Rangers goal fest

Second-half blitz

GEELONG Rangers broke down a youthful Bell Park’s defensive brick wall to run out comfortable 4-0 winners in last night’s Geelong Community Cup clash at Stead Park.

A second-half goal fest last night delivered the win, with all four goals coming after the break.

The result was enough to please Rangers coach Stuart Begg, but he was keeping the victory in perspective given the All Whites were without seven first-team players.

“The guys were really flat after the Wednesday game and it took them a good 40 minutes to get out of first gear,” Begg said.

“To be honest Bell Park put up a good fight to start up with and they had a lot of young players out there.

“Every game you learn something that you need to work on and there are a few things we got out of the game regardless of the result.”

Rangers struggled to get out of first gear in the opening 45 minutes, with a defensive Bell Park happy to drop numbers behind the ball.

But when Blaine Burrell netted the first goal from a corner, the floodgates opened.

The second came from a quick free kick that saw Colin Hamilton cut the ball back into the box for Connor Reddan to score from close range.

Jasko Ikanovic iced the game with Rangers’ third. Good play down the wing saw Carlin McCloskey win two headers inside the box with Ikanovic at the back post to tap it in.

Substitute John Mlondja then came on to score Rangers’ fourth, making the most of some more sensational work down the wing by Hamilton.

Bell Park coach Ivan Biscan said his team dropped its head once the first goal went in.

“The game plan initially worked and worked very, very well. But it unravelled once the boys copped that first goal and dropped their heads,” Biscan said.

“We had four boys who last year played four under-17s.

“We rotated the squad and they stood tall considering they were so young but ultimately the bigger bodies and the experience showed out in the end.”