Rangers remain in prime position for the SPL Under-19
title following a narrow but deserved 2-1 win over
Partick Thistle at Auchenhowie on Wednesday evening.
In a game that was ruined by a ferocious wind, it took
an injury time winner from Bajram Fetai to secure the
priceless points for the Light Blues.
The game was very much a top v bottom affair, but it
was the conditions that were the leveller.
Rangers had the elements in their favour in the
first-half, but in truth failed to adapt to the
prevailing conditions, sticking to their close-passing
game in an attempt to open up a tight defence.
The home side were presented with a golden opportunity
to open the scoring in 22 minutes when Jonathon Carter
toppled Ross McCormack inside the area. McCormack
himself took the spot-kick, but his effort was weak
and saved by ‘Jags’ goalkeeper Kevin Montgomery.
With the interval fast approaching a superb solo run
by Bajram Fetai carved open the Thistle defence, and
the Danish Under-21 International slotted the ball
home in 42 minutes.
Any notion that Rangers could now go on to a
comfortable win dissipated all of 33 seconds into the
second-half when Andy Rennie – with the wind at his
back – unleashed a ferocious thirty-yard drive that
gave Lee Robinson not an earthly.
The remainder of the game took place in Thistle’s half
as the League Leaders pressed relentlessly for the
winner. Several times Montgomery defied Rangers with
fine saves, but the antics of some of his teammates
angered the spectators.
Time after time the visitors resorted to time wasting,
aided by incompetent refereeing. One Thistle player in
particular collapsed at least six times during the
closing stages, much to the ire of the ‘Gers fans
present. Needless to say he was able to resume play
immediately afterwards.
With time fast running out the loss of two vital
points looked inevitable despite intense home
pressure, but in the 93rd minute, just when all seemed
lost, a Graeme Watson lob found Bajram Fetai whose
chip left the advancing goalkeeper stranded.
Three more minutes of injury time had to be endured
before the final whistle confirmed 2-1 Rangers win,
thus maintaining their three-point advantage over
Celtic and Hearts in the title race with just two
games left.
Team: Robinson; Jacmot, Coyle; Watson, McKenzie, Dick
(McMillan 45); Gilmour (Johnston 79), McCormack
(Fraser 57), Davidson, Adam, Fetai
Unused Subs: Reidford, Agnew