Rangers go through to meet Irvine in fourth

IT was the late, late show for Rangers at Darvel on Saturday.

Two goals in the last ten minutes earned them the right to meet Irvine Meadow in the fourth round of the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup, due to be played this coming week, weather permitting.

Darvel’s pitch was perfectly playable although very soft underfoot. Play was very scrappy in the opening spell, both sides showing the effects of the long lay-off.

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A well-struck free-kick from around 40 yards just on the half-hour struck the Darvel crossbar and a scramble in the goalmouth a little later yielded a corner, but little else came of all the possesion Rangers had enjoyed.

Nearing half-time Darvel were beginning to show their potential and with 40 minutes gone a fine header from McMaster was assisted into the net by a Kilsyth defender in attempting a clearance.

With wind advantage Darvel had the best of the opening part of the second half.

Rangers did start to come back into it after the first 15 minutes or so and were having the bulk of the play although still not creating very much in the way of chances. Darvel pulled off McMaster, who had been their main threat up front, and with little more than ten minutes left they replaced another forward, Dallas, leaving them with no real threat up front.

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Rangers began to push forward with much more urgency now that time was running out. It soon paid off with McAteer firing in a fine, low shot from about 25 yards.

Three minutes later Flannery got on to a forward pass in almost the same position and beat McGhee with a well struck effort. Rangers had turned the game right round and easily held out for the last few minutes to go through to the next round.

The game against Irvine Meadow kicks off at Duncansfield at 1.45pm this Saturday and should attract a good crowd for the visit of one of the cup favourites.

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