MATCH REPORT | GERS DEFEAT YOUNG TERRORS DESPITE POSITIVE DISPLAY IN GLASGOW

RANGERS 4
DUNDEE UNITED 0
CAS UNDER-18S ELITE LEAGUE
19:30 FRIDAY 3RD FEBRUARY
RANGERS TRAINING CENTRE

After missing out on a place in the last four of the Scottish FA Youth Cup last Friday, the Young Terrors were looking to rebound quickly as they faced Rangers at Auchenhowie. 

A set-piece masterclass from Tyler Pasnik was the difference between the sides at Gussie Park back in October, as the Gers midfielder bagged a hat-trick in a 4-1 win.

Line-Up

Ryan Moon named an unchanged side to take on Cameron Campbell’s men but utilised a slightly different 5-4-1 system. This saw Scott Constable drop into right centre-half alongside Greg Petrie and Arron Donald, with Sean Borland and Ollie Simpson slotting into wingback on the right and left respectively.
 
Last week’s standout performer, Jamie McCabe, was forced into action just 13 seconds into the first-half, as he got down sharply to deny Pasnik at his near post.

Tactical Tweak 

United’s new shape seemed to offer additional protection in the middle third, with Rangers finding themselves frustrated on numerous occasions when trying to play vertical balls down the centre. Keir Bertie and Craig Moore turned over possession numerous times in the opening stages, whilst wingbacks Simpson and Borland were sharp to close down their opposite numbers in the wider regions.
 
On the counter, the visitors looked dangerous. Bryan Mwangi picked a fantastic, line-breaking pass to find Moore advancing towards the area unmarked, before the skipper sent a vicious ball across the area. Stuart Heenan looked to collect on the swivel but the power on the cross proved too difficult to tame, much to the chagrin of Adam Carnwath in splendid isolation at the back post.
 
A lapse in concentration allowed Rangers to create an overload from a quick free-kick, with the ball sharply being zipped to Findlay Curtis on the left. The-16-year old picked out Joshua Gentles’ late burst into the area who steered a well-struck, first-time effort over the crossbar.
 
Greig Allen tried his luck from range with a fizzed strike from range which McCabe gathered at the second attempt, then Carnwath retaliated with a long-distance effort after cutting in from the left which was a relatively comfortable save for the hosts’ Northern Irish stopper Mason Munn.

Familiar Foe

Pasnik’s eye for a dead ball wreaked havoc in the reverse fixture, and once again this would be the source of a Rangers goal against United. The number ten whipped a delicious front-post delivery onto the head of Leyton Grant who glanced home from point-blank range, giving the Glasgow outfit the lead at the mid-way point of the half.
 
Rangers continued to be wasteful in possession allowing the visitors to counter on numerous occasions through attack-minded trio Carnwath, Heenan and Mwangi, but poor decision making and lack of end product saw Mon’s men fail to punish their opponents in the first period.
 
Wide centre-midfielders Curtis and Pasnik constantly looked to run in behind the relatively high United line, however Petrie and Constable managed to marshall the mecurial duo admirably. They did combine however with four minutes until the break as Curtis sent a lofted ball over the top during a Rangers counter, setting Pasnik free to bear down on goal. The 18-year-old tried an audacious first-time chip over advancing stopper McCabe but miscued and failed to hit the target.

Sucker Punch 

Unfortunately for United, after such a disciplined performance during the first 45, Rangers threw a sucker punch just three minutes after the restart. Curtis, influential throughout, collected a bouncing ball inside the area and finished with aplomb on the turn, sending a low drive home off the inside of the post.
 
Heenan led the search for a tangerine goal after Moore had pickpocketed Keiron Willox and sent his colleague clean through on goal. The diminutive frontman checked back rather than continuing to race towards goal, allowing Kristan Webster, son of cup-winning captain Andy, to make a vital recovery challenge on the slide.

Game Over 

Campbell’s side added a third on the hour mark in spectacular fashion. Pasnik’s 22-yard free-kick cannoned back off Simpson and sat up perfectly for the strike, and he picked out the top corner with an outrageous half-volley which left McCabe helpless.
 
Rangers continued to turn the screw as Curtis and Paul Nsio went close. The former attempted a cheeky free-kick under the wall which was deflected mere inches wide of the target, then McCabe made a brilliant low stop to divert Nsio’s one-on-one onto the post.
 
With the outcome already a forgone conclusion, opportunites arose for the youngsters on the bench to get a run out, with Alan Domeracki, Zeke Cameron and Josh Holt introduced late on.
 
Number four came in stoppage time when substitute Holt, who’d made an impressive cameo, inadvertently found Nsio with his pass near the United 18-yard box. The Gers number seven squared for Christopher Eadie to knock home into the unguarded net.

Overall 

Despite being well beaten on the night by a side visibly physically superior, the Young Terrors can take a multitude of positives out of a largely positive display on the north side of Glasgow.
 
Teamlines

Rangers: Munn, Hutton, Scott, Grant, Webster, Allen, Nsio, Curtis, Gentles, Pasnik, Willox (McKay, Wylie, Munlindwa, Mandey, Roberston, Eadie, Haliwell)
 
United: McCabe, Borland, Simpson, Petrie, Donald, Constable, Bertiem Moore, Carnwath, Mwangi, Heenan (Domeracki, Haldane, Emslie, Stirton, Cameron, Holt