Rangers suffer another defeat

ANOTHER league defeat for Rangers, and more particularly the nature of that reverse, must surely set the alarm bells ringing at Duncansfield.

They were never in the hunt in this match after going behind to lowly Dalry. Their football was pretty, but totally without any punch, and the homesters' no nonense style brought them the victory.

The match kicked off some fifteen minutes behind schedule when the ref and his assistants turned up in Troon instead of Dalry. But they eventually made it – it might have been better for Rangers if he had stayed there.

There was not much to choose between the sides early on. However, Rangers were showing the more attractive outfield play, although it was producing precious few scoring chances.

Dalry gave an early indication of what was to come when a shot found Dukes unprepared, but it hit his body and bounced clear. A little later he pulled off a fine save from an O'Malley drive.

With 20 minutes on the clock Dalry replaced Cameron with McCormack when the defender took a bad knock to his leg. A couple of minutes later a great free-kick by the appropriately named Cannon came off the base of Dukes' right-hand post on its way to the net. Rangers replied with a spell of pressure but still little was coming of it and Dalry went in just worthy of their half-time lead.

Rangers were still having most of the possession and looked good up to the 18-yard mark, but in truth the Dalry keeper had never been seriously troubled so far.

Both sides made changes, D. Waters replacing McJimsey and Dalry had yet another booking.

Then came the incident that decided the outcome of the game. A powerful shot into the Rangers penalty area hit Marc Murray at very short range and he had absolutely no chance of avoiding it. The referee immediately produced a red card and pointed to the spot. There may have been hand or arm contact with the ball but it could not possibly have been intentional, which is the test for award of a penalty. Despite Rangers' protests the award stood and Stewart put it away to more or less end the contest.

Although down to ten men the final period was probably Rangers' best spell of the match. If they had played with the same urgency throughout it may have been a very different story but more commitment is needed if they are to pull away from their present position.

KILSYTH: Dukes, Scott, Carr, Murray, Tough, Neville, Kelly, McPeake, Zok, McJimsey, Martin. Subs: D. Waters, Dalrymple, Williamson, L. Waters, O'Boyle.

DALRY: Rankin, Hay, Freikin, Stewart, Cameron, Potter, O'Malley, McKnight, Sanderson, Cannon, Bell. Subs: Brown, Hamilton, Menzies, Smythe, McCormack.

This Saturday, Rangers play host to Ashfield Juniors. Kick-off at Duncansfield is 2 p.m.