Rangers Res 3-0 Ayr Utd Res

[Rangers Football Club 0]

FRAN SANDAZA and Kane Hemmings both staked claims for striking slots in Ally McCoistâ??s first team as Rangers earned their first SFL Reserve League Cup win against Ayr.

 

The forwards scored three goals between them in the first half of this tie at Murray Park, with the Spaniard having another disallowed which would have given him a hat-trick.

Although there were no more after the restart, the hard work had been done with the attacking pair making a major contribution and the final 3-0 scorelines was certainly deserved.

Having come back to draw 3-3 with Queen of the South in their opening West Section game last week, Gers are now making their mark in the eight-team group.

Boss Tommy Wilson was severely restricted when selecting his side eight days ago due to the fact the senior side was facing Stirling that night.

This time there were no such problems and the likes of Barrie McKay, Fraser Aird, Robbie Crawford and Sebastien Faure also featured in a straightforward victory.

Rangers had gone 4-0 up after just 16 minutes when these sides met in the Reserve League at Auchenhowie back in October.

That game had ended 7-2 to the hosts in the end and Ayr were clearly keen to avoid a repeat of that.

They began much brighter this time and restricted the Light Blues early on, with Kane Hemmings having the only real chance but screwing well wide of the near post.

Wilsonâ??s men settled though and it took a late tackle to stop Hemmings when he poured forward again before Crawfordâ??s stinging shot was held by keeper William Muir.

The opener wasnâ??t far away though and after 20 minutes it was the reigning second-string champions who got it.

Sandaza did well to dispossess defender Darren Brownlie and charged down the right channel before playing inside to Hemmings.

His shot was again blocked but the rebound spun up in the air and he won the loose ball ahead of Muir.

As it fell in front of goal, the chances are it would have gone in anyway before anyone could have cleared but Sandaza made sure by getting there first and tapping in.

The former St Johnstone hitman thought he had made it 2-0 before the break after teaming up well with Hemmings once again.

But following a thunderous finish from the ex-Tamworth hitmanâ??s cross, he turned to see the offside flag up and his effort didnâ??t stand.

It wasnâ??t long before Sandaza did bag his second though and he doubled the advantage 10 minutes before the interval as he showed good feet and composure to finish well.

Captain Andy Mitchell went close to a third shortly before the break with a firm drive but this time Muir held.

There was little respite though as Hemmings got in on the act instead right on the stroke of half-time with a tap in after great running from Sandaza.

He did really well initially to burst clear from two men but was crowded out as he surged into the box and it seemed any opportunity to score was gone.

Sandaza persevered though and with the away defence in a tangle, he found space to square for Hemmings who had an open goal in front of him and he couldnâ??t miss.

That made the second period a virtual formality but Aird almost got in on the act with a dipping attempt from 25 yards.

Muir also saved well from Hemmings when he burst in on goal then got his hands to a flicked header from Sandaza.

Luca Gasparotto was unfortunate to see his header go wide as Rangers continued to press â?? albeit without the same urgency â?? in the closing stages.

And Crawford saw three attempts miss the target as the home team tried but failed to add to a lead it never looked like losing.

RANGERS: Gallacher; Mitchell, Gasparotto, Faure, Clarke; McKay, Crawford, Murdoch, Aird; Hemmings, Sandaza.

SUBS: Smith, Halkett, Burrows, Telfer.

AYR: Muir, Hunter, Longridge, Murdoch, Brownlie, Wyllie, McCulloch, Esplin, McNeil, Roberts, Marenghi.

SUBS: Shankland, Nisbet, Wardrope, Slooves.*

 

 

 

 

Read more on the official site...

[der Berliner 3,247]

Didn't we agree not to post full articles from the club's official site ... so it gets clicks and revenue?

[Zappa 0]

Didn't we agree not to post full articles from the club's official site ... so it gets clicks and revenue?

 

This is the official site's RSS feed.

[bluedan 93]

Can anyone tell me why on the official Gers twitter the were calling our reserves #Swifts?

Where on earth has that come from?

[ian1964 10,416]

Can anyone tell me why on the official Gers twitter the were calling our reserves #Swifts?

Where on earth has that come from?

 

http://www.therangersarchive.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=127

[bluedan 93]

http://www.therangersarchive.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=127

 

Thanks Ian. I'm amazed that in my 20 something years of supporting Rangers I never knew this. There you go.

[ian1964 10,416]

Thanks Ian. I'm amazed that in my 20 something years of supporting Rangers I never knew this. There you go.

 

Every day is a school day!,only for the wise person!

[pete 2,499]

I always thought the swifts played in light blue vertical stripes in the 70's. I can remember watching them and there was about 2000 supporters in they days I am sure.