Kilsyth Rangers stay on top despite being held at home

Kilsyth Rangers maintained their unbeaten league record but were perhaps fortunate to take a point from a very tough 2-2 Super League First Division draw with Rutherglen Glencairn at Duncansfield on Saturday.

Glencairn took an early lead through a bizarre own goal and overall had far more of the game.

Only poor finishing denied them taking full points, although Rangers could easily have stolen the win in a late surge.

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Glencairn made a good start and Jay McKay had a good effort go narrowly past in the first minute.

However they were gifted a goal in only the third minute. Mark Tyrell made a long and totally unnecessary passback which trundled into the net while the defence stood by ‘admiring’.

The visitors kept up the pressure and had more than a few excellent chances while Rangers struggled to get into their stride.

McKay was proving a real threat and had a couple of excellent efforts and was unlucky not to get onto the scoresheet.

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Andy Carlin made a great save from another shot and yet another rattled the post.

Rangers’ own attacks hardly troubled Glencairn keeper JC Hutchison and it was hard to believe that the visitors had failed to score by their own efforts in the first 45 minutes.

The second half opened with Rangers putting in a lot more effort and 10 minutes in they were rewarded; a fine cross in from Franny Kelly was

finished off with a diving header by Scott Davidson from very close in to level the score.

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It was a very shortlived celebration though; straight from the restart Fraser Team broke away and had the easiest of jobs to place the ball past Carlin to restore the Glencairn advantage. Another instance of extremely careless defending.

It was a much more even contest in the second half and Rangers were making big efforts to get another goal with a couple of free-kick awards in good positions giving them chances.

A change was eventually made with Corey Pearson replacing Kelly who had put in a lot of great work with scant reward.

Then, with the game entering its last 10 minutes, another good cross ball, this time from Kevin McBride, was headed home by Alan Flanagan in a very similar manner to their first goal.

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The last few minutes were quite hectic with both sides looking for a winner. It did not come and Rangers can count themselves quite fortunate to collect the point that keeps them top of the table, although just on goal difference with Shettleston chasing hard.

Another hard game awaits at Shotts next week where they have failed to collect full points in a very long time; a more positive performance will be needed to ensure success.