DESPITE taking an early lead, Rangers B fell to a 4-2 defeat to Huddersfield at the Millers Oils High Performance Complex this afternoon.
The Light Blues broke the deadlock in the contest when Cole McKinnon converted from Bailey Rice’s free-kick, but they found themselves behind going into the interval when Michael Stone and Conor Falls netted for the Terriers.
A trialist then further stretched the hosts’ lead just moments into the second half, with a penalty from Stone later in the second period rendering Arron Lyall’s late strike a mere consolation.
Indeed, the fixture marked the sixth time that the young Gers have faced English opposition this season, which have included clashes against both Manchester City and Manchester United.
And the young Gers made the perfect start in the game when McKinnon managed to contort his body at the near post to divert Rice’s free-kick from the left-hand side beyond Jacob Chapman in the Huddersfield goal.
It was no less than David McCallum’s side deserved in the opening exchanges, with Paul Nsio going close moments earlier when he latched onto Josh Gentles’ smart through pass and steered his finish off target.
However, the home side offered an immediate riposte when the concession of a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area provided the platform for Stone to curl an unstoppable dipping effort into the top corner.
Indeed, the leveller allowed Huddersfield to build some momentum within the contest and they quickly completed the turnaround four minutes before the interval. A loose passage of play in the Gers defensive third saw the Terriers pounce on the loose pass, with Falls providing a left-footed finish that nestled into the bottom corner.
Just as Rangers looked to regain their composure over the half-time interval, however, they soon found themselves further behind when a trialist looped a finish into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
The away side ought to have reduced the arrears shortly after when Rice’s wicked delivery from the left was met on the head by McKinnon, but the midfielder contrived to nod wide of the target.
Rangers continued to pepper the Huddersfield goal and McKinnon went close once again when he met Robbie Fraser’s cross on the first-time volley and drew a fantastic stop from the Huddersfield goalkeeper.
That proved the cue for the Terriers to add their fourth goal of the contest. After Zander Hutton was adjudged to have committed a foul, the referee quickly pointed to the penalty spot and Stone grabbed his second goal of the game from 12 yards when he sent Mason Munn in the wrong direction.
There was still time for Rangers to salvage some hope with six minutes remaining. A dangerous delivery from the right almost allowed substitute Darren McInally to lift his finish over the goalkeeper, with the Gers first to react through Lyall who played a lovely give-and-go with McInally before dispatching a lovely finish under the goalkeeper.
However, it was too little, too late for David McCallum’s side, who will reflect on a day where they failed to make their dominance of the ball count.
HUDDERSFIELD B: Chapman, Edwards, Ayina, Adewoju, Ondo, Maroodza, Austerfield, Iorpena, Stone, Falls, Diarra
Subs: Hurl, Helliwell, Vost, Philpott, Trialist
RANGERS B: Munn, Hutton (Allen, 79), Allan, Yfeko, Fraser, Rice (Strachan, 84), Lyall (Pasnik, 89), McKinnon, Nsio, Stevens (McInally, 69), Gentles
Subs not used: Thackray, Newton, Webster