Saturday 19th August 2006 - SPL Youth (Under 19) League
Fresh from their midweek victory over Dunfermline at Rosyth the young Light Blues maintained their maximum points tally with a dazling display in front of the 60 spectators, who included Scotland Under 21 boss Archie Knox and ex-Ranger Bobby Williamson.
Right from the first whistle Rangers made it clear that they meant business as they pinnned the vistors behind the ball as Lennon and Stirling linking up well to cause the Hearts rear guard all sorts of problems.
The first clear chance fell to Rangers after 7 minutes when Paul Emslie let fly with a piledriver which Haraldur Bjornsson did extremely well to palm over the bar.
It looked like the incecent pressure had paid off on the quarter of a hour mark when a sweeping move involving Lennon Stirling & Shinnie down the right saw Dean Furman hammer the ball home only to be ruled offside.
It didn't take much longer for the breakthrough to finally arrive, another 5 minutes, as Stirling and Furman linked up tp provide a perfect cross for Stevie Lennon to finish in style with a diving header from only a few yards out.
Furman was again to be a provider for Lennon 4 minutes later as he tee'd the ball up on the 18 yard line for the striker, though this time the shot went narrowly wide.
With Lennon playing through the middle up front he was provided with plenty of assistance and it was the turn of Steven Stirling on the half hour mark who played a perfect pass through the Hearts defence to allow Lennon to race through on Bjornsson, only for the forwards first touch to let him down and give the keeper the opportunity to bravely collect the ball at the feet of Lennon.
4 minutes from half time Joe Sagar averted what would have been a travesty of justice when he pulled off a fingertip save from the head of Hearts defender Alan Lithgow who powered in goal bound attempt from a corner.
Half Time - Rangers 1 Hearts 0
Stephen Frail made 3 changes to the Hearts side at Half Time, all to the middle and forward line, to try and take the game to Rangers but it was goalkeeper Bjornsson who made the most impact on 53 minutes when he was caught in posession inside his box and as he tried to clear he was challenged by Lennon, as the ball broke it favoured the Rangers man and Lennon then had the easiest of tasks prodding the ball into the gapping net to double the lead.
Only a minute later with Hearts now showing more attacking prowess it was Joe Sagar who found himself in an identical situation only this time the break of the ball favoured the goalkeeper as the ball spun out of play.
The changes made to the Jambos attacking line up paid off in 68 minutes as Gary Glen twisted and hit a half volley over Sagar and into the corner of the home net to bring Hearts back into it.
Rangers substitute Ally Park was to make the match safe on 76 minutes when he collected a perfectly floated cross field pass from Andy Shinnie on the edge of the 18 yard box, unmarked he moved forward to steady himself and then unleashed a perfect curling shot with the inside of his right boot past the despairing and outstreched Bjornsson.
Hearts treid again to close the gap a minute later but William McLachlan was the hero this time as he cleared the goal bound shot off the line.
Steven Stirling was outstanding in the match and on 83 minutes he broke through the hearts defence down his right, the first cross was blocked but he regained the ball and his second attempt was perfect for Lennon to claim his hat trick but the strikers shot rattled the post to deny him.
Right on full time Shaun Kelly found himself in referee Rodney Marshalls book when he downed Andy Shinnie with a clumsy tackle borne out of frustration.
It had been a superb display against a side who had always made it very close, but this time there was a style and organisation about the performance which saw outstanding contributions from Rangers midfield and forwards. The standard has now been set for the Under 19's, a standard which if maintained will surely see the title back at Murray Park after a five year absence.
The Teams;
Rangers - Sagar, McLachlan, Donald, McMillan, Gallagher, Emslie, Stirling, Furman (Craig 86), Lennon, Shinnie, Woods (Park 71).
Subs not used - Adam, Perry, Smith, Hadden
Heart of Midlothian - Bjornsson, Kelly, McDonald, Brown, Lithgow, Mearns, Mackle (Divine 45), Forter (Baxter 45), Glen, Jonsson, Park (Hamilton 45).
Subs not used - Amos, Stewart.