Adam Devine, Bailey Rice and keeper Lewis Budinauckas all saw red for Rangers as tempers flared with Celtic emerging victorious in a fiery Lowland League derby.
The Glasgow giants' B-teams are locked in a thrilling title race in the fifth tier as The Spartans lead the way but only eight points stand between them and fifth-placed Tranent, who have a game in hand. Rangers and Celtic went into the second derby of the season in second and third respectively and both desperately needing a victory to stay in touch with the leaders.
It looked as if Rangers would be moving to within just one point of top spot when Aaron Lyall's powerful finish gave them the opener....but then all hell began to break loose. The first of THREE reds arrived when home shot-stopper Budinauckas handled the ball outside his area, with Ben Quin beating sub keeper Jacob Pazikas to equalise just before the break. .
Quin's terrific half-volley then put the visitors' noses in front and Adam Brooks added a third moments later to put the young Hoops in firm control. And as frustrations began to show among the home ranks Rice, who made his debut for Michael Beale's first team last month, picked up a second yellow for a late challenge on Matthew Anderson.
The game finished 3-1 but not before Devine, another familiar face on the first-team scene at Ibrox, walked for a second yellow of his own as they saw out the closing stages with just eight men. It means Celtic now move onto 69 points, one ahead of Rangers and just three off The Spartans heading into the final three games of the Lowland League season.
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