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Good Luck to the Youths in the Youth Cup quarter final at Ibrox today


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U20: Rangers 2-0 Dunfermline

 

 

 

RANGERS are into the last four of the SFA Youth Cup after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic in the quarter-finals at Ibrox.

 

Second-half goals from Jamie Burrows and Ryan Hardie were enough to separate the sides on an afternoon the Light Blues merited their success but had to scrap for it.

 

That means Gordon Durie’s men remain on course to claim the trophy for the first time since a 3-1 derby victory over Celtic at Hampden Park in 2008.

 

With a bid for the SPFL Under-20 title still going strong too, the final few weeks of the season have plenty of potential for the Auchenhowie youngsters.

 

This certainly wasn’t one of the better performances Durie’s men have given in the last few weeks against a side they had beaten narrowly on two occasions already this term.

 

Nevertheless, just winning was the biggest thing on this occasions and along with 10 victories in succession now, the team has gone 15 games unbeaten in total.

 

The first half in particular was a slow burner, with injury time arguably more exciting than the 45 minutes which preceded it.

 

Playing on a surface which had taken a battering from the weather after yesterday’s 3-3 first-team draw with Stenhousemuir, that was a factor in the uneventful start.

 

Andy Murdoch and Tom Walsh both missed the match through injuries while Darren Ramsay called off unwell before kick-off.

 

But with Ally McCoist, his assistant Kenny McDowall, Ian Durrant and chief executive Graham Wallace all looking on, it was expected the hosts would still press forward early.

 

Instead it was the Pars who had the first opening, albeit from distance as centre-half Lewis Martin drove over from at least 35 yards.

 

Rangers eventually hit back, with Ryan Sinnamon having two shots gathered by keeper Cammy Gill and Danny Stoney’s fierce drive then being held too.

 

Calum Gallagher tried his luck as well after dispossessing Declan O’Kane but his attempt was always rising over the upright.

 

And although Craig Halkett put the ball in the net with a looping header, he had been penalised first for a barge in the box.

 

It was only as the interval approached that Gers found their rhythm and looked like edging ahead of their opponents.

 

First Luca Gasparotto had a header cleared off the line from Charlie Telfer’s corner and Halkett’s rebound was then diverted behind when it seemed set to drop in.

 

Another Stoney shot piledriver from outside the area after patient build-up play from Dylan Dykes and Telfer saw Gill react brilliantly to tip wide.

 

Seconds before the whistle, another Halkett opportunity was then hacked away when it might have beaten the keeper otherwise.

 

Dunfermline began the second period far better than they finished the first, with Liam Kelly needing to get down well to deny Ross Drummond after his mazy run on the left.

 

Finn Graham also curled over as the Fifers had a period of sustained pressure for the first time in the match.

 

Burrows nearly responded with a goal as he broke clear but having got away from his marker, the striker’s effort was smothered by Gill.

 

The Jersey-born forward then got in the way soon after as Dykes’ shot clipped his back and spun away from the target to ensure the hour mark passed without any goals.

 

Rangers were settling again and Gallagher managed to make space for himself and shoot, only for his attempt to deflect wide.

 

Telfer had a go from 25 yards too and the long-range specialist drew a smart save from Gill as he pawed away for a corner.

 

A goal was certainly coming though and finally, midway through the second half, the Light Blues made a deserved breakthrough at last.

 

Even then they were denied initially as Halkett’s header from Telfer’s corner was nodded off the line at the far post.

 

In the scramble that followed, Gasparotto tried to put the loose ball in but failed as did Greg Pascazio, before Burrows forced over the line on the turn.

 

Going ahead was such a big moment but it was almost undone straight away as Dunfermline rampaged back upfield and had a low drive just touched away for a corner and no more.

 

Normal service quickly resumed, with a strong Halkett header kept out as Gers tried to kill the contest with a second goal.

 

It took until the dying seconds for it to come as lethal attacker Ryan Hardie – on as a substitute – broke the offside trap to beat Gill.

 

The final result means Rangers march on and their tails will undoubtedly be up as they remain favourites to win the trophy for a sixth time.

 

RANGERS: Kelly; Pascazio, Halkett, Gasparotto, Sinnamon; Burrows (Hardie 73), Dykes (Roberts 89), Gibson, Telfer, Stoney; Gallagher.

 

SUBS NOT USED: McCrorie, Hammill, Ogen.

 

http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/item/6384-u20-rangers-2-0-dunfermline

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