Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Scottish Third Division contest between Elgin City and Rangers.
This fixture marked the first time the Moray minnows had hosted the Glasgow side in their history, a fixture that was re-arranged following last month's ticketing blunder.
Rangers moved nine points clear at the top of the division with a resounding 6-2 victory. Andy Little and Lee McCulloch both bagged braces, while Lewis MacLeod and Kyle Hutton also found the net.
Find out how the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text coverage of the Scottish Third division clash between Elgin City and Rangers. We'll have team news for you and quotes from both managers in just a moment.
ELGIN XI: Gibson; Wyness, Harkins, Crighton, Niven, Cameron, Gunn, O’Donoghue, Leslie, Nicolson, Moore
Well, there may not be too many household names among that starting XI, but Elgin go into this game off the back of a nine-game unbeaten run. They're also boosted by the return of their skipper, David Niven (not to be confused with the actor, of course).
RANGERS XI: Alexander; Argyriou, Hegarty, Cribari, Wallace; McKay, Hutton, Macleod, Templeton; Little, McCulloch
Just the one change by Ally McCoist then, with the fit-again Brazilian defender Emilson Cribari returning to the starting lineup. Lee McCulloch will join Andy Little in the attack.
Quotes from both managers coming up...
Ross Jack: "We are going into the game on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run and I cannot ask for any more than that.
"Rangers have started to pick up wins away from home but we have hope that we can score against them and if we can score then we can win."
Ally McCoist: "There is no doubt it will be a very difficult afternoon. We’ve obviously played them in the league here at Ibrox and indeed the Cup as well.
"I thought they performed very well, particularly in the Cup game. They will obviously be a different proposition on their own pitch and I’m pleased it’s a grass pitch.
"But I’ve gone on record as saying I believe Elgin are one of the better teams in the league."
McCoist is certainly right in saying Elgin are one of the better sides in the division. They have netted 33 times in the league this season and currently occupy second place, six points behind leaders Rangers.
However, the Gers have defeated Elgin twice already this season at Ibrox. 5-1 in the league and 3-0 in the Scottish Cup, so I can't seem them causing McCoist's side too many problems today, even with the home advantage.
Rangers took their time adjusting to life in the Scottish Third and struggled away from home initially, but they've set that straight of late. I'm going for 2-0 to the visitors, a result that could put them nine points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.
We're now underway here at Borough Briggs.
Rangers have started with conviction, going straight on the attack through Templeton. Elgin skipper Niven clears the danger and the hosts pick up possession in the Gers half.
GOAL! Elgin City 0-1 Rangers (Andy Little)
Little times his run to perfection to beat the offside flag. He rounded the Gibson in the Elgin goal, and appeared to have overran it at first, before recovering to find the net from a tricky angle. That's his 12th of the season!
BOOKING! Nicolson goes into the book for a late challenge on Templeton. Judging by the treacherous conditions here today, I suspect he won't be the last player to receive a caution.
Gers goalscorer Little appears to have taken a knock. He's left the pitch for treatment, but I think he should be okay to continue.
Hegarty plays a long ball into the danger zone directly from a free kick but Hutton loses possession and Elgin go on the attack. Rangers keeper Alexander gets his first touch of the ball as he dashes off his line to claim a low cross.
Elgin earn a free kick in a good position after Cameron goes down under Cribari's challenge. A wind-assisted ball is swung into the Rangers area, but ends up drifting over the crossbar.
GOAL! Elgin City 1-1 Rangers (Daniel Moore)
Oh my word! What a strike from Moore! The midfielder is given all the space in the world by the Rangers defence, but his finish from outside the area was top drawer. Pick that one out!
Frustration for Rangers. They controlled play throughout this first half, but a momentary defensive lapse has seen them surrender their lead. How will they respond?
You could see just how much that goal meant to the Elgin players by the way they celebrated. The crowd are still in raptures, too.
The wind has really picked up here and Rangers are playing into it. That will give them the advantage in the second period no doubt.
GOAL! Elgin City 1-2 Rangers (Andy Little)
No less than what Rangers deserve! Great work from Templeton on the left. The former Hearts man beat two Elgin defenders and laid the ball across the face of goal for Little to bang in his second of the afternoon.
Another Elgin attack is foiled thanks to a crucial block by Macleod. He timed his challenge to perfection to prevent the hosts from breaking through.
BOOKING! A shocking challenge from Crighton on McCulloch sees him become the second Elgin player to go into the book. He went on from behind and completely missed the ball. That could well have been a red.
GOAL! Elgin City 2-2 Rangers (Mark Nicolson)
A superb edge-of-the-box free kick from Nicolson draws Elgin level, but the set piece was hugely controversial. Hegarty was adjudged to have committed a foul, though the replay shows it was him that was pushed to the ground. McCoist has every right to be angry!
