The first chance came when Bailey Rice picked out James Graham inside the left side of the penalty area where he laid the ball back to Charlie Lindsay who shot just wide of the keeper’s left hand post. The visitor’s came even closer to opening the scoring when Kieran Moyles rose to head Callum Wilson’s corner from the right off the underside of the bar.
Rangers response was to take the lead, another superb Bailey Rice pass picked out James Graham inside the left side of the box and he knocked the ball inside to present Robbie Ure with a tap in. Midway through the half Robbie Fraser advanced on the left and his low cross picked out James Graham who was denied by the legs of keeper Jack Main.
The keeper was in action again less than ten minutes later, Arron Lyall picked out James Graham’s run into the box with Jack Main diverting his shot on goal over with his body. Just before the break Arron Lyall released Jack Harkness on the right, he went passed a defender to the byline and when his low cross was cleared to the edge of the box James Graham shot straight at Jack Main.
Half-Time: Rangers 1 - 0 Gretna 2008
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Rangers came close seven minutes into the second half, Jack Harkness advanced on the right and passed to James Graham, Jack Main dived to his left to save the shot and Max Condie was on hand to complete the clearance. Ross McCausland then showed a neat piece of skill before trying his luck from around thirty yards that had Jack Main diving to his right to make the save.
The visitors the had a chance when a poor Jacob Pazikas clearance gave possession to Lewis Bell but the Rangers keeper redeemed himself diving to his right to save the winger’s effort. The sides were level around the hour mark when Jacob Pazikas was penalised for a challenge on a Gretna forward with Lewis Turner converting from the spot.
Rangers were soon back on the attack and Ross McCausland on the right passed to Jack Harkness on the angle of the box he shot straight at Jack Main. Rangers came very close to edging ahead with twenty minutes remaining, Robbie Ure broke through the inside right channel and showed great skill to tee up Charlie Lindsay who’s shot came back of the keeper’s right hand post.
With the game inside the final ten minutes Robbie Fraser hit the left hand byline. from his cross Connor Young didn’t get the cleanest connection on his volley but Jack Main was still forced to dive to his right and push the ball away. With the game in the dying seconds Arron Lyall crossed from the left hand angle to the back post where Ross McCausland fired across goal for Robbie Ure to turn the ball into the net from almost on the goal line.
Full-Time: Rangers 2 - 1 Gretna 2008
Rangers: Jacob Pazikas; Jack Harkness, Connor Allan, Alex Kpakpe (Lewis MacKinnon 62 Mins), Robbie Fraser; Bailey Rice; Arron Lyall, Charlie Lindsay (Connor Young 81 Mins); Ross McCausland, Robbie Ure, James Graham (Mackenzie Strachan 67 Mins) Not Used: Not Used:- Lewis Budinauckas (Gk), Kelsey Ewan, Johnly Yfeko, Kevin Ciubotaru.
Gretna 2008: Jack Main; Liam Short, Kieran Moyles, Jack Dickinson, Max Condie; Lewis Bell, Rhys Caves (Aidan Munro 74 Mins), Lewis Turner, Sam Muir; Callum Wilson, Daniel Cunningham. Not used: Dominic Duffy (Gk), Reece Patterson, Harry Osbourne, Kyle Higgins.
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