Rangers Reserves Title Decider vs Queen's Park 19/02/2013 KO 19:15 GMT

[Lofty.]

As announced yesterday on Rangers TV:

 

Reserves Set For Ibrox

 

 

RANGERS Reserves will bid to win the SFL Reserve League at Ibrox on Tuesday night.

The club's clash with Queen's Park has been switched to Govan to accommodate the demand to see the match.

Tommy Wilson's side need victory in their final match to clinch the title and they will have the backing of a home support.

Fans will be able to back the team with entry just £5 for adults and £1 for concessions.

Kick off is at 7.15pm, with gates opening from 6.30pm and Wilson is delighted to be using Ibrox.

He said: “We’re really looking forward to the occasion. I’ve told one or two of the players that I expect to be involved and they’re really excited about it.

“I'm not sure exactly what squad I'll have yet, but those who will be involved now have time to think about it and prepare themselves mentally for playing at Ibrox.

“Switching the game was the only real option we had because Lesser Hampden is being redeveloped at the moment and both clubs acknowledged that it would be best in an open door venue.

“We checked with the manager and he agreed and Queen’s Park were quick to agree as well because I think they see the benefit for their players as well."

 

 

[BlueBeard]

I'd love to see that one, though there's no chance of it being shown anywhere. Rangers to win Division 3 and the Reserves League, bring it on!!!

[Lofty.]

More on tomorrow's match from the official Rangers site:

 

Ibrox Can Inspire Us



ROBBIE CRAWFORD hopes playing at Ibrox tomorrow night can drive Tommy Wilson’s reserves to league glory against Queen’s Park.

The second-string squad goes into its final game of the season knowing a victory will give it the SFL Reserve League title.

A draw would leave Morton poised to take the crown if they beat Partick in their last fixture, a match which is yet to be rearranged.

Any sort of victory for the Spiders would ensure they finish above Gers in the table as their goal difference is only two fewer at present and they have scored more.

It would then be between them and the Greenock side for the trophy and that Thistle tie would determine who comes out on top.

Of course, a home win tomorrow would eradicate all uncertainty as it would be Wilson’s men who would emerge victorious.

And Crawford believes playing at the club’s spiritual home can inspire the young players he’ll line up alongside to the result they are seeking.

The match was originally scheduled to take place at Lesser Hampden but has been moved because of major building work there.

It is hoped a sizeable crowd will turn out to support the Light Blues, with kick-off at 7.15pm and prices set at £5 for adults and just £1 for concessions.

Midfielder Crawford said: “No matter where we play, we want to win. It’s obviously a big occasion for us to be playing there and hopefully it will be a special night.

“Having a bigger crowd behind us is only going to help us and the boys will really enjoy the experience of performing at Ibrox.

“If we win we’ll get the league trophy and that gives us an extra incentive to go out there and record a victory.

“The Reserve League has been a good platform for a lot of us to show the manager what we can do and we’ve all really enjoyed it.â€

Crawford also feels there can be first-team benefits at Rangers should the reserves be successful this midweek.

These are changed days at Ibrox, of course, with the club now operating in the Third Division rather than the SPL.

But having seen League Cup victories act as a springboard to title successes in the past, Crawford thinks taking the reserve crown can help the senior side go on and do the same.

He added: “It’s similar in a way. The boys are just focused on tomorrow for now but hopefully that can take care of itself and help us kick on in the first team.

“I think it’s important to get a winning mentality throughout the whole squad and if the young boys coming through have that, it’s only going to be a good thing.â€

[mad_mac]

Best of luck to the young lads

[Lofty.]

One or two names familiar from the first team feature in tonight's game, including Kal Naismith, Fraser Aird and Robbie Crawford. No streams, but there may be a text commentary at Rangers Official twitter page.

 

In the meantime, here's the match preview from Rangers official site:

 

Reserves Go For Glory


KAL NAISMITH will lead the line for Rangers this evening as they go for the SFL Reserve League title against Queen’s Park at Ibrox.

The striker celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday and is looking to celebrate with a victory which would give the Light Blues the championship.

Beating the Spiders is the only thing which will guarantee Tommy Wilson’s men will finish the 13-game competition at the top of the table tonight.

A draw would rule the Hampden side out of the reckoning but leave Gers waiting to see how Morton – currently one point adrift in second – get on in their last game with Partick.

An away win this evening will put Queens top but they will only be a point ahead of the Greenock side.

And with Thistle bottom of the pile, the Cappielow outfit would be expected to return to the summit after being there for much of the campaign until recently.

Naismith currently sits on nine goals at second-string level this term and would love to get into double figures over the forthcoming 90 minutes in Govan.

He’ll spearhead a 4-5-1 formation in one of the more inexperienced teams Wilson has fielded over the last few months.

Due to the injuries currently limiting Ally McCoist’s senior side, that has had an impact on who is available for this fixture.

Indeed, Naismith is one of the most experienced players in the first XI and he’s one of three players in it who have signed new contracts since Friday.

Scott Gallacher will be in goals and Fraser Aird, who penned a five-year deal last week, starts on the left wing.

Andy Mitchell, Luca Gasparotto, Sebastien Faure and Jordan Wilson will play across the back line.

And joining Aird in midfield are Tom Walsh, Robbie Crawford, Charlie Telfer and Andy Murdoch.

Blair Currie is the replacement goalkeeper and next to him on the bench are Jamie Burrows, Glody Ntumba, Craig Halkett and Kristian Gibson.

