Rangers U21 defeated Gala Fairtoun Rovers 4-0 in the opening group stage fixture of the Challenge Cup on Monday evening. The young side from Glasgow took control almost immediately and never looked back against hosts who had enjoyed a run of results in July.
L. Stewart opened the scoring at the ninth minute before A. McCallion added a second just sixty seconds later. Z. Lawson then made it 3-0 at the twenty-fourth minute, and here's the thing — Gala Fairtoun had barely managed to string anything together.
McCallion completed his brace from the penalty spot in the sixty-sixth minute. To be fair, the hosts had worried Rangers at times with their set pieces, having taken eight corners during the match, but they failed to convert any of those opportunities.
Rangers U21 dominated possession at 86 per cent and registered twenty-eight shots on target compared to their opponents' twenty-one. By then it was clear that the statistical disparity told the full story of a one-sided contest.
The victory moves Rangers U21 clear at the top of their Challenge Cup group. Gala Fairtoun, who had won four of their last five matches before this fixture, now face a difficult path forward in the competition.