Promising young midfielder Darren McInally scored a hat-trick as Rangers U18s hammered Aberdeen 4-1 at the Rangers Training Centre.
With no Lowland League fixture this weekend for the B team, U18s coach Cameron Campbell was able to call upon the likes of Charlie Lindsay and Robbie Ure and both players were named in a strong-looking starting XI.
It was just a second outing of 2022 for this age-group side and their first competitive action for over a month.
However, there doesn’t appear to have been any issues with rustiness.
McInally bags hat-trick as Rangers U18s thrash Aberdeen
Rangers took a 2-1 lead into the interval, with McInally and Rory Wilson on the scoresheet, and then they pulled clear of the visitors after the break.
If one of the two first-half goalscorers was to go on and bag a hat-trick, Wilson would be the one expected to do it.
After all, he bagged several at this level during a prolific first half of the season.
However, it was actually midfielder McInally who went home with the match ball after finding the net twice more in the second half to give the hosts an emphatic victory.
McInally has had his sights set on a first-team role at Ibrox for many years and he signed his first professional deal at the club in June 2020 [Herald].
He’ll no doubt be hoping his individual display here will lead to chances at B-team level before the season is out.
The victory for the Young Gers leaves their lead at the top of the U18 league table at nine points, with Hearts now second after a 3-0 win over Celtic [Rfcyouths.wordpress.com].
However, a number of other sides have multiple games to make up.
Dundee United are ten points back with three games in hand, while Hibs are eleven points behind with seven games in hand.