The Gers became the first Colts team to reach the quarter-finals of the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup with a 4-3 win on penalties against the Vanarama National League side.
Speaking to RangersTV after the game, Murty said: “It was a really good test, it was a real exposure to a different style of football, there was a stark difference between Academy football and men’s football and we prepared the boys really well.
“You can see why they have had so much success in recent years and credit to them for their method and the way that they play.
“We can’t replicate that in any way shape or form, the stress of standing up to the physical contest, the emotions of getting back level and then the nerves of going through a penalty shootout I think the game is really a fantastic teacher and we are glad that we have got that exposure for our players.”
The young Gers came from behind three times as an Eros Grezda double and a strike from Jamie Barjonas forced the game to penalties.
Murty added: “I am really proud of our method and the way we wanted to play, I still think we can be better and I still think we can be slicker and braver but when you see what this team are capable of.
“Although we see them at times at their weakest and we see them at times at the most vulnerable days like today are invaluable in a young players experience.
“I think that we are seeing growth every single day and I think from the start of the campaign in this competition we have seen a real development and a real step forward.
Rangers are now the only Colts side remaining in the last eight of the competition and will host Wrexham in the quarter finals.
Murty added: “If you think before this competition kicked off we hadn’t won a game in this competition so now we are into the further reaches of it and we are just proud that our education for the players is of such a level that they can cope with different tasks.
“Last week we played Young Boys in a completely different style of game, we started today with three under-18’s, five under-19’s and brought and under-17 on the pitch and still maintained our method and intensity and we are actually seeing the fruits of labours not just for myself.”
Murty praised the character of goalkeeper Lewis Budinauckas as he was brought into the starting 11 for his first appearance in the competition.
He added: “Bud has just been thrust in it and he is a little bit wide eyed because the balls are being crossed into his box and there’s big guys crashing into the goal he has been bumped and bruised.
“Those people who have watched Rangers for a long time will tell you there are times when Rangers goalkeepers don’t have a great deal to do because we dominate the ball but when called upon they make top top level saves and he has just gone and done it and he is only a young guy.
“He has got loads of development to go but once again he is walking off that pitch today feeling 10 feet tall.