At The Rangers Training Centre on Monday afternoon, the Colts/B Team defeated a team that was virtually a Dundee Colts/B Team squad in their most recent friendly.
After three minutes, Euan Mutale of Dundee made the first real threat when he cut in from the left and shot directly at Mason Munn. A minute later, Rangers responded by taking the lead when Kemar Roofe headed Robbie Fraser’s cross from the right beyond Tom Welsh at the back post.
At the thirteenth minute, Josh Mitchell’s near post corner from the left was neatly backheeled into the net by Lewis Craik, bringing Dundee level. Five minutes later, James Graham recovered a poor clearance from a Dundee defender. He released Zak Lovelace inside the left half of the box, but Lovelace’s shot went just wide of the far post.
After Zak Lovelace passed the ball into the area, Paul Nsio demonstrated excellent chest control to poke the ball past Tom Welsh and give Rangers the lead again. Leyton Grant and Mason Munn plotted to give Dundee an equalizer six minutes before the half. Mason should have handled the ball better when it bobbled past the goalie and dropped into the net for an own goal. Leyton’s throw back could have been better.
The visitors seized the lead just one minute before halftime when Luke Graham headed past Mason Munn after a right-wing free kick was whipped into the box.
After Connor Allan was tripped inside the box six minutes into the second half, Archie Stevens feed Zak Lovelace, who cut in from the left and missed the penalty kick with a shot that went wide of Tom Welsh’s left hand post. After a prolonged assault, Rangers pulled level at the hour mark. Zak Lovelace lofted a ball over the Dundee defense to James Graham, who twisted a defender inside the box but Tom Welsh blocked it. The keeper quickly got back up to stop Archie Stevens’ rebound attempt. Rangers launched another attack right away, and Archie Stevens forced the ball over the line at the back post after Zak Lovelace played over the goal’s face from the left hand byline.
Five minutes later, James Graham beat the goalkeeper with a shot from Zak Lovelace, who had advanced on the left and delivered the ball across the box, putting Rangers ahead. Robbie Fraser maneuvered around the left-hand byline during Rangers’ subsequent assault, finding Thompson Ishaka, who missed the left-hand post with a shot.
Another opening was created by the same combination, with Robbie Fraser moving forward on the left and feeding James Graham, who had his shot deflect wide, inside. The following Rangers attack was again started by Robbie Fraser. After his cross was cleared by Tom Welsh, who dove to touch the ball away, it found its way to Zander Hutton, whose strong net-bound shot was parried by the goalkeeper.
With eight minutes left, Rangers added a fifth goal. Some excellent play created a chance for James Graham to fire from the edge of the box, and a deflection helped him find the back of the net. Josh Gentles had a last opportunity when he entered the penalty area by breaking through the inside left channel, but his effort went just wide of the far post.
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