Exciting young midfielder Alex Lowry delivered the goods for Rangers B on Tuesday, just 24 hours after getting a taste of first-team life at Firhill.
Lowry impressed for the U18 team that secured the CAS League title last season and he was one of five Academy starlets to sign new deals last month [Rangers.co.uk].
He still seemed to be some way from Steven Gerrard’s plans, but the absence of several internationals opened up space in the squad for the opening pre-season fixture against the Jags on Monday and he was given a spot on the bench.
The experience of travelling alongside and warming up with the first team will surely have provided him with a boost and it looks as though he took the confidence into Tuesday night’s B team friendly against Albion Rovers at the Rangers Training Centre.
Lowry was named in the starting XI, alongside Jake Hastie, former Orange County goalkeeper Aaron Cervantes and a mystery trialist.
The young Gers got off to the worst possible start, with the visitors taking the lead in just the fourth minute through Scott Roberts.
It was all positive from there on for the hosts, though, with Tony Weston levelling the scores after half an hour after being slipped through on goal by Hastie.
In the 66th minute, Lowry’s big moment arrived as Rangers were awarded a penalty. With the result in the balance, the 18-year-old stepped up and delivered the goods.
The spot-kick would turn out to be the decisive goal, but substitute Arron Lyall added gloss to the scoreline six minutes later, giving the hosts a satisfying 3-1 comeback win.
It’s a strong confidence-building result for the B team, with the start of their Lowland League season now only ten days away.