hogarth, Devine, Fraser, King, McClelland, Strachan, Lyall, McKinnon, Ure (57), Ritchie-Hosler (51), Weston
SUBS: Cervantes, Mackinnon, Miller, Allan, Lindsay (51), Ebiowei, Lowry (57)