Rangers B kicked off their pre-season friendlies this summer, hosting Edinburgh City at the Rangers Training Centre – coming out on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat.
Gers head coaches David McCallum and Brian Gilmour named Jake Hastie in a starting XI mainly comprising under-18 and under-19 players as they got their preparations underway for their Lowland League debut in two weeks.
The visitors named a strong side ahead of their Premier Sports Cup group stage fixtures and League Two campaign get started, getting their rewards midway through the first half.
Former Forfar, Albion Rovers and Berwick ace Ouzy See opened the scoring for the visitors after 20 minutes, the 26-year-old taking advantage of an attack down the right to fire home, American keeper Aaron Cervantes having been taken out of the play by a pass across goal.
The hosts made three changes at the break, Lewis MacKinnon, Alex Lowry and Tony Weston coming on in place of Robbie Fraser, Cole McKinnon and Robbie Ure for the second 45.
The young Gers continued to search for an equaliser but couldn’t find a way through the Citizens’ defence as time ticked away.
Gilmour and McCallum turned to their bench several times throughout the second half to try and get a breakthrough, Connor Allan, Kelsey Ewen and Malcolm Ebiowei replacing Charlie Lindsay, Adam Devine and Jake Hastie.
There wasn’t to be an equaliser for Rangers B but the main thing will be the overall performance by the young Gers.
Results in pre-season don’t really mean much though so Gilmour and McCallum will be looking at how their side played and taking what they can from that.
Next up for the B team is another home clash with Albion Rovers on Tuesday before making the short trip to Cumbernauld to face Clyde next Saturday.
Rangers B wrap up their pre-season fixtures with the visit of Burnley’s under-21s to Milngavie on July 14 with the opening Lowland League game coming against Bo’ness United three days later.
Two weeks for Rangers B to hit their stride
With two weeks until the young Gers make their Lowland League debut, the clash with City will have been a fantastic test for them.
The League Two side finished second last season and will be hoping to go one better this term and win promotion ahead of their return to Meadowbank Stadium.
For the young Rangers squad, the looming clash with Bo’ness United on July 17 can’t come quick enough as they took to make a mark on the Lowland League.
It’ll be interesting to see whether they can challenge at the top of the table as talks go on in the background that could see Rangers B playing in the SPFL next season regardless.
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