CHANCE! Cameron has an opportunity to put Elgin in front after picking up the ball in the area following a long throw-in, but his bottle goes and he directs his strike straight at Alexander.
There have been some questionable refereeing decisions this afternoon, and McCoist is letting his frustration show. He's just given the official an earful, running the risk of being sent to the stand.
GOAL! Elgin City 2-3 Rangers (Lee McCulloch)
Rangers lead for the third time in the game, and it comes courtesy of another first-class finish. Hutton and Little linked up to find McCulloch in the box and the veteran cut inside and drilled the ball past Gibson, his strike going in off the underside of the bar.
Can the Gers hold on to their lead this time? They've dominated the majority of the game in these wet and windy conditions, but Elgin certainly have some fight in them.
HALF-TIME: Elgin City 2-3 Rangers
What looks like a great advert for the Scottish League on paper has been quite scrappy in practice, but that first half has produced no shortage of talking points.
Both Moore and Nicolson provided a masterclass in shooting, while McCulloch's finish at the other end was equally impressive. You can't fault Elgin's fighting spirit, but they would likely be all but out of the game were it not for the controversial refereeing decision that led to their equaliser.
So there's everything to play for in the second half. A fourth goal for Rangers would likely kill the game as a contest, but an Elgin equaliser could see it go either way. Whatever the case, expect more goals after the break.
The weather has had an impact on the play out there on the pitch. The teams are competing in subzero conditions, with fierce winds and a slippery surface. Rangers play with the wind behind them in the second half, which will give them an advantage.
The action is back underway!
Rangers go straight on the attack as Templeton attempts to pick out Little with a through ball, but Niven produces a vital interception to prevent the striker going through on goal. Elgin clear the danger.
Little wins a corner for Rangers as his cross is hacked behind. McKay swings a low cross in to Templeton, but he is dispossessed and the danger is cleared.
A good spell of possession for the hosts. They've held the ball in the final third, but can't quite create anything of substance. The ball is now out for a Rangers throw in the centre of the park.
Miscommunication between Gers substitute Ross Perry and goalkeeper Alexander almost lets Elgin in for an equaliser. The ball was played long and both players went for it with an Elgin forward bearing down, but Alexander recovers and clears.
CHANCE! A great cross in from the left by Wallace is headed wide by Little. The delivery was top-drawer, but Little's glancing header was well off target.
CHANCE! A good opportunity for an Elgin equaliser goes begging. Alexander misses a cross from the left and the ball falls to Gunn, who misses the target.
GOAL! Elgin City 2-4 Rangers (Lee McCulloch)
Come the hour, come the man - and that man is Lee McCulloch. The Gers skipper takes the ball on the turn and puts away his 22nd of the season to put Rangers in the driving seat.
GOAL! Elgin City 2-5 Rangers (Lewis Macleod)
A great finish from just outside the area from the young midfielder. His strike went through a mess of bodies, wrong-footing Gibson in the Elgin goal, before hitting the back of the net. No way back for the hosts now, surely.
All credit to Rangers. They've come out swinging in this second half and killed off Elgin. Macleod has been particularly impressive. Promising young players like him are the future of this club!
SUBSTITUTION: Robbie Crawford replaces Templeton for Rangers. The former Hearts man is likely being given a well-earned rest with 20 minutes left on the clock.
CHANCE! Superb pace from McKay leaves the Elgin rear guard for dead. He plays in Crawford in the area, who forces a finger-tips save from Gibson. The substitute almost made an immediate impact there!
SHOT! Rangers are battering the Elgin goal now! Hegarty's thumping strike is met by another good save by Gibson, who parries the ball away.
Rangers go in search of a sixth through Crawford. Lee Wallace tears the Elgin defence apart with his space and lines up the sub for a shot on goal, but his effort cannons off Nicolson and away from danger.
SUBSTITUTION: McCleod goes off to a round of applause from the Gers fans. He is replaced by Spaniard Fran Sandaza.
CHANCE! And Sandaza almost makes his presence felt, jumping up for a corner but heading straight at Gibson.
GOAL! Elgin City 2-6 Rangers (Kyle Hutton)
GOAL! Elgin City 2-6 Rangers 6 (Kyle Hutton)
A superb finish by Hutton, who lashes home his first goal for the club to dump more misery on Elgin.
PENALTY! Hutton comes crashing back down to earth, giving away a penalty at the other end, but Alexander comes to his rescue, stopping his second penalty of the week!
It's been a truly dominant performance from Rangers in the second period, a completely different story to the first. All credit to them for getting the job done in style.
FULL-TIME: Elgin City 2-6 Rangers
An outstanding second half from Rangers sees them pick up their ninth win in a row. There were plenty of talking points across the 90 minutes, some superb finishing from both sides, controversial refereeing decisions in the first half and young Kyle Hutton's first goal for Rangers.
You can read our full report on the match here.
That's all from me here today. Many thanks for joining us!
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
