WHEN performances and results falter at first team level, supporters often look to the youth ranks for a glimmer of hope for the future.
Rangers fans won’t be seeing many of their Under-17 side in Premiership action any time soon but there was plenty for them to be encouraged about at Firhill as the Light Blues lifted the Glasgow Cup.
A first half brace from Ciaran Dickson and a strike from Kai Kennedy after the break clinched a 3-0 win over Old Firm rivals Celtic. For the first time in five years, the silverware will go back to Ibrox.
Just hours after going head-to-head in the final derby clash of the campaign, both Graeme Murty and Brendan Rodgers were in attendance to see the next generation of Rangers and Celtic stars look to impress on the biggest stage of their fledgling careers. It was Murty that would have left most content on this occasion, with the Gers well worth their win after a dominant performance against the ten-man Hoops.
The opening stages were fairly even but the game was quickly taken out of Celtic’s reach as they lost a man and a goal within seconds.
The first blow came when Brody Paterson was shown a straight red card by whistler Alastair Grieve with just 12 minutes on the clock.
Rangers broke at pace and the impressive Josh McPake was bearing down on goal when he was upended by Paterson. The decision to send him off was a straightforward one.
Celtic barely had time to regroup, though. A Nathan Patterson cross from the right struck the hand of Liam Morrison and Grieve pointed to the spot.
Dickson showed no sign of nerves as he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, sending keeper Ryan Mullen the wrong way before sprinting off to celebrate.
Even at that early stage, it was shaping up to be a long night for Celtic. Dapo Mebude fired a low shot into the side net, while Kennedy came close from a free-kick.
But Rangers didn’t have to wait too long to double their advantage and it was Dickson that was the main man once again.
Zac Butterworth burst down the left flank and his cross found Dickson. The striker kept his composure and picked his spot inside the post as Rangers all-but had the game wrapped up before the half hour.
The Light Blues were impressive in the final third, with Mebude, Dickson and McPake in particular catching the eye. At the other end, keeper Lewis Budinauckas had little to do as Celtic struggled to cope with their man disadvantage.
The Hoops had a bit more of the play after the restart but it was Rangers that continued to look the most threatening, and the most likely to get the third goal of the night.
Kennedy twice tried his luck from dead ball situations. His first effort whistled just over the bar, while a second curling strike was just wide of Mullen’s left-hand post.
Kennedy would get his goal soon enough, however. The finish from inside the six yard box was simple but he owed much to Patterson after a terrific run from right-back.
The winger almost had his second in stunning style but Mullen made a flying stop to divert a strike from the edge of the area away to safety. With seconds to go, an offside flag denied substitute James Maxwell.
It mattered little for Rangers, though. The job was done and the Glasgow Cup was won.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here