U20s v Rangers

SPFL Development League: U20s suffer defeat at Bet Butler Stadium, Dumbarton.

RANGERS 4 DUNFERMLINE 0

In eight minutes play between Andy Stirling and Faissal resulted in Alex Whittle being brought down outside the box. From the resultant free kick, Faissal sent the kick just wide left of goal. Two minutes later Cammy Gill was in action when he came out to the edge of his box to intercept a through ball from Rangers. He was in action soon after when again he collected the ball at the edge of the box when Ryan Hardie sent a ball through for Ramsay. The goalkeeper again saved a shot by Foster at the near post for a corner.

Alex Whittle was next to try Lee Robinson in the Rangers goal with a shot from outside the box, but it was easily saved. Next it was Faissal to shoot after a Alex Whittle free kick. Minutes later Faissal ran down the right and sent in an inviting cross which went through the penalty area, Drummond collected and passed to Stirling for a shot on goal. Next it was Scott Mercer’s turn to race down the right after a clearance from defence, his pass to Finn Graham was cut out by the Rangers defence.

In 32 minutes, Rangers went ahead when Roberts on the left for Rangers ran clear of Graham and from his cutback RAMSAY slotted the ball into the Pars goal courtesy of a slight deflection from a Pars defender. Two minutes before half time Rangers increased their lead when HARDIE took advantage of slip by young Stuart Morrison on the greasy surface to slot the ball under keeper Gill.

Half time: Rangers 2 Dunfermline 0

There was no let up in the rainy evening when the Pars kicked off for the second half. Cammy Gill was soon in action again when he made another save from Foster, and then blocked another shot by Hardie soon after.

Rangers increased their lead in the 50th minute when FINNIE scored from the edge of the box after a cross from Murdoch on the left side of the pitch although Gill did get a hand to it. Three minutes later Robinson in the Rangers goal made a double save from young Stuart Morrison from Mercers corner on the right. The first save being at point blank from Morrisons header. Shaun Byrne then required treatment when he was fouled by Hutton.

From the resultant free kick, Lewis Martin’s header was again saved by Robinson. Scott Mercer had a long range shot, but this went wide right of goal. The misery continued for the young Pars team, when after Graham had fouled HUTTON in the box he subsequently slotted home the penalty in the 80th minute.

Not a great performance from the team tonight, but they were unlucky to be behind by two goals at half time and they were up against a much more experienced Rangers team. Whittle, El Bakhtaoui, Stirling and Byrne all got some much needed match time.

John Potter's comments:

“Disappointing result tonight. It was disappointing the goals we gave away and we had a couple of good opportunities ourselves which their goalkeeper made good saves from. They were an experienced team and they used that well, their striker was good and they had a strong defence and it was difficult for us. We had a young team with two 15 year olds playing, but they will learn a lot from that. They will learn a lot from playing against experienced players like that, but it was disappointing.

It was unfortunate to go in two goals down, but Stuart slipped on the wet surface and the boy went through and scored. The surface was just getting wetter and wetter. If it was one nil, you come in a wee bit more confident but two nil it makes us a wee bit down in the dumps. They battled away though. The goals were preventable, they were mistakes, but we will just need to regroup and go again next week.

Both Stuart and Cammy Gill played 90 minutes on Sunday, but I like to bring in the young boys now and again. Its difficult but they will learn more from playing in a game like that than playing ten U17 games. It was more game time for Andy Stirling, and Shaun Byrne and with Faissal and Whittle coming back from injury it will put them in the Manager's thoughts.

RANGERS: Lee Robinson, Richard Foster, Ryan Sinnamon, Sebastien Faure, Marius Zaliukas, Kyle Hutton, Ryan Finnie, Andy Murdoch, Ryan Hardie, Darren Ramsay, Scott Roberts
SUBS NOT USED: Liam Kelly (GK), Greg Pascazio, David Brownlie, Kristian Gibson,
Adam Wilson, Jordan Hamill, Junior Ogen

DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill; Finn Graham, Stuart Morrison, Lewis Martin, Ross Drummond (Jordan Orru (70); Scott Mercer, Shaun Byrne, Alex Whittle, Andy Stirling (Cammy McClair 62); Gavin McMillan (P J Crossan 62), Faissal El Bahktoui
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie Wilson (GK)

REFEREE: David Munro

NEXT MATCH: SPFL Development League (home) v Kilmarnock
Tuesday 7th October 2014, kick off 7.00pm at East End Park

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