U21s – Hearts 4 Rangers 3
Having gone into the break 3-0 down, Rangers came back within a goal of a draw to give Hearts the fright of their lives this evening at Forthbank Stadium,
A dire first half showing – one which can truly be termed “a shocker” – seemed at times to be out of the comic capers section, as opposed to the Glasgow Rangers FC section.
Hearts started strongly and it was no surprise that after a few missed opportunities, David McGowan gathered the ball on 14 minutes and tucked it away neatly into the corner of the net.
The second was only a couple of minutes away. Liam Fox found himself 20 yards out, played a one-two and curled the ball beautifully into the corner past the helpless Graeme Smith. Rangers were now on the ropes.
After Rangers had tried to claw their way back into the match and as VDH was dreaming of his half-time pie, Hearts struck again. Ex-Motherwell “star” Kevin Twaddle launched a hopeful long ball forward. The centre of the Rangers defence was again breached as the clearance cannoned back to a Hearts striker, and Graeme Weir stuck it away.
A horror show in the first half – Half Time – Hearts 3 Rangers
Straight after the restart, Rangers struck. John McGregor had obviously given the lads an earful at the break and this showed with the side’s urgency to get back into the match. A well worked move resulted in Jimmy Gibson slotting home with only a few minutes of the second half gone.
The crowd was further warmed up to a match that looked one way traffic in the first half only a few minutes later as Rangers scored again. This time round the impressive (if Stephen Hughes thin!) Tom Brighton was first to the ball and beat the young Hearts keeper. Now we had a real game.
There was something inevitable about Hearts going 4-2 in front as Rangers pushed and pushed in vain for the equaliser. A long ball found Graeme Weir free again and a good finish put the home side 2 in front.
Unlike the first half, the Rangers’ heads did not go down. In fact, they doubled their efforts and were rightly rewarded after some near misses due to good goalkeeping and poor finishing with a great finish from Charlie Adam with 15 minutes to go.
Rangers pounded the Hearts goal for the final quarter of an hour. However they could not make the breakthrough. Full Time – Hearts 4 Rangers 3
Interestingly, neither Rangers nor Hearts (Twaddle aside) played any full first teamers. In fact, those with any first team experience of note in the Rangers side were Chris Burke and Tom Brighton.
Bodes well for the future of both sides if they can produce a great game like this.
Vanderhogg
The East Enclosure Dutchman