Rangers B are A-plus as they hand out a‘lesson’
RANGERS B 3 CELTIC B 0 Rangers B fired in three first-half goals to dump their Old Firm rivals Celtic B as they fight it out for the runners-up spot in the league.
In a sensational start, they went ahead in the first minute when Ross Mccausland shot low into the net past Tony Oluwayemi in the Celtic goal.
David Mccallum, the young Gers manager, was delighted with the result, and said: “It was well-deserved and a brilliant start, just what you want.
“For Ross to do that so early in the game and get in front was just a start that you would never have imagined.
“But we stayed on it and that was important and, obviously, the next two goals wouldn’t say ‘killed’ the game, but it certainly made it different from what it might have been.
“I thought our possession work was excellent and it was a strong defensive display as well, which is important.
“We’ve got five games left in the league and we want to finish strongly and we’ve got Celtic to play away as well.”
He added: “It was fantastic for the lads to get the support from the stand – they were willing the boys on.”
Mcausland almost doubled the score six minutes later, but his powerful shot was deflected past.
Then, in the 15th minute, Celtic were stunned again when Charlie Mccann fed the ball through to Alex Lowry, who fired in a great shot which ended in the back of the net.
Rangers were dominating the game and, two minutes later, Tony Weston shot narrowly past.
But, in the 22nd minute, he made no mistake as he put his side 3-0 up. Robbie Fraser’s neat pass found Weston who went one-on-one with the keeper and he slotted the ball into the net.
Just on the interval, Adam Devine almost got the fourth, but his shot came back off the upright.
The Hoops turned in a better secondhalf performance and Owen Moffat came close in the 58th minute and Ben Summers had a good effort stopped.
Sub Kane Ritchie-holser made an immediate impact for Rangers when he came on for Lowry on 75 minutes, but his shot from just inside the box was blocked.
Celtic almost found the net in stoppage time when Dane Murray’s header went inches over the bar.
Tommy Mcintyre was disappointed with his side’s performance, and said:
“We never reached the levels that we’ve been at. It was probably a lesson for us.
“In the first half, we allowed Rangers to dominate the game and then we found it difficult to come back.
“It’s a real difficult lesson for us. It’s a learning curve for us and the most disappointing thing is that we never really turned up in the first half.”
DALBEATTIE STAR 2 BONNYRIGG ROSE 0
Dalbeattie Star gave champions Bonnyrigg Rose players a guard of honour as they came out and then turned in the shock result of the day with a 2-0 win over them thanks to two firsthalf goals.
It was a great start for the new management team of Chris Jardine and Peter Watson, both ex Annan Athletic team-mates.
Star went ahead with a Dylan Cairnie Shot in the 11th minute and, five minutes later, in a repeat move, Ross Irving hit the second.
BO’NESS UNTED 5 GRETNA 2008 1
Bo’ness thrashed struggling Gretna 2008 and ran out 5-1 winners with three goals in the first half from Devon Jacobs, Lewis Hawkins and Lennon Walker, with Kieran Mitchell getting the other two.
Emile Ngoy got a consolation goal in the last minute for the visitors.
EAST KILBRIDE 3 GALA FAIRYDEAN 1
Kilby ran out 3-1 winners, with three goals in the first half-hour.
Joao Victoria opened in the 12th minute and, 60 seconds later, Liam Watt hit a second and Cammy Elliot got the third.
The Fairies pulled one back through Ryan Schiavone three minutes from time.
■ In the Lowland League Cup, EAST STIRLINGSHIRE had a goalless draw at home to Broomhill, while a Kieran Mcgrath goal in 41 minutes gave BERWICK RANGERS a 1-0 win over VALE OF LEITHEN and booked their place in the knockout stages.
In the other match, SPARTANS drew 1-1 with CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS. Jamie Dishington scored after 48 minutes for the home side, but Strollers equalised in the 69th minute through Mark Mcconnel.
On Friday night, Scott Forrester salvaged a point for CALEDONIAN BRAVES with a stoppage-time goal. He headed in a Rhys Armstrong corner in the second minute of stoppage time after Edinburgh Uni had gone ahead in the 73rd minute with a goal from Innes Lawson.