RANGERS B booked their place in the second round of the SPFL Trust Trophy after overcoming Bo’ness United 3-1 at Cappielow Park this evening.
The Light Blues fell behind early on after a mistake in the backline allowed Findlay Malcolm to punish the error to put the Lowland League side ahead. The Gers did respond however with first-half goals from Paul Nsio, Archie Stevens and Findlay Curtis to go in at the break in front before controlling the majority of the second half to set up an away clash against Clyde in the next round.
David McCallum’s men got the competitive fixtures underway for the new campaign, as they target a deep run in the competition having reached the last 16 stage last season with wins over Spartans, Alloa and Stenhousemuir.
Rangers got off to the worst possible start in the match as the visitors took the lead inside a minute. A pass back from Adam Devine saw Mason Munn hesitate in his clearance as he opted to take a touch, it was loose and latched onto by Findlay Malcolm who turned the ball into the empty net to fire the away side in front early on.
The Gers looked for an instant response in the match. Alex Lowry who had started lively picked up the ball in the number 10 position as he sought out the midfield runner in Paul Nsio, but the pass just had too much on it as it ran through into the hands of Liam Campbell.
The hosts then had their first shot on goal in the match as they upped the tempo minutes later. A quick corner was taken by Lowry to the far post which was retrieved by Connor Allan. The defender cut the ball back to Kerr Robertson who hit a low shot but was kept out by the feet of the goalkeeper who turned it away.
The Gers continued to mount the pressure in search of an equaliser. Another corner was taken by Lowry with Josh Gentles meeting it at the front post this time, his header looked to be heading goalwards but for a smart save from Campbell to turn it onto the crossbar and keep it out.
McCallum’s side did get their rewards for their early play after going behind to grab a leveller. Lowry who was lively throughout picked out an expert defence splitting pass with the outside of his right foot. It was brought down by Paul Nsio who set himself and fired it into the net from close range on his left side to level up proceedings.
The home side seemed to take a lift from the goal and went from strength to strength from there on in the half. Jack Harkness, who was operating in a left-back role, found Findlay Curtis ahead of him who spotted Lowry inside the area, but his shot on the spin was dragged past the far post.
They did manage to turn the game on its head as the Gers found themselves in front. Under little pressure right-back Ryan Stevenson for the away side hit a slack back pass towards his goalkeeper which was hunted down by both Findlay Curtis and Archie Stevens. The latter took charge as he set himself to fire the ball into the net on his left foot after managing to get himself around the goalkeeper.
It got better for the Gers before the interval as they managed to pull further in front. The pick of the first-half goals saw a ball down the line latched onto by Stevens who cut it across the box for Curtis to finish across the goalkeeper as the two wingers combined to give the Light Blues breathing space at the end of the opening 45 minutes at Cappielow.
The Gers looked to build on their first-half showing and had an opportunity early after the restart. Lowry stood over a free kick chance on the edge of the area but saw his effort was fired into the wall and blocked by Duffy with his head to keep it out.
The hosts continued to probe with clever combination play involving several midfielders. Stevens and Lowry linked up and helped it onto Gentles, he found Nsio on the edge of the area but he fired over the top from range.
Stevens was continuing to impress for the hosts after taking confidence from his first-half goal. Beating several players on the right flank he cut the ball back to tee up Lowry, but the midfielder got it caught under his feet as he fired over.
At the other end, a switch of play seeking out Porteous which was slightly overhit allowed the Gers to counter. Stevens brought it forward and was fouled but the referee waved play on, Nsio took over and drove forward before teeing up Lowry to his left. The midfielder cut inside and looked to pick out the far corner but the effort was tipped round the post by Campbell.
Bo’ness looked for a way back into the game to no avail. Full-back Stevenston retrieved an overhit cross as he clipped it back into the area for Kyle Johnston, but the substitute’s headed effort from close range sailed over under the challenge of captain Kristian Webster.
Rangers dominated in terms of possession from then on in for large spells over the course of the second period and should have had a chance to extend their lead further. A long ball over the top from Kerr Robertson seeking out Chris Eadie was brought down well by the sub before he was pulled to the ground inside the area, but the referee opted against pointing to the spot as he waved play on.
Fellow substitute Callum Burnside almost wrapped up the scoring having latched onto Nsio’s through ball. A clever pass inside the area was picked up at a tight angle, but the goalkeeper was able to make the stop at the near post and keep it out.
The Gers were comfortable in seeing out the match towards the end as they set up a second round away clash against Clyde in their next outing in the competition.
RANGERS B: Munn, Devine, Allan (Allen 83), Webster, Harkness (Hutton 70), Robertson (McClure 83), Nsio, Lowry (Burnside 70), Stevens, Curtis (Eadie 70), Gentles
SUBS: Halliwell, Wark, Bell, Ishaka
BO’NESS UNITED: Campbell, Stevenson, MacAulay, Hawkins, Travis, Duffy, Malcolm (Johnston 45), Gemmell (Grant 54), Mitchell (Stenhouse 13, Kennedy 72), Henderson (Irving 72), Porteous
SUBS: N/A