Young Guns Progress In Cup

[Beattie 0]

RANGERS are through the semi-finals of the Scottish Youth Cup after John Fleck's goal gave them a 1-0 win over Hearts at Riccarton today.

 

The 16-year-old's strike after an hour means Billy Kirkwood's Light Blues have reached the last four having scored 24 goals and conceded none in their defence of the trophy.

 

It was a hard-fought encounter in Edinburgh and after an entertaining 4-2 Gers win against the Jambos at the weekend, defences were on top on this occasion.

 

The visitors could have gone ahead as early as the second minute, when Steven Kinniburgh's cross hit the bar.

 

Andrew Shinnie also had three good opportunities for Kirkwood's kids before the break but couldn't find a way past the home side's 14-year-old goalkeeper Shaun Thomson.

 

It wasn't until after the interval that Rangers broke the deadlock and within minutes of Andrew Little's introduction as a substitute they went ahead.

 

Giorgos Efrem crossed low from the left and Fleck took a touch before sliding the ball inside the keeper's post to give them an advantage.

 

Hearts tried to hit back and stuck the woodwork themselves through striker Gary Glen as they pushed for an equaliser.

 

The Gorgie side couldn't level though and Gers now progress to the semis, with their tie against yet-to-be-determined opponents due to be played on March 30.

 

RANGERS: Gallacher, McLachlan, Kinniburgh, Wilson, Harvey, Stirling, Kindbendiksen, Shinnie, Bagci (Little 55), Fleck, Efrem.

 

Everything looking promising. Not conceding a goal yet having scored 24 is a wonderful record.

[Wija 0]

The wee gers are doing the club proud.

 

Excellent scoring/clean sheet record.... hope the 1st team can do that over our next 8 games - would be happy with that

[pete 2,499]

The wee gers are doing the club proud.

 

Excellent scoring/clean sheet record.... hope the 1st team can do that over our next 8 games - would be happy with that

 

Make it 12 games and we will probably have the Treble.