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CITY were on the wrong end of a 6-2 rout at Borough Briggs as Rangers stretched their lead at the top of the Irn-Bru Third Division table.
The Black and Whites gave a spirited account of themselves in the first half, but two early goals after the break on a cold, blustery day knocked the stuffing out of Ross Jack's side.
The return from suspension of skipper David Niven offset the loss of Jamie Duff through injury, with on loan Ross County keeper Joe Malin on the bench.
Strikers Kevin Kyle and Dean Shiels were missing for the visitors, but the Light Blue fans in the packed ground were celebrating after just four minutes.
Andy LITTLE raced on to a through ball, skipped round Gibson and slotted home the opener to set the pace for a cracking first 45.
City's response was swift and sweet, with Daniel MOORE smashing a fierce 20-yard left foot shot past Alexander for the equaliser in 17 minutes.
But Rangers regained the lead seven minutes later as Templeton slipped over a simple pass for Andy LITTLE to slot home from three yards.
The action was fast and furious and City grabbed a second leveller in 30 minutes. Hegarty was booked for hauling down Niven on the edge of the box and Mark NICOLSON swept a delightful free kick high past Alexander.
Cameron passed up a great chance to fire City ahead, the midfielder driving a left foot shot straight at the keeper from 12 yards in 35 minutes.
Rangers skipper Lee McCULLOCH, restored to an attacking role, made City pay for slack marking in 40 minutes as he gathered a Little cross from the right to slam home from 10 yards to give the Glasgow side a deserved 3-2 interval lead.
Any hopes of another tit-for-tat second half were downed in 60 minutes as McCULLOCH fired a low shot wide of Gibson and four minutes later Lewis MACLEOD crashed an 18-yarder home to stretch Rangers' lead to 5-2.
Kyle HUTTON put the icing on the cake for the Ibrox side as he smashed home number six in 83 minutes for his first goal for the Light Blues.
City had the chance to reduce the defecit two minutes later after Hutton pulled down Leslie in the box, but Alexander dived to his left to push away Moore's spot kick.
Elgin City – Gibson, Niven, Harkins (McMullan 84), Crighton, Wyness (Beveridge 70), Cameron, Gunn (Millar 79), O'Donoghue, Leslie, Nicolson, Moore. Subs not used – Malin, McHardy.
Rangers – Alexander, Argyriou (Perry 45), Cribari, Hegarty, Wallace, McCulloch, Little, Hutton, Macleod (Sandaza 79), Templeton (Crawford 70), McKay. Subs not used – Currie, Naismith.
Ref – B Colvin.
Att – 3,448. |
Saturday’s Division 3 game at Borough Briggs will be available live to fans around the globe on the Rangers online TV station.