Three goals in the closing six minutes saw Rangers Colts progress to the next round of The SPFL Trophy and a home tie against Airdrie. The first half saw a series of chances at both ends while the second half was a bit tamer until Rangers late goal flurry. Rangers were without a few players who are in the squad for Wednesday’s League Cup tie, Alloa made six changes to their team from their 1-1 draw with Annan Athletic at the weekend.

Rangers took the lead on five minutes, Robbie Fraser’s ball forward was headed out by Scott Taggart but only as far as Ross McCausland who held off a couple of defenders before shooting into Tochukwa Ogayi’s bottom right hand corner. Two chances quickly followed for Zak Lovelace, both inside the left side of the box and on both occasions he was denied by Tochukwa Ogayi saves.

On ten minutes with Alloa struggling to clear, when the ball came out from the penalty area Greig Allen’s shot was heading for the bottom corner until Tochukwa Ogayi dived low to his right to turn the ball wide. Alloa’s first chance of the game followed when Bradley Rodden raced into the left side of the penalty area with Mason Munn coming from his line to block with his legs.

Ten minutes later only a sensational Tochukwa Ogayi save prevented Rangers doubling their lead, Archie Stevens moved to ball along the eighteen yard line to Zak Lovelace left of centre, his powerful strike was destined for the net until the keeper reacted to tip the ball over. Two chances for the League One side followed, slackness allowed Luke Donnelly to break into the left side of the box but he shot wide of the far post. Another mistake presented Bradley Rodden with a chance inside Rangers penalty area but he shot over.

Just beyond the half hour mark an Alloa corner from the left was sent to the back post and Morgyn Neill’s looping header struck the crossbar with Jack Harkness on hand to clear from the line. A superb piece of skill from Paul Nsio saw him flick the ball over a defender on the left side of the box but there was no takers for his driven ball across the six yard box. The sides were level just before the break, Quinn Coulson cut in from the left hand angle of the box and his effort struck the bar with Morgyn Neill quickest to react to shoot past Mason Munn.

Half-Time: Rangers1 - 1 Alloa

By contrast the second half was pretty tame with neither side seriously threatening the opposing goal and the only real things to note were a serious of substitutions. That was all to change in the closing six minutes and Alloa were first to threaten. Cameron O’Donnell’s free-kick from midway inside Rangers half picked out Scott Taggart who headed straight at Mason Munn.

Rangers went straight up the other end to take the lead, Ross McCausland’s pass picked out Robbie Fraser’s run to the left hand byline from where he cut the ball back for Findlay Curtis to spin and shoot past the keeper. Two minutes later the tie was safe, Findlay Curtis dispossessed Andy Graham and continued into the box before unselfishly passing to James Graham on his left and present the substitute with a simple finish.

Rangers added a fourth in injury time when Chris Eadie was brought down by Tochukwa Ogayi inside the right side of the box with Arron Lyall stepping up to convert the penalty.

Full-Time: Rangers 4 - 1 Alloa

Rangers: Mason Munn; Jack Harkness (Zander Hutton 63 Mins), Greig Allen, Johnly Yfeko (James Graham 52 Mins), Robbie Fraser; Connor Allan, Arron Lyall, Paul Nsio; Ross McCausland, Archie Stevens (Findlay Curtis 78 Mins), Zak Lovelace (Chris Eadie 63 Mins).
Not Used: Alfie Halliwell (Gk), Jamie Newton, Leyton Grant, Darren McInally, Kerr Robertson.

Alloa: Tochukwa Ogayi; David McKay (Andy Graham 80 Mins), Morgyn Neill, Scott Taggart; Steven Buchanan (Cameron O’Donnell 76 Mins), Kurtis Roberts, Steven Heatherington, Euan Deveney; Quinn Coulson (Comor Sammon 80 Mins); Bradley Rodden (Nathan Cannon 80 Mins), Luke Donnelly.
Not Used: Keir Burt (Gk)