In the first notable action of the game only a stunning Grant Adam save prevented Hibs taking the lead. David Love's cross from the left was met by the head of Fergus Bell, the ball looked net bound but Adam at full stretch tipped over. Five minutes later Jamie Ness had a chance when Calum Burns failed to clear but his effort looped over the bar.
On the 20 minute mark Hibs appeared to have strong claims for a penalty when Lewis Horner looked to have been caught by Scott Durie's challenge, it looked harsh when the referee deemed it a dive and cautioned the Hibs player. Two minutes later at the other end Kane Hemmings had an incredible miss. He chased down a pass back and charged down Paul Grant's attempted clearance. It left him with a simple task of walking the ball in to the empty net but he elected to shoot first time and knocked the ball wide.
The visitors then replied with a long range effort from Scott Taggart but it was straight at Adam and he saved comfortably. Just after the half hour Dylan McGeough won the ball in midfield and sent Hemmings clear on the left, the ball was then played inside to Archie Campbell who's shot was saved by Grant.
Rangers then had a couple of half chances in the minutes leading up to half time. Kamil Wiktorski played the ball forward to Campbell, he turned the defender at the edge of the box but Grant dealt with his strike easily. Then Wylde, Wiktorski and Hemmings combined on the left to give Jamie Ness a chance, but his attempted chip landed on the top of the net.
Half Time :- Rangers 0 Hibs 0
Six minutes after the break a Jamie Ness through ball gave Archie Campbell a great chance, he advanced in to the box but keeper Grant blocked his shot with his foot. A short time later Hemmings set up substitute Gordon Dick on the right hand side of the box, with options in the centre he shot into the side netting.
Rangers were now creating chances and just after the hour Campbell made progress on the left, his cut back finding Dick around the penalty spot and his tried to pick his spot only to be denied by the legs of keeper Grant. The goal was only delayed and on 67 minutes Kane Hemmings broke the deadlock with a brilliant individual goal. He won the ball on the halfway line and set off towards the Hibs box, his run took him past two defenders and with support either side he carried on and shot past Grant from the edge of the box.
Almost immediately Grant Adam had to look smart to save at the feet of Love at the other end. In the last twenty minutes neither keeper was troubled and Rangers held on for a good three points in their first competitive game for a month.
Full Time:- Rangers 1 Hibs 0
Rangers :- Grant Adam; Darren Cole, Chris Scott, Scott Durie, Gregg Wylde; Rhys McCabe (Gordon Dick 46mins), Kamil Wiktorski, Dylan McGeough (Kyle Hendry 81mins), Jamie Ness; Archie Campbell, Kane Hemmings.
Not Used:- Mark Weir, Christiano Kisuka, Ewan McNeill, Steven Forbes
Hibs:- Paul Grant; Calum Burns, Aaron Chalmers, Scott Smith, Callum Booth; Lewis Horner (Keith Murray 74mins), Scott Taggart, Tom McCready, Matthew Welsh (Mark Lancaster 74mins); Fergus Bell, David Love (Jon Wright 81mins).
Not Used:- Lewis Graham, Sturt Beveridge, David Crawford
MANY THANKS FOR REPRODUCTION OF THIS ARTICLE TO ELFIDELIO AT http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/