Rebuild to return next season

A MONTH ago relegation from the Superleague First Division was a possiblity, a couple of weeks ago it seemed probable without a drastic improvement, now it must be seen as almost inevitable even with nine games left to play.

After this latest defeat Rangers now occupy second bottom position in the table but with their immediate competitors having a substantial number of games in hand.

With the deadline for bringing in new signings having passed, it is difficult to see what new manager, Eric Sinclair, can do to salvage the situation. The priority now has to be starting the process of re-building to ensure a speedy return next season.

It could have been a first goal for Rangers in more than two months within the first minute of play, Scott put over a good pass into the visitors penalty area, but Neville sent his shot straight into the arms of the keeper. There was not much between the sides early on but another scoring chance for Rangers came in 12 minutes as Martin got round Barclay but could not get a proper shot in, his forward flick being cleared by a defender.

Whitletts had hardly created anything like a scoring chance until the 20th minute when from a corner King got his header to beat O'Boyle and Rangers were one down. A few minutes later and the keeper did well to tip a fierce shot by Davidson over the crossbar. It was still Rangers who were getting in to scoring positions more often though, but the finishing was mostly woeful, the exception was a good drive from Dalrymple which was just wide of the post.

It was Dalrymple again, just after the interval who made a great solo run into the Whitletts box, he went down when the keeper rushed out but the referee declined to rule the challenge as a penalty.

Rangers won a series of corners and had a free-kick awarded just outside the box, but every opportunity was wasted, set piece play seemed to be of little use to a team bereft of ideas.

Then on the hour mark another shocking piece of defending let Cameron in for a second Whittlets goal. Even with half an hour left to play, the game was over for Rangers, heads were down, changes were made to no effect and despite some further good efforts from Dalrymple, who it must be said was the only Kilsyth player who earned a pass mark on the day, it never looked likely that they could come back.

A tame ending to a game which was there for the winning. The run-in pits Rangers against all the promotion-seeking clubs over the next few weeks and it seems unlikely that many more points will be gathered this season.

KILSYTH: O'Boyle, Scott, Carr, Doyle, Murray, Neville, Kelly, McGinty, Martin, Dalrymple, D. Waters. Subs: Williamson, McPeake, McJimpsey, Tough, L. Waters, Dukes.

WHITTLETS: Barclay, Buchanan, McGivern, McKissock, King, Longair, Kerr, Casmeron, Clarke, Davidson, Duffy. Subs. Muir, Patrick, Lyle, Santos, Thomson, Marlow.

Tonight (Wednesday) Rangers travel to face Rutherglen Glencairn, kick-off 7 p.m. On Saturday they play host to Cumnock Juniors, with a 2 p.m. kick-off at Duncansfield, and next Wednesday (April 21) they are away to East Kilbride with a 6.45 p.m. kick-off.

J.F.