Rangers U21s drew 1-1 with Celtic in the City of Glasgow Cup on Tuesday afternoon.
Graeme Murty named a youthful, but strong-looking side for the 1 pm kick-off [Rangers Youth Academy Twitter].
Jake Hastie was included from the start after his recall from EFL League One outfit Rotherham United, while Nathan Patterson was handed the armband at right-back.
Northern Ireland youth internationals Cammy Palmer and Danny Finlayson both started, the day after it was announced they would soon be heading to Orange County SC on loan, while Josh McPake and Kai Kennedy were also included having missed last week’s fixture against Clyde through injury.
The Young Gers fashioned the early opportunities, with Ciaran Dickson, James Maxwell and Hastie all going close within the opening ten minutes.
Celtic grew into the contest, though, and struck the woodwork twice before taking the lead in the 34th minute, courtesy of Luca Connell.
With the score 1-0 to the visitors, the game was very much in the balance at the break, and ten minutes into the second half, the Hoops went down to 10 men, with Ewan Henderson picking up a red card for going in late on Dickson.
Thereafter, the Gers piled on the pressure but for long stages, found the opposition keeper in fine form.
McPake was denied from range before Finlayson headed over from a corner and Kennedy saw his excellent free-kick just about beaten away.
Finally, though, with just five minutes remaining, Dickson delivered the goods with an equaliser.
Having been picked out by James Maxwell, the midfielder’s steered effort found the net with the aid of a deflection.
There wasn’t quite enough time remaining to find a winner, but having trailed for the majority of the game, Murty and co. will be relieved to have found a way to take something from it.
