Sixteen-year-old Nathan Young-Coombes sealed a spot in the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup semi final as Rangers Colts eased past Wrexham with the minimum of fuss at Ibrox
A first half goal from Jamie Barjonas gave Graeme Murty’s side a deserved half time and although the Welsh outfit came into the game after the break, sub Young-Coombes’ close range strike in the 70th minute closed out the victory that retains their hope of emulating the Rangers’ first team’s 2016 win in the same competition.
Murty’s kids were bolstered by top team squad members Jon Flanagan and George Edmundson in defence while Wrexham boss Dean Keates fielded a mixture of youth and fringe players ahead of their FA Cup replay with Rochdale on Tuesday night.
The Welsh side were backed by around 850 fans in the crowd of around 5000 and had goalkeeper Christian Dibble, son of ex- Ibrox keeper Andy Dibble between the sticks,
Rangers, who had beaten Berwick, Stranraer, Ballymena and Solihull Moors to get to the last eight, started on the front foot in this, their first match at Ibrox, with captain Lewis Mayo pulling the strings in a deep lying midfield role.
Mayo’s fizzed pass into the feet of Ciaran Dickson produced the first chance in the sixth minute but Dibble got down to save and smother the rebound before Serge Atakayi could pounce.
The young Gers continued to press and Nathan Patterson came close with a volley after a corner had been cleared to the edge of the box.
Atakayi did well with a jinking run inside the box in the 14th minute and his angled shot would have found the bottom corner but for the Michael Chambers’ sticking out a leg to divert the danger.
The team from the fifth tier of English football were being pinned in their own half but defended resolutely and were helped by some wasteful finishing. Kai Kennedy’s blast over the bar after good work from Jamie Barjonas and the impressive Patterson in the 23rd minute was another example.
Barjonas did far better a couple of minutes later with a curling effort from the edge of the box that flew just wide of Dibble’s left hand post.
Wrexham finally ventured forward with intent in the 28th minute with former Airdrie and Dundee testing Kieran Wright from distance. The keeper saved well but it was the first sign that the visitors were growing into the game.
Kyle Robinson-Murray provided further evidence that Wrexham posed a threat with a shot just over the top but it was during the Welsh side’s best spell of the game that Rangers opened the scoring.
James Maxwell’s ball was brilliantly dummied by sub Nathan Young-Coombes - just on for the injured Patterson - allowed Barjonas to latch onto the pass and from 14 yards the midfielder curled a fine finish low past Dibble.
The keeper then kept his side alive with a good low save to deny Flanagan after he’d been picked out by the lively Kennedy’s cross and Rangers went it at half time with a lead that should have been greater.
Wrexham enjoyed more possession after the break and Rangers had to survive a number of corners as the visitors tried to get back on level terms.
But Murty’s team weathered the storm and struck for a second time with 20 minutes remaining.
Barjonas took a pass on the edge of the box and swivelled to hit a low shot that squirmed out of Dibble’s grasp, allowing Young-Coombes to strike from close range.
Three talking points
Murty a happy man
Graeme Murty should be delighted with the manner in which his team went about their business.
They were slicker, sharper and faster than their more experienced opponents and thoroughly deserved their place in the last four of the competition.
Top talent emerging
These youngsters face a huge task breaking into the Rangers first team but the likes of Lewis Mayo, Jamie Barjonas, Nathan Patterson and Kai Kennedy showed real quality and look to have bright futures.
Good environment for learning
If Rangers are drawn at home in the semi finals, hopefully the club will allow these kids another crack at playing at Ibrox.
The attendance wasn’t huge but the atmosphere generated by the Union Bears in one corner and the Wrexham fans in another was excellent.
