SPL Youth League - Rangers 2-0 Dundee United - Ibrox Stadium - Friday 6th April 2007

Last updated : 09 April 2007 By IAIN McKEE


In one of the most one sided matches this season Rangers showed their determination to regain top spot in the League as United were pinned back for virtually the whole match.

Stevie Lennon stole the show with his two goals but the overall contribution from everyone in a Light Blue jersey would have proved eye opening for those in the crowd watching the Youth side for the first time this season.

Lennon showed his intention in the 17th minute with a dipping free kick from the edge of the box, but the effort went just over dipping finally too late as it went over the bar. 4 minutes later Andy Shinnie had a try from 20 yards but this time his effort went just wide. After a disputed free kick appeal Lennon found himself in the referees notebook following a dissenting remark but responded a minute later when he burst into the box but his shot from an angle went past both Gibson and the post.

With Rangers hammering away at United John Fleck was played through but his touch let him down as the ball broke just too far in front on the striker and Gibson raced out to bravely clear the danger.

With just 2 minutes before half time it looked like the deadlock might be finally broken when a clearance from a free kick found Chris Smith who cleverly lobbed the ball back into the box where it found Jordan McMillan in the clear only for his attempt to beat Gibson and the post again.

Just 2 minutes into the second half saw Chris Smith, who was immense in the air all day, rise above the defence from a corner but his powerful header crashed off the bar.

Surprisingly the match was still deadlocked into the 50th minute when a free kick from United was swung into the box where it was met powerfully and directed straight for goal when the almost redundant Scott Gallacher dived instinctively to his right to pull of a wonder save and deny United what was to be their only serious chance of the match.

6 minutes later John Fleck played Stevie Lennon in the clear with only Gibson to beat but as the ball floated over the keeper the West Enclosure rose to acclaim the goal, however, yet again the ball failed to enter the net as it went agonisingly wide.

It took 66 minutes before the opening goal did arrive, as the Tannadice side failed to clear their lines the ball broke loose in the box it finally fell kindly to Lennon whose powerful low drive went straight into the goal.

Soon after John Fleck tried his luck with a free kick after Furman was brought down just outside the box but the Under 16 Internationalists shot went narrowly past.

With just 15 minutes to go disaster struck when Fleck went for a ball with United's O'Byrne, as the ball eluded both players Fleck continued with his challenge and went straight through the centre half, referee John McCrossan immediately reached for the red card and Fleck received his marching orders.

Just as it looked like the visitors might now get into the match Stevie Lennon chased a ball back to Gibson, as a defender and the keeper hesitated, Lennon prodded the ball forward past Gibson and it ran into the net from the corner of the box to put Rangers 2 up in 78 minutes.

The disadvantage of playing out the last quarter of an hour a man short still didn't hinder the home side and the numbers were to be levelled 10 minutes from time when Mick O'Byrne brought down Lennon on the edge of the box as the forward dribbled his way through the defence. The big centre half had already been booked for dissent and as the referee showed him another yellow he was off the pitch after the accompanying red.

It was an accomplished afternoons work for the home side and a very satisfied support left Ibrox Stadium a lot more happier after a look at the potential coming through.

The Teams

RANGERS - Gallacher, Lowing, Kinniburgh, Perry, Smith, McMillan (Djeziri 53), McLachlan (Ness 89), Shinnie, Lennon (Campbell 84), Fleck, Furman,

Subs Not Used - Sagar, Harvey, Donald, Little

DUNDEE UNITED - Gibson, McMeechan, Pope, McGrath, O'Byrne, Mathieson, Milligan, McCord, Feeney, Jeffrey, Peterson

Subs - Cannon, Allan, McLeod, Pow, Brophy, Colgan, Smith