YOUNG TERRORS SHOW POSITIVE SIGNS AT AUCHENHOWIE

A youthful Under 18s put in a positive battling display away at the Rangers Training Centre despite falling to a 2-1 defeat.

Fin Malcolm equalised from the penalty spot midway through the second half, but the hosts restored their lead shortly after to ensure they took all three points.

The Young Terrors were without the regular centre-back pairing of Jacob Comerford and captain Adam Hutchinson through injury, while Kerr Smith was also unavailable due to first-team commitments, so Flynn Duffy took the captain's armband at right centre-half alongside a 15-year-old trialist.

While goalkeeper Ruaridh Adams was called into action early on as he parried a low shot round the post, as well as tipping a strike from distance over the bar, he was kept relatively quiet for the opening quarter of the match.

But the hosts would take the lead in the 32 minute as the striker burst through on goal and, with the linesman keeping his flag down, chipped the ball over Adams.

The Young Terrors looked to respond quickly though and finished the half in the ascendancy. Firstly, some fantastic play from Lennon Walker got United into the opposition box. He was able to find Malcolm at the second time of asking, but the ball was slightly behind the young striker who stuck a leg out to make a connection but saw the ball rise over the bar.

Shaun Brown would then cause more trouble shortly before half time as he broke in behind the Rangers defence. He aimed to pick out Darren Watson at the back post with an excellent delivery, but the defender nodded it behind. From the resulting corner, Layton Bisland would see his shot cleared off the line.

The 18s would keep the momentum going into the second half and won their penalty on the hour mark. From a corner, Malcolm was dragged to the ground and the referee didn't hesitate to point to the spot. The young striker stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way for a well-deserved equaliser.

The celebrations would be short lived, however, as it took Rangers just three minutes to regain the advantage as their winger burst in from the right flank and smashed his shot past Adams.

Heading into the final ten minutes, the Young Terrors looked to snatch a late equaliser. Darren Watson went close in the 88th minute as he was released by Miller Thomson down the left wing, but he saw his shot pushed wide by the keeper.

Watson would cause trouble again on the wing as he burst into the box and was brought down, but the referee pointed for a corner which United couldn't capitalise on as Rangers saw out the win.

"Today was much better than what we've shown in the last two weeks but we still come away disappointed," said Duffy. "We came here with a younger squad due to players out on loan & preparing for tomorrow’s game but that’s what this club is all about. We made no excuses and I'm proud of the boys' efforts.

"We're livid to concede so soon after getting the equaliser. We had a real foothold in the game once we got that goal but we lost an avoidable goal. We had a chance at the end that didn't quite click for us, but that's football.

"We ticked a lot of boxes today - communication, leadership, dealing with different personnel on the pitch - but we're still needing that last bit of quality.

"We had a lot of changes in the team. I played centre-half with a young trialist and I thought we did well. I've played all over the park and I've had experience at centre-back alongside Adam (Hutchinson) so I was just trying to remember what he does.

"Once I got that first touch I was ready and comfortable. I had the armband and was commanding everyone and I enjoyed the responsibility."

Next up for the Young Terrors is a home match against Kilmarnock at the HPC at St Andrews University on Tuesday 27th April.

Team: Ruaridh Adams; Layton Bisland, Flynn Duffy (C), Trialist, Sam Lovie; Rhys Caves, Lewis O’Donnell, Lennon Walker (sub Trialist); Shaun Brown (sub Miller Thomson), Fin Malcolm, Darren Watson

Sub not used: Jamie McCabe, Dominik Naglik