TUESDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2013 14:45 U20: Rangers 5-0 Falkirk WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON U20: Rangers 5-0 Falkirk RANGERS recorded their first win in four SPFL Under-20 League games as they got their title bid back on track with a 5-0 win over Falkirk. Danny Stoney’s second hat-trick in nine days and late strikes from Dylan Dykes and Calum Gallagher gave the hosts a convincing victory at Murray Park against the plucky Bairns. This was one of three games in hand Gordon Durie’s team had over leaders Inverness and Gers gave a workmanlike show as they earned their fourth victory of the competition and biggest so far. Having bagged a treble against Dumbarton in the SFA Youth Cup last Sunday, it was Stoney who stole the show again as he repeated the feat in front of watching manager Ally McCoist. As a result, the Light Blues leapfrog Aberdeen and St Johnstone to go seventh in the standings and they’re only six points off Caley Jags now with two extra fixtures to fulfil. The first half was one in which Rangers started slowly but grew into it as it wore on and took a lead moments before half-time which they just about merited. Indeed, it was the Bairns who were far brighter from the outset and Liam Kelly had to get across goal sharply to save from away forward Phil Roberts. The away side’s trialist midfielder also had a fierce shot saved well by the Gers keeper after Roberts had combined with Thomas Grant to set him up. Durie’s team finally came back and Stoney put an effort just past from Craig Halkett’s cross before Tom Walsh saw his drive smothered by visiting goalie Graham Bowman. Falkirk were generally more purposeful when they came upfield at first and they looked dangerous on the attack. By and large, however, their end product wasn’t great and Luke Leahy headed well wide with the goal gaping. That was the home team’s cue to crank up the pressure and Halkett went as close as anyone yet with a strong header from a Walsh free kick on the left which smacked off the bar. Winger Walsh then appeared to hit the outside of the post with a corner before the ball fell behind and he set up Darren Ramsay as well but his shot was off target. Finally a breakthrough was made with 44 minutes on the clock and it was a classic counter attack at a time when it seemed the Championship side might be about to edge in front. A long clearance from defence released Stoney and he showed good upper body strength to hold off Kyle Turnbull. In turn, that allowed him to burst into the area and with only Bowman to beat, he lifted a composed effort over the advancing keeper to make it 1-0. Rangers picked up from where they left off after the restart, with Walsh darting into the box and drawing another good save from a tight angle. Ramsay also curled just beyond the far post after some intelligent footwork from Halkett to tee him up on the right flank. Stoney hadn’t been terribly involved in the game prior to his opening goal and it was the same in the second half until he burst into life to double the advantage. The young striker did well to break the offside trap and rounded Bowman but took the ball quite far wide in the process. With a lot to do, it seemed he’d have to go for power and shoot low but instead lifted a clever chip back over the keeper into the far corner and his attempt sneaked inside the far post. Stoney was really in the mood now and Bowman had to dive low to his right to prevent his hat-trick. It was only a matter of time though before the attacker ensured he’d keep the match ball and when he made it 3-0 he did so with the goal of the game. Again he rounded Bowman after a lovely weighted pass from Charlie Telfer but this time he took the ball left of the upright and much wider than before. That only meant Stoney’s finish was more spectacular though and when he took possession again he lashed a stunning 15-yard yard effort into the top corner of the net. With victory assured, the 17-year-old was afforded the luxury of having the last 11 minutes off as he was substituted for Jamie Mills. And Stoneys replacement made an instant impact as he hit the touchline and cut back to Dykes, who calmly placed the ball into the net from close range. There was one more goal to come and it was Gallagher who got it. Andy Murdoch slipped him in and his clinical finish rounded off a powerful second-half performance from Rangers and a good afternoons work. RANGERS: Kelly; Halkett, Pascazio, Gibson, Sinnamon; Murdoch; Ramsay (Gallagher 62), Dykes, Telfer, Walsh; Stoney (Mills 79). SUBS NOT USED: Stewart, Wilson. rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/item/5396-u20-rangers-5-0-falkirk
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 15:32:04 +0000
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