Rangers 4 - 1 Aberdeen

The teams meet again in the last eight of the SFA Youth Cup next Friday, the game again at the Rangers Training Centre.

CAS Under 18 League - Rangers Training Centre, Auchenhowie, Glasgow
21st January 2022

Rangers 4 Aberdeen 1

The benefits of having trained and played together for over a year longer than their opponents was obvious as a strong Rangers side ran out comfortable winners over the young Dons in their latest Under 18 League game.

Aberdeen locked horns with Rangers for the third time this season, having lost 3-1 away and drawn 3-3 at home in their previous meetings. With another clash in the quarter finals of the Youth Cup next week, plus another League game to come, the sides will know each other very well by the time the season is over.

After impressing on debut against Celtic last week, 15 year old Cammy Wilson dropped to the bench this week as Dylan Lobban and Timi Fatona were drafted in. Alfie Bavidge had to sit the game out after his red card last week.

The initial play was mainly in the midfield area, but Rangers gradually took the upper hand and Ure forced a fine save from Blessing Oluyemi before a Lindsay free kick from the edge of the box whistled just wide.

The Dons first opening saw Adam Emslie pounce on a sloppy pass before seeing two good efforts on goal blocked.

On 15 minutes, the deadlock was broken, a neat passing movement involving several players creating the chance for Wilson to deftly slip the ball past Oluyemi for a fine opening goal.

Aberdeen regrouped and a well worked short corner routine saw Emslie fire an a shot which was well saved at his near post by McConnell.

Just after the half hour, the Dons drew level as the ball was fed in from the right for Liam Harvey whose deflected shot beat a helpless McConnell. A third goal in two games in 2022 for the tireless striker.

Five minutes before the break Rangers edged ahead, a delightful cross from Lindsay being met by Wilson whose looping header was placed to perfection.

Lindsay maybe should have made it 3-1 just before the break, but he fired wide after a long run from inside his own half.

A tough shift for the Dons in the first period as the greater experience of the home side was evident.

Half time - Rangers 2 Aberdeen 1

The home side made a change at the break introducing Tyler Pasnik and he was immediately in the thick of things firing in a cross from the left which was only half cleared and McInally drilled a fine twenty yard shot past Oluyemi to put Rangers two goals ahead.

The margin quickly became three as McInally converted from the spot after a challenge from Oluyemi floored Ure.

It would have been easy for the Dons heads to go down after suffering this double blow, but, as has often been evident this season, the team has a real fighting spirit about them and dug deeper to ensure the game stayed competitive.

Emslie, Findlay Marshall and Timi Fatona all had efforts on goal as the Dons forced a number of corners, but they couldn't convert any of their openings.

At the other end, Oluyemi produced a handful of top class stops to keep the Rangers tally at four to ensure there is still hope for next week's Youth Cup quarter final.