Ibrox Colts so close to upset
THEY had just celebrated the 20th anniversary of one of Scottish football’s greatest shocks — a staggering and historic night at Celtic Park.
But Inverness Caley Thistle, reduced to ten men for over half an hour, had to dig deep in hellish conditions to avoid suffering a huge upset of their own in this Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup semi-final.
Graeme Murty’s sharp and impressive young Rangers, featuring mostly teenagers and two over-age players — goalkeeper Andy Firth and winger Jake Hastie — led in torrential rain through an early Dapo Mebude strike.
First-half substitute James Keatings hit back just before the break, but received what looked like a ridiculous second yellow card for supposedly diving inside the Rangers box after 57 minutes.
It should have been a penalty for the Highlanders at 1-1, but they secured a winner through Miles Storey with 17 minutes left.
Then came a Rangers siege at the death but the first Colts side to reach a Challenge Cup semi-final couldn’t prevent John Robertson’s men — the 2017/18 winners — reaching their fifth final.
There, they will meet Raith Rovers on March 28 or 29.
Robertson was furious at referee Greg Aitken’s red-card decision and the disallowing of a Tom Walsh finish, but happy to see his team survive the onslaught.
After television interviews, Robertson sent assistant manager Scott Kellacher in for post-match Press duties and he said: ‘We’re pleased to get there. It was a very hard game against an excellent young team.
‘A couple of big decisions went against us and we’re hoping the authorities can look at the footage and rescind the Keatings red card because it was a disgraceful one — and James is gutted.’
Opening with the strong breeze and monsoon rain behind them, Rangers were quick and sharp — and soon troubling the hosts.
Within six minutes, the Ibrox side were in front. Lewis Toshney tried to nod clear a long ball forward but it fell to Hastie, who threaded a pass forward to Mebude.
The young Rangers prospect nicked it against Kevin McHattie’s heels before cutting a brilliant low shot into the left-hand corner of the net from 20 yards.
Mebude had an incredible miss soon after, lifting a six-yard finish square on goal against the bar from Kai Kennedy’s cross.
But Caley Thistle, while never comfortable, grabbed a 44thminute equaliser. Storey beat Nathan Patterson for pace and floated in a high cross, knocked back by the head of Jordan White.
There, 16 yards out, was Keatings hammering a low left-foot shot inside the right-hand post, with Firth motionless.
Disaster struck for the hosts early in the second half. Storey cut the ball in from the left and Keatings nicked in front of Ciaran Dickson before appearing to be tripped just inside the penalty area.
Instead, referee Aitken meted out a second booking and an early bath for the home substitute.
The ten men had the ball in the Rangers net as Walsh raced through to beat Firth, but the offside flag was raised.
However, Caley Thistle’s big moment came after 73 minutes.
Walsh cut back onto his left foot and curled in a fine cross met by James Vincent’s firm header.
Keeper Firth parried superbly but Storey pounced from six yards on the rebound.
Rangers continued to threaten, with Kennedy striking the top of the crossbar from wide left.
Ibrox development team boss Murty felt the whole experience of navigating games against Berwick
Rangers, Stranraer, Ballymena United, Solihull Moors and Wrexham was one his charges could harness in the push for first-team recognition.
‘I’m immensely proud,’ he said. ‘We should be sitting here as the first Colts team to reach the final.
‘We were away from home against a quality team, second in the Championship, who have just knocked Premiership Livingston out of the Scottish Cup.’