By Robert McElroy

Hartlepool United 3 (Johnson 37, Campbell 64, Reid 89) Rangers 2 (Stewart 15, Smith 30)

Attendance 1,973

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A young Rangers team, comprised essentially of Academy players, went down to a 2-3 defeat to Hartlepool United on Sunday afternoon at the ‘Prestige Group Stadium’ with 548 Light Blue followers amongst the 1,973 onlookers.

The young ‘Gers looked the likelier in the opening exchanges with a ninth minute snap-shot from Callum Burnside touched over by United’s Trialist goalkeeper, then shortly afterwards Burnside saw his header from a long Lyle Wark ball held by the ‘keeper.

The opening goal duly arrived on the quarter-hour mark – and it was a well-worked counter with Lewis Stewart rifling home from a Calum Adamson lay-off.

Rangers were threatening with almost every attack as the first-half wore on – although Hartlepool were dangerous on the break with Luke Charman a constant threat on the left.

The Light Blues’ lead was doubled on the half-hour mark when the impressive Alex Smith netted with a swerving twenty-yard shot from a Chris Eadie opening.

The home side were far from out of it however – seven minutes later a loose pass out of the visitors’ defence enabled Danny Johnson to reduce the deficit with a low shot from the edge of the area via an upright.

Rangers retained their narrow lead at the interval – but the second 45 minutes would be a different story as United’s experience and strength would prove decisive.

Lewis Stewart was close to restoring the two-goal lead on the hour when, following a clever turn, his shot was blocked by Reiss McNally.

The scores however were levelled on 64 minutes when Johnson broke free on the right, his cutback finding Adam Campbell who made no mistake.

Smith came close to regaining the lead for Rangers ten minutes later when his twenty-yard drive from substitute Ben Hutton’s lay-off flashed just wide of the target.

A plethora of substitutions were introduced in the closing stages by both teams – but as the game approached the closing stages it was the stronger, more experienced Hartlepool who looked the likelier.

So it would prove when – in the 89th minute – Luca Stephenson broke down the right, his cross finding Alex Reid, who bulleted a header home for the winner.

Hartlepool United: Trialist; Benn, McNally, Kouogun, John; Sheron, Campbell, Miley, Francis; Johnson, Charman

Substitutes: Parkes, Stephenson, Folarin, Darcy, Topallaj, Walker, Reid, Hunter

Rangers: Munn; Wark (Hutton 70), Campbell (Hynd 79); Wyllie, Kerr, McCallion (Crilly 79); Adamson (Fernie 79), Burnside (Christie 79), Stewart (Cameron 79), Smith, Eadie (McClure 63)

Unused Substitutes: McGuire, Reid, Scott

Referee: David Webb