Rangers B 2 Queen’s Park 1
A youthful Queen’s Park side just came up short against Rangers in their Glasgow Cup semi-final with the Spiders going down 2-1 at Rangers Training Ground.
In the group stages of the competition QP had finished third, and met the second placed Ibrox B side as a result, with the final of the competition being played next season.
Lucas McCormick had an early opening for Queen’s as he raced through on the left with his parting shot kicked clear before troubling the home goal. The next attack also came from the visitors as Kane Thomson drove his team forward before picking out Max Fiddes who fired wide.
Rangers responded on 12 minutes with a Thompson Ishaka sweeping shot that flashed wide of Sam Kane’s goal however Queen’s had the next opening when Lennon Connolly drilled into Mason Munn’s arms from 20 yards after a forward pass to Fiddes had rebounded into the midfielder’s path.
The hosts took the lead on 18 minutes when a cross from the left was only partially cleared and Isaka cracked home from the edge of the box.
Scotland international Ryan Jack had a shot at the Queen’s Park goal blocked with Ishaka picking up the loose ball and firing wide.
Rangers substitute Christopher Eadie slid in and shot over with his first touch before the visitors were forced into a change as Darryl Carrick hobbled off to be replaced by Ben Ferguson.
Before the half-time whistle, a misplaced pass in the home box gave Thomson a glimpse of goal however his drive rose and cleared Munn’s goal.
Half time – Rangers B 1 Queen’s Park 0
Queen’s Ricky Waugh had the first chance of the second half with his goal bound drive hitting off a Light Blue jersey before being cleared and after play raced to the other end Kane used his feet to keep out a low Mackenzie Strachan shot.
Just before the hour mark Thomson took off on a solo run that took him past two defenders on the left with the youngster just failing to find the far corner with a curling shot.
Waugh was booked when the referee returned to him after playing an advantage with the skipper disappointed at the caution after a similar incident had gone without punishment after a challenge on a QP player in the first half.
On 61 minutes a surging run from Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia gave the winger a shooting chance from a tight angle with Munn watching his effort really close as hit the side-netting.
Sixty seconds later Queen’s looked to be caught pushing too hard for an equaliser as the hosts broke in numbers however Ferguson remained calm and stepped in to clear.
On 65 minutes Rangers B grabbed a second as Archie Stevens hit the by-line and cut the ball back for Findlay Curtis to side-foot home from six yards.
The young Spiders hit back in the best possible way when substitute TYRECE McDONNELL accepted a pass from the left and side-stepped his marker and thumped in a fierce shot from 20 yards.
The goal gave Queen’s confidence and after Joseph Smith was fouled at the edge of the box Waugh whipped in a free-kick from a dangerous position that was deflected just wide by a Rangers head.
Thomson was brought down in a clumsy fashion to give the visitors a foul on the left with 11 minutes left and after the culprit had been booked the dead-ball was mopped out by the Rangers defence.
Lewis Reid showed his powers of concentration in the next minute as he cut-out a Rangers raid to keep the deficit at one.
On 83 minutes Smith galloped up the right wing and sent over an inviting cross that found no takers however it was sent back in from the other flank and McCormick had a header saved.
Queen’s kept on pushing after Reid had a header kicked clear a fantastic Ferguson 50 yard right to left pass released Thomson who won a corner. Kane came up from his goal to add menace however the home defence held firm to secure the win.
Queen’s Park – Sam Kane, Joseph Smith, Kane Thomson, Darryl Carrick (Ben Ferguson 33), Lewis Reid, Archie Graham, Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia (Alex Fairlie 63), Ricky Waugh (Chris Mahon 76), Max Fiddes, Lennon Connolly (Tyrece McDonnell 63), Lucas McCormick (Ross McLean 76).
Unused substitutes – Timam Scott, Zach Balfour
Rangers B – Mason Munn, Connor Allan, Alexander Hutton, Kristian Webster, Greig Allen, Mackenzie Strachan, Paul Nsio, Ryan Jack (Findlay Curtis 46), Thompson Ishaka (Calum Adamson 72), Alex Lowry (Christopher Eadie 30), Archie Stevens (Josh Gentles 83).
Unused substitutes – Jacob Pazikas, Lyle Wark, Kerr Robertson.
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