Exciting young striker Robbie Ure bagged a late winner for Rangers B against SPFL League One club Clyde on Saturday.
The B team are currently preparing for the 2021/22 Lowland League season and faced a big test at Broadwood against a side featuring experienced pros like David Goodwillie and Conrad Balatoni.
Things didn’t get off to the best of starts for the visitors, with Clyde taking the lead in just the tenth minute through Owen Andrews.
However, the game never looked in danger of getting away from David McCallum’s side, with Alex Lowry, Jake Hastie and Kyle McClelland all threatening after the opener.
At half-time, Arron Lyall replaced Tony Weston and the substitution paid off almost immediately.
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Lyall got himself on the scoresheet in the 48th minute, turning home right-back Adam Devine’s cross from close range.
Late in the game, Charlie Lindsay struck the crossbar with a whipped free-kick but the young Gers’ persistence would eventually pay off, with promising young attacker Ure – who had replaced the injured Lowry in the 63rd minute – converting Malcolm Ebiowei’s cross with just five minutes remaining.
“We spoke before the game that as much as we talk about a football challenge it is probably a mental challenge as well because it is a step up and Clyde have had a good pre-season,” said McCallum after the game [Rangers.co.uk].
“It is always a target to try and get as many players minutes before the season starts, we know that the balance of the squad is what it is and it is about trying to make sure that we use them appropriately so I think it was good minutes on the pitch.
“It was pleasing to see Robbie Ure, an under-18 scoring today as well and Kelsey Ewen going in at centre-back playing against David Goodwillie so there were good individual challenges on the pitch as much as it was a team challenge as well.”
This was a confidence-building win for the young Gers, with all members of the squad getting a run-out other than sub goalkeeper Aaron Cervantes.
Ahead of the Lowland League campaign, it’s an excellent sign that McCallum’s side can compete with and get a result against a third-tier outfit.