Kilsyth's domination doesn't produce the goals

Kilsyth Rangers 0East Kilbride Thistle 0Stagecoach West of Scotland Super League First Division

THIS was the first home game for Rangers since late November and hopes were high that the poor run of results since then could be halted and the climb up the table resumed.

However, despite having almost total domination of the match, they could not get the goal that would have given them the win. This has to count as two points lost rather than one gained.

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A minutes silence was observed before the kick-off as a tribute to former team captain John Fitzsimmons who died suddenly a couple of weeks ago. It was a promising start for Rangers - within the first couple of minutes Dalrymple made a good run and put a tempting cross over but there were no takers. Then Chris Zok got on to a long through ball but failed to find the target with his shot. East Kilbride were hardly seen as an attacking force in the first quarter of an hour and all the chances were coming in front of their goal but finishing was of a very poor order although it seemed just a matter of time before a goal would come. Murdoch, in the visitors goal, was having an uncomfortable time, spilling several shots but no-one was taking advantage of his errors. A couple of freekicks in good positions gave Rangers the chance to test him further but neither effort caused him any problems. The score level at the interval flattered the visitors who had hardly troubled Dukes at the other end during the entire first half.

There was little change in the pattern of play after halftime; Rangers were keeping East Kilbride pinned back in their own half most of the time, indeed they seemed reluctant to commit more than a single player up front. They did have one breakaway which resulted in Dukes having to make a fine save but then it was back to Rangers pushing up, making openings and then failing dismally to make anything of them.

Changes were made as the game wore on but only to the personnel involved, not to the way things were going. With about ten minutes remaining Dalrymple made a great run and fired in a low shot which looked to have the keeper beaten but it slipped just past on the wrong side of the post. A few minutes later he did have a shot on target which Murdoch saved but could not hold and McPeake following up netted but the linesman judged him to have been offside and the goal was disallowed.

In almost the last few seconds East Kilbride had a player stretchered off following a collision with another player, but that was the end of the action. More punch is needed up front if Rangers are to climb back up the table.

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KILSYTH: Dukes, Scott, Carr, Doyle, M. Murray, Williamson, Kelly, Tough, Zok, McPeake, Dalrymple. Subs: Martin, Neville, McJimsey, A. Murray, O'Boyle.

EAST KILBRIDE: Murdoch, Struthers, Russell, Kelly, McGhee, Broadie, Chaplain, Williamson, Watson, Ballantyne, Woods. Subs: Watt, Koukos, Myles, Moore, Orr, Clelland.

This Saturday Kilsyth are away to Dalry Thistle in a league match. Kick-off 2 p.m.

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