RANGERS KIDS BREAK HEARTS IN CUP BATTLE
HEARTS .... 1 RANGERS ....
THE Rangers kids got a taste of Hampden success after a hard-fought win that banked the Scottish Youth Cup last night.
First-half goals from Darren McInally and Rory Wilson put them on a solid footing but a late goal from Hearts’ Murray Thomas had them hanging on in a frantic finale to the game as Steven Naismith’s young side pushed for a leveller.
Hearts keeper Liam McFarlane had to produce two decent stops to repel Robbie Ure and Wilson in the opening minutes.
The Hearts stopper had barely recovered when he was forced to push away another Wilson effort and was instrumental again in getting a hand to a Wilson free-kick.
Callum Sandilands had a header Rangers keeper Jack McConnell was equal to.
But it was Rangers who always looked the more menacing and the only real surprise was how long it took them to score.
The goal came in 35 minutes when a Mackenzie Strachan corner was only partially cleared by Bobby McLuckie with McInally lashing in a volley.
Rangers doubled their advantage on the cusp of the break with Wilson converting from a Kevin Ciubotaru cross.
Wilson’s right-foot volley squirmed under the body of McFarlane, harsh on the keeper who had been so influential earlier. Hearts brought on Murray Thomas for Sandilands right after the restart.
Rangers’ sub James Graham had an effort that McFarlane held as they searched for a third.
Thomas, though, netted a glorious strike to ensure a frantic finale. He was tenacious as he fought on the edge of the box to retain possession before thundering his shot into the bottom corner.
McLuckie ought to have taken the game to extra time when he headed over and James Wilson came close with a back-heel.
HEARTS – McFarlane, Flatman, Aitken, Rathie, McLuckie, Tait, Simpson, Pollock, Friel (Ross 66), Sandilands (Thomas 46), Kirk (Wilson 76). Not used: Parris, Forrester, Mair, Gordon.
RANGERS – McConnell, Ciubotaru, Allen, Allan, Harkness, Lindsay, Strachan, McInally (Dunlop 75), Pasnik (Graham 68), Wilson (Roberts 90), Ure. Not used: Pazikas, McKay, Ewen, Webster.