CARDOSO RETURNS AS BLUES STROLL IT
Strong XI for Notman
FABIO CARDOSO played for an hour in his first game back since breaking his nose in the League Cup semi-final defeat to Motherwell as a strong Rangers side cruised to victory at Berwick.
Goals from David Bates, with a neat back-heel, and Aaron Nemane, who took advantage of a mistake by Berwick keeper Robby McCrorie, gave the Ibrox side a 2-0 half-time lead in Steven Notman’s testimonial.
And in the second half further strikes from Serge Atakayi and Jordan Thompson rounded off a comfortable win as caretaker manager Graeme Murty fielded seven first-team players in his starting line-up.
Despite suffering cracked ribs at the weekend, Notman started after receiving a guard of honour from the teams.
In 27 minutes Rangers got the breakthrough they had been threatening when Dalcio’s low shot from outside the box was flicked into the net by Bates.
The lead was doubled 10 minutes later. On-loan Rangers keeper McCrorie rushed off his line to clear a loose ball but it only went as far as Nemane who returned the ball into the empty net from 25 yards out.
In 72 minutes the away side netted again when Atakayi used his pace to outstrip the Berwick defence and slot home.
With four minutes remaining Thompson fired in a well-struck fourth from just outside the box.
BERWICK – McCrorie, Stewart, McKinlay (Fleming 59), Notman (Lavery 56), Wilson, McDonald (Orru 67), McKenna (Watt 20), Irving, Murrell (Thomson 59), Phillips (Chapman 67), Scullion (Fairbairn 46).
RANGERS – Kelly (Hogarth 78), Hodson (Hewitt 78), Lyon (Kelly 46), Palmer, Bates (Ahmed 85), Cardoso (Mayo 59), Dalcio (Nelson 66), Thompson, Herrera (Dallas 59), Nemane, Atakayi (Zata 85).