Gers youngsters shine

With the Rangers first team squad back in Glasgow playing a Champions League first qualifying round tie against FK Zeta at Ibrox, it was a young Rangers side that came to renew old acquaintances with Sheffield FC at the Bright Finance Stadium in a pre-season outing to commemorate the first inter-city match between the sides way-back in 1874.

The Rangers big-guns may have been back North of the border with a more pressing engagement at hand.

But there was nevertheless an abundance of young talent on show as the visitors demonstrated their quality with an array of sheer delightful passing and movement, no more so than in the front two of Stephen Lennon and John Fleck, the son of ex Rangers and Norwich City forward Robert Fleck, who at times gave the Sheffield defence the run-around.

Rangers took a 1-0 into the break given to them by Fleck on 18 minutes with an easy tap-in after Lennon had sprung the offside trap before unselfishly squaring the ball to his striker partner.

The visitors could have led by more with Stephen Sterling and Fleck squandering chances either side of the goal.

But they did increase their lead ten minutes into the second half when Rory Loy shot through a crowded six-yard box.

Five minutes later it became 3-0 when Lennon raced onto a ball over the top to score with a clinical finish. Sheffield deserved their consolation goal given to them by Vill Powell on 63 minutes, when he somehow hooked the ball into the net with his back to goal despite being pulled to the ground that might well have resulted in a penalty.

However, Rangers had the last word when substitute George Efram completed the scoring.

Sheffield are back in action this evening when they take on Blue Square Premier side York City at the Dronfield ground. Kick-off is 7.30.