Templeton at the double for Gers
David Templeton netted a double as Rangers claimed a 4-2 win over 10-man East Stirling in their final away game in the Irn-Bru Third Division.
Robbie Crawford and Ian Black were also on the scoresheet for the champions while Paul Quinn grabbed a brace for the home side who put up a decent fight.
Rangers made three changes from last week's defeat to Peterhead for the game at East Stirling.
Lee Wallace was injured, Chris Hegarty missed out through illness and Fraser Aird dropped to the bench for the clash at Ochilview. Emilson Cribari returned after a knock and Kal Naismith and Crawford also started.
The match was just six minutes old when Rangers surged into the lead.
Andy Little delivered a tempting cross from the right and Crawford was in the perfect position to rifle home.
At the other end, Steven Jackson embarked on an impressive pacey run from his own half only to fire just past the upright from the edge of the area.
The Shire were back on level terms after 21 minutes when referee Barry Cook pointed to the spot after ruling Kevin Turner was felled by a combination of Cribari and Andy Mitchell.
Quinn stepped up to convert his third penalty against Rangers this season to haul the home side level.
However, the Shire were dealt a blow on the half-hour mark when Turner was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Black.
The midfielder required treatment but recovered to tee up the shot for Naismith only for the young forward to blaze over.
It was Templeton who had the net bulging on the stroke of half-time when he brushed himself off after being fouled just outside the box and sent a superb curling free-kick beyond goalkeeper Grant Hay.
East Stirling equalised five minutes after the restart when Quinn connected with a cross from the right and sent a bullet header past Neil Alexander.
Rangers then claimed a Templeton ball was handled in the box by Ricky Miller but there was no spot-kick award.
The visitors did manage to edge in front again after 65 minutes when Black ran onto Little's pass and dispatched an angled drive into the far bottom corner.
There appeared to be no way back for the Shire when Templeton grabbed his second of the day with 11 minutes to go.
Substitute Daniel Stoney provided a decent ball across the face of goal, which was missed by Lee McCulloch, and Templeton did well to get on the end of it and lash home at the back post.
There was then a competitive debut for youngster Andy Murdoch late on with the points now in the bag for Rangers.
Source: PA
