RANGERS B ran out convincing winners as they rounded off their Lowland League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Caledonian Braves at Dumbarton Stadium this evening.
The Light Blues had to be patient in the opening half hour before a moment of quality saw captain Robbie Fraser and Robbie Ure combine, with the striker turning home the opener.
Charlie Lindsay produced his own piece of individual magic at the start of the second half to double the advantage with a free-kick strike as the hosts went on to claim victory to round off their league campaign.
The results sealed a second placed finish in the Lowland League for the second season running for the Light Blues, behind league winners Spartans who will contest the play-off against Brechin City.
David McCallum named two changes to the side that ran out 3-2 winners over East Stirlingshire at the weekend, with Lewis Budinauckas and Ross McCausland coming into the starting lineup.
The game took five minutes to settle before Rangers got into their stride as they kept comfortable possession through midfield. Charlie Lindsay was involved early on as the hosts looked to exploit the space with several interchanges of play down the right flank and make an early breakthrough at Dumbarton Stadium.
It was the visitors that registered the first shot of the contest after getting joy down the left channel. Jamie Watson cut inside before firing a shot at goal, but it was safely gathered by Lewis Budinauckas between the Rangers posts.
That sparked the home side into life as the Light Blues went close on two occasions shortly afterwards. Lindsay was the first to try his luck as his strike from outside the penalty area stung the fingertips of Chris Henry in the Braves goal. The following corner saw the Gers get even closer to breaking the deadlock as Connor Allan got his head on the delivery but his downwards effort was cleared off the line.
A clever piece of play between Ross McCausland and Robbie Ure almost brought a superbly worked goal for the hosts shortly before the 20th minute mark. The striker did well with his back to goal, producing a backheel to set the Northern Irishman on his way but the covering Scott Forrester cleared the danger before he could get the shot away from close range.
The chances had dried up in the contest prior to the half-hour mark as both sides probed without creating anything clear cut to produce the opening goal. Forrester’s left footed effort from the edge of the area was well struck on the half volley but whistled past the right post.
Jack Harkness did well initially as he found Robbie Ure inside the area, the striker spun and used his partner in James Graham but the deflection took all the pace out his shot as Henry calmy collected with 10 minutes before the interval.
An impressive piece of play from the captain down the channel provided a moment of class to produce the opening goal for the hosts as he set up Ure for a tap in. Robbie Fraser drove down the left flank before whipping a low ball to the back post which took the keeper out of the game and allowed the striker to turn the ball in on the stretch to fire the Gers in front.
Rangers made a terrific start to the second half as they doubled their lead almost straight away through a moment of real quality from Charlie Lindsay. The Gers had a free-kick opportunity around 25 yards from goal following a handball; the midfielder stepped up and struck a powerful effort that found the back of the net as it went in on off the near post.
The Braves looked for a response but rarely threatened at the start of the second period. The Light Blues remained in control as they had done throughout the majority of the night as they looked to go further in front in their final league outing.
Substitute Marc Kelly went close to halving the deficit for the away side as they looked for a way back into the contest. A delivery from the left channel from Liam Craig was clipped into the midfielder who saw his header come back off the near post, with the visitors enjoying their best spell of the evening at that stage.
The Gers had the chance to put the game beyond any doubt after Scott Forrester was late with a challenge on Lindsay inside the area. The midfielder looked to fire home the rebound before the defender mistimed his challenge with the ball already away. Arron Lyall stepped up, but he saw his low effort kept out by Henry on his right side to keep the scoreline at 2-0.
Zac Butterworth almost saw his effort diverted into the back of the net as the away side did still threaten when they got the chance to go forward. The winger’s delivery from the touchline was dangerous, but Connor Allan did brilliantly to divert the effort over the top of his own crossbar.
Luke Main was dismissed for a second bookable offence late on for the visitors as the Gers went on to see out the match and claim a win, sealing a second placed in the Lowland League standings for the second successive season.
RANGERS B: Budinauckas, Harkness (K .Ewen 85), MacKinnon , Allan, Fraser, Strachan (Ciubotaru 88), Lindsay, Lyall, Graham (Kpakpe 88), McCausland, Ure
SUBS: Pazikas
CALEDONIAN BRAVES: Henry, Brown, Walker, Main, Forrester, Guthrie (Wright 26), Craig, Lindsay, Watson (Arthur 81), Collins (Kelly 55), Butterworth
SUBS: White, McManus