Reserves

[ian1964 10,416]

Gers Done Four

 

POOR defending was to prove costly for Rangers Reserves this afternoon as Tommy Wilson's team lost 4-3 to Motherwell at Murray Park.

 

Prior to the game both sides had taken eight points from five games and very little to separate the sides in what was an entertaining and dramatic 90 minutes.

 

A lot of graft and endeavour was put in but, in the end, it was the Steelmen that came out on top.

 

Somewhat surprisingly, fans standing in the pouring rain had to wait until after the half hour mark for the opening goal and what a cracker it was.

 

Andrew Shinnie fed the ball to Rory Loy on the edge of the 18-yard box and a quick dip of the shoulder fooled two defenders before the striker curled a delightful left foot shot beyond Motherwell keeper Steven Coutts.

 

The match flowed constantly from end to end and Rangers could only hold on to their slender advantage for six minutes.

 

A corner was fed into the six yard box and Steven Saunders jumped above Graeme Smith to head the ball off the underside of the bar.

 

Once again it fell to Motherwell's no. 4 who drilled it home from close range.

 

The Light Blues, however, were to suffer an early blow at the start of the second-half when 'Well bagged their second.

 

Ross Forbes played a through ball to Robert McHugh who should great composure to hit the net having been one-on-one with Graeme Smith.

 

Rangers fought back immediately and should have been on level terms on 58 minutes when William McLachlan swung in a brilliant cross from the right flank and Rory Loy's downward header from 10 yards bounced off the turf before being tipped over by Coutts.

 

This was a warning for the visitors but they didn't learn as Rangers bagged their second moments later with a brilliant goal.

 

Giorgos Efrem played in Aaron on the left and the Spaniard twisted and turned his marker before crossing to Fleck who headed home powerfully from six yards.

 

At this stage Rangers, who had Lee McCulloch at centre-half, looked to be in the ascendancy but, remarkably, they proceeded to let Motherewell take the lead again three minutes later.

 

A cross came into the Gers' box and when Graeme Smith flapped at the ball it hit off the head of Saunders and finished up in the net.

 

How much the defender knew about the goal is up for debate but the fact it was disappointing defending was not in doubt.

 

With ten minutes remaining Rangers set up a pulsating end to the game by scoring a third, this time through Aaron.

 

The winger cut inside into the box and received the ball before toe poking the ball past Coutts at his near post.

 

Another goal always looked on the cards but the big question was which team would net the winner?

 

Unfortunately it was Motherwell that made the most of poor marking again and when the ball fell to Marc Fitpatrick the midfielder slammed the ball past Smith to seal the points for his side.

 

Tommy Wilson was understandably disappointed his players did not take anything from the match.

 

He said: "I though we deserved at least a draw today but our defending let us down at times and Motherwell made us pay.

 

"All the goals we lost could have been avoided which is frustrating.

 

"But on the plus side I though some of our play at times was excellent but when you defend the way we did today that makes life very difficult."

 

RANGERS: Smith; McLachlan, McCulloch, McMillan, Kinniburgh; Aaron, Shinnie, Fleck, Efrem; Loy (Scott 70), Campbell (Hutton 55)