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Rangers lifted the Glasgow cup yesterday with a win 3-2 over fierce old firm rivals Celtic in a thrilling match at Firhill. There was easily a lot of distractions for both sets of young players but they coped admirably to put on a fantastic show for the spectators.

The game started off with a high tempo with both sides looking to take an early lead. Celtic's first chance came when Paul McMullan beat his marker on the right hand side and delivered a great ball into the area but the Rangers defence cleared the area well. The Gers had a similar first chance when Calum Waters skipped by numerous players in green to then whip a ball into the box only for Jordan Hart to come and collect.

Rangers thought they had opened the scoring when a free kick from the left resulted in Jordan Hart dropping the ball and Tom Walsh's shot being heroically cleared off the line by Calum Waters.

Celtic looked to try and push for a goal and came close when Calum Waters floated a fabulous ball to Luke Donnelly who took it down on his chest found space and rifled a shot just over the bar. A few moments later Paul McMullan snatched the ball from David Brownlie's feet, the little Celtic striker raced into the box and was after taken down by Brownlie. The referee awarded the Hoops a penalty and booked the Rangers Centre back to most Celtic fans disgust. Paul McMullan stepped up looking confident to take the penalty and the number 9 slotted the ball with ease into the bottom right hand corner of the goal giving Liam Kelly no chance.

Celtic had broken the dead lock and soon after looked like adding another when Luke Donnely chested a ball down to McMullan who volleyed towards goal but the strikers attempt didn't have enough power to worry Liam Kelly in the Rangers goal.

Rangers finally pulled a goal back when Dylan Dykes played a great long ball to Ryan Hardie who controlled well and fired past the Celtic goal keeper to make the scores level once again. The Gers looked like grabbing a second anytime soon and thought they did when Ryan Hardies shot hit the side netting.

Rangers got the their second goal of the game before the closing of the half and it came when Junior Ogen skips by 4 Celtic players and with a bit of luck finds himself in the box, the Rangers number 7 then curled the ball past the Celtic goalkeeper into the back of the net to give his side the lead for the first time in the game.

Ryan Hardie looked like he was getting his second and Rangers third when he chipped the keeper and ran through thinking he was getting a tap in but from nowhere Celtic defender Fiacre rushed in and made a last ditch challenge to keep the Gers striker out.

The half ended with a shortage of drama and goals. No team looked comfortable and both sides were battling for everything on the pitch, anything could happen in the next 45 minutes with both sides both being in with a chance of lifting the trophy, but Rangers having a slender advantage.

Half Time: Celtic FC 1-2 Rangers FC

The second half began and as expected both teams came flying out the traps but it was Rangers who came closest to adding the next goal when Adam Wilson played a through ball to Danny Stoney who fooled the Celtic defender with a dummy left foot shot but his shot with his right foot was punched wide by Jordan Hart.

Aidan Nesbitt showed great footwork to beat his marker and race to the edge of the box but the Hoops 7 dragged his shot just wide of the goal.

Rangers countered a Celtic attack brilliantly and it paid off when Junior Ogen was left unmarked at the back post and volleyed home to double his tally and double his sides lead.

All went pretty quiet for the next 15 minutes after Rangers third goal with Celtic's only real chance coming when Conor McManus drilled a cross in but Rangers defended well.

Paul McMullan looked to stage a late Celtic comeback when he curled the ball into the top right hand corner giving the goalkeeper no chance. That was the striker's second goal of the game and after he was looking dangerous trying to push for an equaliser.

Celtic thought they had that important goal they needed that would take the game further than 90 minutes when Aidan Nesbitts shot was deflected onto the post leaving many Hoops fans with their head in their hands.

Danger man Paul McMullan showed great silky feet to beat 3 Gers players and the lay of Nesbitt on the edge of the box but again the woodwork denying Celtic that important equaliser.

That was the last real chance of the game as Rangers stayed firm at the back and held on to the slender lead they had to the final whistle. Rangers players management and fans alike were delighted to claim the victory in the final and especially over their rivals. It was a great game to watch with its fair share of drama goals and great attacking football from both sides but Rangers were this years Glasgow cup champions and no one could say they didn't deserve it.

Full Time:  Celtic FC 2-3 Rangers FC

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Hampden in the sun would be the venue for this Scottish cup tie and the two teams on the park were both determined to reach the next round of the Scottish cup. The spiders were decked out in their usual white and black and Rangers were all in blue as the referee got us under way.

With both teams playing with a single out and out forward nearly all of the early play was concentrated in the middle of the park and any number of direct balls from back to front were easily swept by both defences as the front men struggled for service.

The first real chance of the game didn’t arrive until after 20 minutes when Gers Darren Ramsay met a cross in the box but his header was wide and soon after Tom Walsh cut inside but his shot was over the bar. Next to threaten would be Queens Park and they almost took the lead when Galloway met a corner from the right and his shot had keeper Blair Currie well beaten only for Walsh to clear off the line.

The breakthrough would finally come just before half time following another corner but unfortunately for the home side it would be Rangers who would be celebrating. As the ball was swung in Queens goalie Coll got two hands to it but collided with the player in front of him and the ball fell to Luca Gasparotto who calmly stroked it home amid protests from the Queens players to give his side the lead going into the break.

Half Time: Queens Park 0-1 Rangers FC

After such an intense first half it was obvious that the side with the better conditioning would have the greater chance of winning this match and so that proved to be.

Rangers seemed to have an extra gear in the second half and often found themselves clean through on goal as Queens struggled to create chances.

Of those opportunities many were being swept up by substitute Craig Halkett and it was his composed chest down and shot that saw the ball break to Callum Gallagher who fired under Coll to double his side’s advantage.

Next up was another substitute as Jamie Burrows found himself in acres of space following Ramsey’s break down the left and square ball. He easily stepped past the last defender before curling his shot home low into the net.

Finally, with time running out, Halkett was perfectly placed when Andy Murdoch sent a cross along the six yard box and he gladly tapped home to make it four and put Rangers into the fourth round.

Full Time: Queens Park 0-4 Rangers FC