Scorers:
Carlo Santi 8
Tom Brighton 20, Ross McCormack 29, Charlie Adam 55, Darryl Duffy 59
The Rangers Youths pointed the way ahead for the first team with a fine if unspectacular victory over Livy despite going 1-0 behind after only 8 minutes. Rangers' management duo Alex McLeish and Andy Watson watched the first half before boarding the bus for Almondvale.
The impressive Livy striker Carlo Santi scored a marvellous goal in the 8th minute when he calmly gathered the ball and shot in low from just outside the box.
Rangers almost equalised from the restart when Charlie Adam volleyed a shot just past the left hand corner. Gary McKenzie was booked in the 18th minute for use of the elbow when contesting a high ball.
With 20 minutes on the clock Rangers equalised with a marvelously worked goal. Ross McCormack (who scored against Northern Ireland in the U17 international on Monday) placed a pass up the right wing to Darryl Duffy who carried it at pace before firing in a pass which Tom Brighton smashed into the net.
Rangers went further ahead in the 29th minute - Charlie Adams took the corner out on the left - Gary McKenzie got the merest flick and Ross McCormack neatly headed the ball into the net.
Shortly before Darryl Duffy sent a flying header just past the post as a result on another Charlie Adams cross.
Rangers were in control of the game for long periods denying Livy much of the ball. In the 33rd Tom Brighton showed all his skills in the bottom left-hand corner. He dribbled his way in from the byline jinking past four defenders and letting off a powerful shot which the Livy keeper saved spectacularly at full stretch.
In the final five minutes of the half Livy came back into the game - in the 4th Gary McKenzie made an untypical mistake, his foot came down on top of the ball and he lost control of it, a Livy player stepped in and shot but Fraser Coyle cleared off the line.
Livy gained a corner but showing great confidence Rangers keeper Callum Redford came right off his line and attacked the ball punching it well clear.
The half ended with Darryl Duffy skying a ball in front of goal. The move was acted out at tremendous pace from the half-way line to the byline. Tom Brighton started it off before Graham Dale cut the ball back for
Duffy¹s chance.
HT - 1-2
Charlie Adam extended Rangers lead ten minutes into the second half with a shot from the edge of the box. Rangers finished the game off just before the hour with a headed gaol from Darryl Duffy. Daniel Fortunato took a free kick close to the corner flag on the left hand side. Alan Hutton headed the back ball across goal and Duffy steamed in to head the goal.
Scorer Duffy was substituted in the 75th giving the crowd a chance to see Australian Ben Stevens in action.
The game ended on an unhappy note when Gers' keeper Alan Hutton was injured just before the final whistle. Alan Hutton shielded the ball but a Livy striker got in front of him and contested the ball with Hutton who appeared to receive studs in the groin. Fortunately he was able to leave the field unaided.
RANGERS - Callum Redford, Alan Hutton, Fraser Coyle, Daniel Fortunato, Gary McKenzie (Stevie Campbell 45), Brian McLean, Ross McCormack (Sandy Gebbie 61), Charlie Adam, Darryl Duffy, Graham Dale, Tom Brighton.