Rangers 1-2 Peterhead: Match Report

20 April 2013 18:01
Rangers 1-2 Peterhead: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game as it happened.


Misery on the pitch for Rangers

Rangers capped a difficult week off the field with a poor result on it as they slumped to a 2-1 home defeat against Peterhead in the Irn-Bru Third Division.

Lee McCulloch opened the scoring for the Light Blues but goals from Scott Ross and Rory McAllister sealed the win for the visitors.

The Blue Toon joined Annan Athletic as the only bottom-tier sides to take maximum points from the champions at Ibrox this season.

Rangers were plunged into fresh turmoil when Charles Green offered his resignation as chief executive following "negative publicity" in recent weeks.

The move came seven days after Rangers' board announced plans to commission an independent investigation following former owner Craig Whyte's allegations he was involved in the Green consortium's acquisition of the club last summer.

Reports now suggest Craig Mather - a shareholder and the club's director of sports development - is the front-runner to replace Green.

With the off-field issues once again dominating the headlines, Rangers were keen to deliver a result on the park.

Andy Little returned after a month out of action with a knee injury, while Chris Hegarty was back in the side after serving a ban.

Emilson Cribari missed out through injury and Robbie Crawford dropped to the bench for the clash.

McCulloch fired the home side into the lead with 12 minutes on the clock after pouncing on a loose ball and lashing his 26th goal of the season high into the net.

The skipper should have added to his tally when David Templeton whipped a tempting cross from the right into the box and McCulloch just failed to connect and stab home.

Instead, it was Peterhead who had the net bulging after 23 minutes.

Ryan Strachan floated a corner into the goalmouth and Ross reacted first with a back-post header that fell beyond the grasp of Neil Alexander.

The woodwork prevented Rangers from restoring their lead when Little cushioned the ball into the path of Templeton, who unleashed a shot that appeared to be goalound. The winger wheeled away to celebrate and looked back in disbelief as the effort smacked off the post.

Templeton had another crack at goal shortly after the restart but dragged his shot wide of target.

Rangers were left ruing missed opportunities when Peterhead surged into the lead after 56 minutes.

McAllister collected Steven Noble's pass and rifled into the top corner to claim his 10th goal in six matches.

Rangers swapped Fraser Aird for Kal Naismith as they attempted to haul themselves back into the match.

Little could have levelled with a turn and shot but goalkeeper Graeme Smith did well to smother.

Youngster Daniel Stoney was thrown into the action for Templeton and tried his luck with a shot that dipped just over the crossbar.

Ian Black's effort then fizzed past the upright, and McCulloch drew an excellent last-gasp save from Smith, as the Blue Toon held on for the win.

Source: PA