U19 League - Rangers 4-2 Falkirk

Last updated : 04 March 2006 By Iain McKee
The weather had decimated the SPL Under 19 Youth League and this was the only match to get the go ahead as the rest of the matches scheduled for this weekend were postponed.

The two sides started brightly as the play was open and attacking, though it was the visitors who had the better chances in the opening quarter of an hour as they pressured Rangers at the back to create openings and put the home defence under pressure.

Rangers gradualy got the better of the match and Jason Crooks found himself in the clear on 16 minutes, although some 25 yards out his goal bound shot beat Andrews but wasn't strong enough to go the distance and was cleared as the ball reached the penalty spot by Scott Arfield.

It was only 2 minutes later when Dany N'Guessan broke from the halfway line and glided past 3 tackles to make his way towards goal but his shot from 20 yards soared well over.

It took 27 minute to break the deadlock and the opening goal came from Jason Crooks as he found himself with space in the box to simply side foot his shot past Andrews into the corner of the net and put Rangers one up.

Crooks had the chance to double the lead two minutes after the goal when he was played in by the impressive Moses Ashikodi but this time Andrews saved well.

Rangers kept up the pressure on Falkirk as the first half wore on and Brian Gilmour tested Andrews with a powerful 35 yard drive which the Falkirk keeper did well to turn round the post.

As the first half drew to a close it was the turn of Ashikodi to threaten as his shot came off the crossbar a minute from the interval.

The second half was only a minute old when the match turned on its head, the Young Bairns came out with all guns blazing and following a free kick into the home penalty box the ball came straight out to Craig Donaldson who leathered the ball on the volley and his shot flew past Reidford for the equaliser.

Rangers were further shocked on 53 minutes when Brian Allison played a defence splitting pass from the right wing through to Graeme Churchill who had acres of space and was able to move in on Reidford, compose himself, and then calmly slot the ball home to put Falkirk into the lead.

As the match progressed it wasn't looking too good for the Young Gers but on 59 minutes Sam Woods came on to replace Jason Crooks and put pressure on Falkirk down the left flank. The change in tactics worked and after only being on the park for three minutes Woods crossed the ball for Ashikodi to head home, bringing the match level again.

This inspired Rangers as they sensed the match was there for the taking and 5 minutes later Ashikodi chested the ball down to Brian Gilmour who twisted and volleyed a powerful, and spectacular, shot passed Andrews from 20 yards out and put Rangers back in front.

By this time Rangers were playing some excellent football and forcing Falkirk back and on 81 minutes it was Sam Woods who again provided the ball in from the left wing for Paul Emslie to deftly touch the ball past the despairing Andrews and put the match beyond Falkirk.

As the match drew to a close Rangers never relented coming forward and in the last 2 minutes they could have went nap as first Dany N'Guessan got on the end of some particularly good passing and build up play but his chip over Andrews went narrowly over the bar as well.

John Johnston then got in on the act and tried chipping Andrews from some 40 yards when he spotted the keeper off his line, but again the ball just sailed over the wrong side of the bar.

Sam Woods then decided to have a go and drifted in from the left but his low drive was saved by the boot of Andrews and from the resultant corner kick Ross Perrys header went narrowly wide.

It had been a highly entertaining match for the watching 43 spectators and both sides deserved great credit in serving up a cracker of a match, played in a good spirit with no bookings.



RANGERS; Reidford, McLachlan, Ure, McMillan, Perry, Emslie, Johnston, Gilmour, Ashikodi (Hadden 85), Crooks(Woods 59), N'Guessan



FALKIRK; Andrews, Arfield, Johnston (Churchill), Mauchline, Allison, Scobie, Boyd, Robertson, Donaldson, Stewart, Moffat.