Rangers 0 - 1 Aberdeen

Ross fired home an angled ten yard shot following good work by Sam Robertson as Paul Sheerin’s starlets dominated against a young Rangers side.

A brilliant Lennox save denied Rangers a second half equaliser, but the Dons were denied a late second goal which would have been a truer reflection on the game when Kalvin Orsi hit the post on 84 minutes.

RedTV | watch the full match, plus the goal clip and reaction on the U20s Matchday Centre | https://redtv.afc.co.uk/development

match report

For Aberdeen this was a first Under 20’s Development League game in just over three weeks and they headed for Forthbank in Stirling keen to avenge an earlier 5-2 defeat at the hands of Rangers.

The young Dons lined up with Aaron Lennox in goal, with Lucas Culjak, Michael Rose, Scott McKenna and Daniel Harvie in front of the Aussie keeper. Dylan Thomas anchored the midfield, flanked by Aaron Norris and Frank Ross while Kalvin Orsi spearheaded the front line with Scott Wright and Sam Robertson in the wide berths.

Aberdeen started the brighter and created a good opening after just 5 minutes. Rangers failed to clear Thomas’s left wing corner but there were no takers for Harvie’s cutback. Sam Robertson then had two opportunities. When the Ibrox rearguard hesitated under a high ball, he was inches away from getting a shot on goal. Minutes later he hesitated when Frank Ross’s powerful run down the right created an opening and the chance was lost.

Rangers thought they had taken the lead when Gibson lobbed the ball over Lennox following a long ball from Sinnamon but the offside flag thwarted Ian Durrant’s team.

Just back from Croatia after appearing for Scotland’s Under 19s, Frank Ross was showing no signs of tiredness and the midfielder came close with a fine right foot shot from 20 yards.

On 23 minutes, the impressive Ross gave the young Dons a deserved lead drilling home an angled shot from 10 yards after excellent work on the right by Sam Robertson.

Although goal mouth incidents were scarce, the Dons looked the stronger side throughout the opening period and were well worth their half time lead.

The home side started brightly in the second half but diligent defending from Aberdeen kept the Light Blues at arms length. However keeper Aaron Lennox was called into action in 54 minutes as he pulled off a flying save from Ashmore.

Star man Frank Ross was proving to be a thorn in Rangers side and excellent play from the midfielder created an opening for Orsi but keeper McCrorie was equal to the striker’s powerful shot.

Both sides made changes as the half wore on, Joe Nuttall returning from injury for Aberdeen while youngsters Joe MacPherson and Dean Campbell were also given a run out.

Rangers enjoyed plenty of possession but couldn’t create any openings, their only effort being a wayward Sinnamon shot from distance. Shortly after Scott Wright picked up the game’s only booking after an innocuous looking foul.

The Dons very nearly got the second goal their play merited on 84 minutes when Kalvin Orsi saw his shot crash off McCrorie’s left hand post after fine interplay between Ross and Thomas.

Overall, a solid performance from the Dons after their lengthy lay-off with Frank Ross undoubtedly the star of the show.