U19s v Rangers

SPL U19 League. Pars lose out to goals from two corners

MATCH PICTURES
The Dunfermline U19s faced Rangers at Murray Park on Saturday morning

The visitors made an encouraging start showing an early intent to take the game to Rangers. Nevertheless it was the Pars keeper Steven Mayne who was in first serious action to hold a cross in from the right by Darren Ramsay.

For the Pars, Ross Drummond tested keeper Alan Smith at the other end before Rangers played themselves into the game. Dunfermline still had chances and from a 19th minute Shaun Byrne free kick Blair Henderson just failed to get enough on his header from the well flighted delivery. Jamie Burrows then got the better of the Pars defence, sending Barrie McKay in on the right side but Jordan Brown made a telling cut out to block the strikers shot.

Blair Henderson made a strong run from inside his own half that he finished with a shot on target but Smith held at his left hand post. Next minute, however, Rangers took the lead when a corner from the right was stuck past Mayne at his far post by Josh ROBINSON. 1-0

The Gers then had two further good opportunities to extend their lead. Lewis Macleod sped in from the right and forced a save out of Mayne then in 35 minutes McKay powered a good chance over the bar. The Pars won their first corner of the game and kept the pressure up with another but failed to trouble the Rangers defence and it took a good save from Mayne at the other end to keep the deficit to just one goal at the interval.

Half time: Rangers 1 Dunfermline 0

The home side threatened again early in the first half. In the first minute Burrows turned Grant Munro on the right side of the box and crashed a shot narrowly high and wide of the target. Then in 52 minutes Crawford drove at goal only for his shot to be deflected behind.

In 55 minutes Dunfermline created a good chance after Drummond swung over a cross that Henderson headed on for Byrne to test the keeper. Dunfermline began to look more comfortable on the ball and forced several corners. Rangers continued to look dangerous on the break and it took a fine Munro recovery to prevent Macleod`s pass to Burrows letting Rangers in again.

Macleod drove a shot at Mayne from 20 yards and then minutes later was on the end of an Aird cross. He smashed the ball on target from eight yards but Mayne made a fantastic save. It was then Dunfermline`s chance to hit on the break, Andy Ritche picked out Allan Smith on the left where he got the better of Gafaiti and Crawford to switch the ball right for Chris Hackland who returned a dangerous cross into the Rangers six yard box but keeper Smith palmed away. Pressure was maintained with the Pars striker Smith rocketing a good opportunity over the bar.

Dunfermline were to lose a second goal just 11 minutes from time when a Matty Clarke corner from the right was met by BURROWS to beat the keeper at his near post. The only chance of a consolation goal fell to substitute Fraser Moncrieff in 85th minute but yet again the effort went high.

It was a good performance from Hamish French`s team but Rangers had the greater number of chances during the game. Had Dunfermline created more from their good periods of possession in the second half then they might have taken something from the game.