Kick-off is at 7.15pm and gates are open at 6.30pm so if you’re not already on your way, come along and support Wilson’s swifts.

Admission to the Enclosure in the Bill Struth Main Stand is £5 for adults and just £1 for concessions.

RANGERS: Gallacher; Mitchell, Gasparotto, Faure, Wilson; Walsh, Crawford, Telfer, Murdoch, Aird; Naismith.

SUBS: Currie, Burrows, Ntumba, Halkett, Gibson.

Edited February 19, 2013 by Tommy Docherty

[Lofty.]

Congrats to the young Gers, bringing home Rangers first silverware of the season and putting in a performance that by all accounts bodes well for the future.

 

Rangers Res 2-0 Queen's Park Res



A DOUBLE whammy from Canada inspired Rangers to the SFL Reserve League title as they beat fellow contenders Queen’s Park in their final game at Ibrox.

Goals either side of half-time from Toronto-born Fraser Aird and his Northern American team-mate Luca Gasparotto gave the Light Blues the prize for the first time in 15 years.

And their success came on a night when they richly deserved to come out on top after a largely dominant display at Ibrox.

In front of an excellent crowd of 2,700 fans, the Light Blues were particularly good in the first half and should have led by more than their single goal at the midway stage.

They saw the game out though and will now go for a double in the weeks ahead as their Reserve League Cup campaign gets underway.

Due to a number of players being unavailable due to current first-team involvement, coach Tommy Wilson had no option but to field one of his least experienced sides of the season.

And although Robbie Crawford, Aird, Kal Naismith, Tom Walsh, Andy Mitchell and Seb Faure have played for the first team, they’ve had just 10 league starts between them.

Michael Keenan, playing up front for the visitors, has made double that tally of SFL3 first XIs on his own and the Spiders had three other regulars from their senior side featuring.

Nevertheless, it was the hosts who began brightest, with Walsh almost creating an early opportunity for Naismith after being released down the right by Charlie Telfer.

But while his cross in the mix was good, James Brough did just enough to glance the ball away from the forward at a crucial moment.

Telfer tried to make up for that with a chance of his own but keeper Blair Lochhead got down to save then held Andy Murdoch’s 18-yard volley on the rebound.

Back came Queens and they began to enjoy more pressure – but Aird should really have put Gers ahead on the break.

With a defensive slip, he was suddenly in on goal and darted forward from the halfway line but took a touch too many and allowed Lochhead to get his angles right and block.

Undeterred, the home team kept coming upfield and all that was lacking after a neat passing move involving Aird and Telfer was the finish from Crawford which flew over.

Telfer was again in the thick of the action at the end of a good first quarter for the home team but after breaking clear, Kieran McVey did enough to limit the impact of his shot.

The chances were racking up for Rangers and Walsh was next to attempt breaking the deadlock, getting on the end of a dinked Aird cross but poking just wide.

Naismith then saw his passed finish intercepted and cleared after terrific work by Murdoch to tee him up and the danger was Gers would come to rue so many missed opportunities.

Queen’s Park, after all, had won nine of their previous 12 matches and with many of the players who have taken them to second place in the Third Division in their ranks.

But Wilson’s men did take a lead two minutes before the break and when it came it was one they totally merited.

Aird found the net just as he had did at Hampden in December but this time it was a different sort of finish from his neat curling effort then.

Naismith fed the onrushing Scotland youth international and he stabbed the ball past Lochhead with a swift jab from his right foot to spark delight in the Main Stand.

Having gone in front, Rangers’ task after the break was to at least consolidate or even build on their advantage.

And they did the latter shortly before the hour mark with Gasparotto getting on the scoresheet.

The defender signed a new two-year deal with the club just last week and celebrated it in fine style with a good header from Naismith’s corner.

It was nodded clear from under the crossbar immediately and at first it seemed play would continue.

But the stand side linesman flagged for the goal and suddenly Gers were in a really commanding position with just 32 minutes still to play.

Walsh could have added a third but shot over, Aird’s cut back somehow squirmed against the post before Lochhead flung himself on top of it and Naismith also drove over.

In response, Queens threw little at Scott Gallacher and in truth the keeper had one of his quietest games of the season.

With the referee’s final whistle, Ibrox erupted with delight as supporters paid tribute to their young team’s efforts.

And that was no less than they deserved after a campaign in which several players have shown they’ve got what it takes to step up to Ally McCoist’s first team.

RANGERS: Gallacher; Mitchell, Gasparotto, Faure, Wilson; Walsh (Halkett 83), Crawford, Telfer (Burrows 68), Murdoch, Aird; Naismith.

SUBS: Currie, Ntumba, Gibson.

QUEEN’S PARK: Lochhead, Gebbie, Brough, Gibson (Sinclair 83), Bradley, McVey (O’Hagan 56), Capuano, Mitchell (Coll 75), Shankland, Urquhart, Keenan.

SUBS: McKenna, Fraser.

[mad_mac]

Good for them.

 

Was taking toa  Celtic fan the other day who was actually in agreement that Rangers in the 3rd division may be good for Scottish football as they'll hopefully start bringing more young lads through the ranks

[BlueBeard]

Great achievement for the lads, well pleased!

[Lofty.]

A few images from last night:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And more articles from the official Rangers site:

 

Title Glory For Swifts

 

Luca: Heads I Win

 

Pride In My Players

 

Swifts Title Win (Twitter feed with images)