RANGERS B booked their place in the City of Glasgow Cup final with a comfortable 4-0 win over Queen’s Park at the Rangers Training Centre this afternoon.
A dominant first half display was rewarded with goals from Robbie Ure and Thompson Ishaka from the penalty spot as the pair put the Light Blues in control at the break. Chances were limited in the second 45 minutes before Ure fired home his second of the day just over five minutes from time and substitute Zak Lovelace volleyed home from close-range as the hosts claimed victory.
David McCallum made three changes to the side from their last Lowland League outing on April 8 with Bailey Rice, Cole McKinnon and Tony Weston coming into the team.
Rangers started on the front foot at the Training Centre, creating an opportunity to go ahead just two minutes into the contest. Tony Weston, who was back in the side for the day was first to be involved, finding himself in a dangerous position inside the penalty area but his shot was deflected behind.
The two strikers combined just short of the 10 minute mark as the Light Blues went close to going ahead. After some good play from defender Lewis MacKinnon he fired a ball into striker Robbie Ure whose clever flick round the corner found his strike partner in Weston but his effort was denied by the feet of Callan McKenna in the Queen’s Park goal.
The hosts were again denied by McKenna after Ure was heavily involved in the link up again. This time the striker got on the end of a Robbie Fraser delivery from the left channel who played in the midfield runner in Cole McKinnon, but his close range effort was kept out well by the shot stopper.
Rangers almost latched onto an error in the away side’s backline, Ure stealing the ball and again using Weston who was unmarked inside the area but the striker couldn’t get the desired power to beat the keeper as the Light Blues ramped up the early pressure.
Another chance presented itself for Weston who was heavily involved in everything positive Rangers did going forward in the opening stages. This time captain Fraser did brilliantly to carry the ball down the left side after combining with Thompson Ishaka, finding the striker inside the area but he was closed down well by Zach Mauchin as Queens cleared the danger.
The Light Blues made their dominance count just short of the 25 minute mark in Milngavie. A good pass from Bailey Rice found the advanced Jack Harkness who had acres of space down the right flank to pick out a teammate. His cut back initially looked for Weston before it ricochet into the path of Ure who fired the ball low into the net to give Rangers a deserved lead in the tie.
The hosts had an opportunity to double their advantage as Ishaka was brought down inside the penalty area. The forward stepped up left footed and dispatched the ball from 12 yards into the bottom left corner as the Gers doubled their advantage from the spot.
The Nigerian’s clever footwork won himself another penalty as the referee pointed to the spot for a second time. In similar fashion, the forward worked the ball onto his left side, rode a couple of challenges inside the area before being brought down by Andrew Lind. He stepped up for his second of the day and opted to change sides but his effort was well kept out by McKenna who kept the scoreline at two.
Ishaka had another opportunity as Rangers looked for a third before the break. A deep delivery to the far post from Fraser found his striker in Ure who cushioned a cut-back on the half volley but the arriving forward could only fire over on the stretch.
Chances were limited at the start of the second half but it was the Gers who continued to control possession. A useful ball down the inside left channel from Fraser found Ishaka who took the pass in his stride as he weaved his way into the box but his effort across goal didn’t have the desired power as it was cleared by Lewis Reid.
Gregor Nicol produced a save out of Lewis Budinauckas as the Spiders registered their first effort of the game as they worked the Rangers shot stopper, looking for a way back into the contest in search of the next goal.
Rangers produced their best piece of play in the second half as substitute Zak Lovelace almost provided the finishing touch on what was a great move from the hosts. Ishaka again providing the spark down the left channel as he rode several challenges before releasing Arron Lyall down the flank. He picked out Lovelace whose shot was heading for the far corner but McKenna did well to turn it round the post.
After few opportunities at either end Rangers put the tie beyond any doubt towards the end as Ure fired home his second of the afternoon after Harkness’ delivery from the right hand side. The striker smashing the ball past McKenna in the Queens goal to a third and put the game to bed.
There was time for Zak Lovelace to mark his return from injury with a goal as he volleyed home right footed from close range towards the end as he put the finishing touches on a Fraser cross from the left side with the Light Blues going on to book their place in the final against rivals Celtic in a date to be confirmed.
RANGERS B: Budinauckas, Harkness, Fraser, Allan, MacKinnon (Ewen 81), Rice (Strachan 81), Ishaka (Graham 67), McKinnon, Ure, Lyall (Lindsay 81), Weston (Lovelace 59).
SUBS NOT USED: Pazikas, Ciubotaru.
QUEEN’S PARK: McKenna, Bruce (Smith 81), Biggar, Fairlie (McQuaid 59), Healy, Nicol, Mauchin (McDonnell 59), Thomson (Connolly 45), Reid, Lind (Graham 45), McLeish.
SUBS: Russell
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