Rangers too much for Lanark

D&D Magazine Central League Cup, first round

THIS was an excellent result for Rangers against Premier League opposition, maintaining their recent run of good form and giving them a home tie against Ashfield in the second round. Again a very good team performance with Paddy Flannery getting a brace of goals to add to his impressive haul in recent weeks.

Not the best of starts for Rangers, the game had hardly got properly underway before they were a goal down; a softish penalty award in the second minute was put away to give Lanark the lead. Not that they held it for very long though; Rangers went on the offensive and Flannery put the finishing touch to a good move with a shot from ten yards. It was a good open game with both sides playing attacking football but just before the half hour mark it was Rangers who gained the upper hand when Flannery slipped a very good ball to McPeake, whose twenty yard effort beat Barnes at the far post. Rangers were clearly the better side in the pre-interval period and went in well deserving of their lead.

Rangers opened the second half strongly and twice in a minute McAteer had shots blocked in the box. Lanark came back in determined fashion and following a corner the ball was cleared on the Kilsyth line. The home side were much more in it for a spell but very good defending, with Waters and Hogg especially prominent was keeping them at bay.

McFadden had several good chances for Lanark but scorned all his openings. Rangers brought on Kelly for McAteer and immediately he was makiong some good runs and creating openings for the Rangers strikers.

With just ten minutes left a good Rangers move down the right produced a cross to the unmarked Flannery, who concluded a good days work with a tap in at the back post. A minute later Joe Barclay had the ball in the net with a great diving header, but it was ruled offside. No matter, the game was over, and Rangers can look forward with confidence to the run-in in the promotion race if they keep up this level of performance.

KILSYTH RANGERS: Duke, Waters, Carr, Doyle, Hogg, D. Barclay, Livingstone, McPeake, J. Barclay, Flannery, McAteer. Subs: Kelly Nimmo, Tait.

LANARK UNITED: Barnes, D. Collins, Quinn, Maddison, Craig, McLachlan, J. Collins, Cuthill, McFadden, MccCuskie, Woods. Subs: Miles, Fabiana, McCrum, Lennox, Turner.

Game next saturday will be Perthshire at Duncansfield, league match. K.O. 2pm