The Rangers kids got a taste of Hampden success after a hard fought 2-1 win over Hearts that banked the Scottish Youth Cup.
First half goals from Darren McInally and Rory Wilson put them on a solid footing but a late strike from Murray Thomas had the Ibrox side hanging on in a frantic finale to the game as Steven Naismith’s young side pushed them for a leveller.
Hearts keeper Liam McFarlane had to produce two decent stops to repel Robbie Ure and Wilson in the opening minutes after Tynecastle skipper Callum Flatman had stumbled under the attention of Ure.
The stopper had barely recovered when he was forced to push away another Wilson effort as Rangers looked to get an early foothold on the game.
McFarlane was instrumental again in keeping Gers at bay with a right-handed save to push away a Wilson free-kick from the edge of the box.
Up the other end Callum Sandilands had a header that Jack McConnell was equal to but it was the Ibrox side who always looked the more menacing.
The only real surprise was how long it took for them to open the scoring.
The goal came ten minutes before the interval when a Mackenzie Strachan corner was only partially cleared by Bobby McLuckie with McInally lashing in a ferocious volley.
Rangers doubled their advantage on the cusp of the break with Wilson converting from a Kevin Ciubotaru cross deep into the Hearts box. Wilson’s right foot volley squirmed under the body of McFarlane, a harsh return on the young Tynecastle keeper who had been so influential in the early stages in ensuring his team stayed in the game.
Hearts brought on Murray Thomas for Callum Sandilands immediately after the restart as they looked to find a way back into the game.
McLuckie came close to pulling a goal back for Hearts with a strong run that brought forth a corner but not the goal that his side needed.
Rangers’ sub James Graham had an effort that McFarlane held as the Ibrox side searched for a third.
Thomas, though, netted a glorious strike to ensure a frantic finale to the game. The youngster was tenacious as he fought on the edge of the box to retain possession before thundering his shot into the bottom corner.
McLuckie ought to have taken the game to extra-time after he guided a header over from Ewan Simpson’s free-kick while James Wilson came close with a back-heel.
