With the first-team in action tomorrow along with Ryan Hardie and Jordan Thompson both being out on loan, it was very much a side full of Academy players that were tasked with defeating John Potter’s Pars, a task they managed with something to spare.
With Ian Durrant absent due to a personal matter, it fell to David McCallum, Kenny Miller and Billy Kirkwood to take the team, and they would have been delighted with their side’s persistence and possession throughout the 90 minutes.
For all that good play though, clear-cut efforts on goal were at a premium with Jordan Gibson, Rory Currie and Ross Lyon all being forced to test goalkeeper Cammy Gill from distance in the first half.
There was also a major blow to the Light Blues in the 18th minute with the recently excellent Jamie Barjonas picking up a knock and having to be replaced by Max Ashmore in the centre of midfield.
For all their dominance of the ball however, there was a major let-off for ‘Gers late in the half as James Thomas robbed Ryan Sinnamon of the ball and only the alertness of Robby McCrorie in goal prevented the Fifers taking a lead against the run of play.
Eventually Rangers did make their breakthrough though, and it came with the very last kick before the referee blew his half-time whistle.
From the edge of the box, the ball broke the way of Gibson and he produced a pinpoint finish to fire beyond Gill and hand Rangers a deserved lead at the break.
Into the second half, and it was largely the same story, with the visitors defending resolutely and Rangers being required to be patient in and around the area.
Only a last-ditch interception from Stuart Morrison prevented Tom Lang nodding home a Mekhi McLeod cross while McLeod himself had yet another effort from distance off-target.
Rangers’ breathing space did however arrive in the 57th minute, quite literally thanks to a helping hand from goalkeeper Gill.
Ross Lyon’s corner to the front post was inexplicably fisted into his own net by the stopper under little pressure to all-but seal the points for the home side.
There was time for a third goal before full-time, and what a beauty it was as the recently impressive Scott Roberts.
Breaking into the area from the left wing, he slammed the ball into the bottom corner and well beyond the reach of Gill.
The game seemed to be concluding in calm fashion for Rangers until they found themselves reduced to nine men for the closing minutes.
An injury to Tom Lang initially saw them down to 10 men with all three substitutes used and then sub Josh Jeffries was dismissed for an allegedly dangerous tackle on Morrison.
But 3-0 it finished on a good afternoon for the under-20s.