The home side were first to threaten on three minutes when Aiden Walsh cut in from the right and past two defenders and his shot forced Lewis Budinauckas to dive to his right to turn the ball wide. A minute later Adam McGowan’s free-kick from the right hand angle of the box deflected off the Rangers wall and on to the crossbar.
Tranent’s fast start paid off when they took the lead on eight minutes, the ball broke to Adam McGovern inside the left side of the penalty area and he shot past Lewis Budinauckas. Five minutes later Adam McGowan attacked on the left and cut inside Jack Harkness with Lewis Budinauckas blocking the shot with his legs.
Rangers first effort on goal came midway through the half when Connor Young fired a free-kick from the edge of the box straight at Kelby Mason who gathered at the second attempt. Tranent were soon back on attack and from Adam McGowan’s low corner from the left Kane O’Connor flicked on at the near post with Lewis Budinauckas blocking with a foot.
Rangers then produced a fine passing move just before the half hour, it started with Jack Harkness on the right and he passed inside to Connor Young who moved the ball on to Charlie Lindsay, the midfielder played the ball forward to Zak Lovelace on the edge of the box a great turn made space for the shot that was just wide of Kelby Mason’s right hand post. Robbie Fraser then picked out Connor Young with a throw from the left but after a neat turn his shot was weak and Kelby Mason saved comfortably.
Rangers drew level five minutes before the break, Charlie Lindsay broke forward and his pass sent Zak Lovelace through the inside right channel to round Kelby Mason and slot the ball into the net. Just before the half time whistle Robbie Ure broke into the right side of the box and his shot from a narrow angle was deflected on to the bar and over.
Half-Time: Tranent 1 - 1 Rangers
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Rangers had the first chance of the second half when Zak Lovelace squared to Connor Young on the edge of the box and his shot forced a save from Kelby Mason diving to his right. A slack pass then presented a chance to the home side gifting possession to Maritn Maughan he laid the ball back to Oban Anderson who shot straight at Lewis Budinauckas.
The home side regained the lead on fifty seven minutes, Rangers were under pressure following a corner from the left, the defence managed to block the first two efforts right in front of goal but when the ball broke to Cameron Ross he shot through a crowded six yard box into the net. With twenty minutes remaining Jack Harkness challenged for the ball on the right side of the box and it broke to James Graham inside the penalty area but he shot straight at the keeper.
A minute later Rangers really should have equalised, Arron Lyall’s twenty five yarder struck Kelby Mason’s right hand post but when the ball landed at the feet of Robbie Ure on the edge of the six yard box a goal seemed certain but his shot rebounded off the opposite upright. A couple of minutes later Tranent were reduced to ten men when Oban Anderson stopped Charlie Lindsay breaking with a cynical foul and the midfielder was shown a straight red card.
Rangers made their numerical superiority pay with ten minutes remaining, good play on the right saw Jack Harkness break along the right hand byline and from his low centre Zak Lovelace netted from close range. As the ninety minute mark approached James Graham’s shot was saved by Kelby Mason and Robbie Ure’s effort was cleared from the goal line.
In injury time Arron Lyall broke into the right side of the box and went down under a challenge with the referee pointing to the penalty spot, Zak Lovelace stepped up looking to complete his hat trick but Kelby Mason produced a fine save low to his right.
Full-Time: Tranent 2 - 2 Rangers
Tranent: Kelby Mason; Callum Donaldson, Craig Barr (Cameron Ross 20 Mins), Euan Bald, Kieran Sommerville; Kane O’Connor, Oban Anderson; Aiden Walsh, Rory Currie, Adam McGowan; Martin Maughan (Kris Renton 56 Mins (Nicky Reid 72 Mins). Not used: Sam Scott (Gk), Euan Greig, Charlie Wilson, Aaron Faulds.
Rangers: Lewis Budinauckas; Jack Harkness, Lewis MacKinnon, Connor Allan, Robbie Fraser; Mackenzie Strachan (Bailey Rice 65 Mins); Arron Lyall, Charlie Lindsay ( Tyler Pasnik 80 Mins); Connor Young (James Graham 65 Mins), Robbie Ure, Zak Lovelace. Not Used: Not Used:- Jacob Pazikas (Gk), Kelsey Ewan, Kevin Ciubotaru.
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