The Light Blues got off to the perfect start as Charlie Lindsay rounded goalkeeper Ben Fry and rolling the ball home early in the contest before Jason Jarvis’ strike levelled up the match. An own goal from the away side sent the hosts in ahead at the half time break. A dramatic start to the second half was to follow as defender Jack Harkness was dismissed for a challenge inside the penalty area as the Gers were reduced to 10 men with James Berry dispatching from 12 yards to level up the match for a second time.
Despite having the man disadvantage substitute James Graham produced the match winner immediately after being introduced into the contest as his solo effort 20 minutes from time proved to be the difference.
David McCallum named three changes to the side from their last Lowland League outing, with Jack Harkness, Mackenzie Strachan and Charlie Lindsay all coming into the starting side for the Gers’ penultimate home game of the league season.
Rangers looked to put last weekend’s defeat behind them and started in lively fashion at Dumbarton. The returning Charlie Lindsay spun well in midfield to open up a gap around 25 yards from goal, releasing the advancing full-back down the right channel in Jack Harkness his cut back was diverted behind before Robbie Ure’s effort from the resulting corner was safely gathered.
The Light Blues made a fast start count, a clever touch on the halfway line up against the last man by McCausland allowed the charging Lindsay to burst through on goal, with only Ben Fry between the posts to beat the Northern Irishman took his touch round the keeper before sliding the ball home at the angle to put the Gers in front.
Stirling University looked for a reply over the next 10 minutes without threatening the Rangers backline, with the hosts continuing to keep safe possession with several interchanges through midfield involving Thompson Ishaka and the goalscorer Lindsay.
A second almost arrived moments later for the hosts, a one-two again down the right flank involving Harkness and Ure saw the right-back in an advanced area beyond the Stirling defence, he looked to find McCausland round the back but he couldn’t reach the ball on the stretch.
The away side got on level terms with their first real opportunity of the contest, the ball breaking from the left flank as it made its way inside to Jason Jarvis. Well placed on the edge of the box, his low strike found the far corner with Lewis Budinauckas unable to keep it out on the down at his left side as the visitors levelled up the match.
The contest remained close from that point with no real openings for either side, the visitors gained confidence from getting themselves back on level terms however the Light Blues went close with half chances through Ure and Harkness but both were kept out by Fry with comfort.
The Gers almost regained the lead after a smart piece of play through midfield, a fizzed pass into the feet of Ishaka allowed the forward to bring in McCausland who was running beyond him. The forward did well to hold off a few challenges but his low, left-footed drive was well held by the Stirling Uni goalkeeper.
Ure had an opportunity just moments later as he was played in behind with a high through ball. Latching onto the pass the keeper was hesitant to engage the forward and stayed on his left but the striker could only lash at his effort at the angle wide.
The Gers number nine again went close just a minute later, all his own work after receiving the ball with his back to goal he did superbly to turn away from defender Jake Service but dragged his effort across goal and off target.
McCallum’s men regained the lead before the interval at Dumbarton. Not for the first time on the day Harkness found himself well placed deep inside the opposing half, his cut back was initially cleared by covering defender Matthew Burrows whose clearance rebounded off his own goalkeeper and into the back off his own net.
The visitors had a golden opportunity to level up the contest right at the start of the second half. The goalscorer of the opener burst through on goal and made his way into the penalty area, bundled over by Harkness inside the area referee Gary Hanvidge pointed to the spot and showed a straight red card to the defender for the challenge as he deemed it to be denying an opportunity to score.
James Berry stepped up from 12 yards and dispatched the spot kick into the top right corner as Stirling Uni levelled up the match for a second time.
Cameron McKinley had a great chance to put the away side in front for the first time on the day. Played over the top he found himself free inside the area but fired his strike into the side netting as the visitors looked to make the most of the man advantage
Jason Jarvis went close to putting Stirling in front and was proving to be a real threat all afternoon, latching onto a ball inside the area his half volley across goal drilled just passed the far post with the two teams locked level past the hour mark in Dumbarton.
The Light Blues went ahead with the man disadvantage and it was an instant impact from substitute James Graham. The forward who was on the park for barely a minute found himself in space down the right channel after the away side had over committed on the opposite channel.
Carrying the ball and running through on goal he opted against the initial shot before cutting inside onto his left side, after seeing two efforts blocked it finally broke for the attacker as he fired the ball into the roof of the net to put 10-man Rangers in front for a third time.
Stirling looked for a response towards the latter stages of the contest as they looked for a third equaliser. Mounting plenty of pressure inside the Rangers box, they went close through an effort from sub Calum Rae but his shot on the swivel was denied brilliantly by Budinauckas to keep the Gers ahead as the game reached its conclusion.
The Light Blues managed to withstand any late Stirling Uni pressure and held on to seal an impressive three points after playing over 45 minutes of the contest with a man less at Dumbarton.
RANGERS B: Budinauckas, Harkness, Fraser, Allan, MacKinnon (Ewen 73), Strachan, Ishaka (Graham 68), Lindsay (Ciubotaru 90+6), Ure, Lyall, McCausland.
SUBS: Pazikas, Nsio, Pasnik, Roberts.
UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING: Fry, Burrows, Service, Lavery, Berry, Russell (McAinch 74), Jarvis, Stokes (Munro 86), Maclver-Redwood, McKinley (Rae 74), Head (McGill 81).
SUBS: Gromov, Bainbridge, Thompson.
REFEREE: Gary Hanvidge