By John Turnbull at C&G Systems Stadium
University of Stirling were comfortably beaten on Tuesday night as Rangers Colts grabbed five in Dumbarton.
The students were in for a tough night, and no more so than after a minute when Charlie McCann, who recently signed for Rangers from Manchester United, opened the scoring.
Rangers substitute Robbie Ure grabbed a goal either side of half-time, with Alex Lowry and Charlie Lindsay adding to the scoresheet.
Head coach Chris Geddes said: “We need a jolt just now, a bit of luck. One of their main men scored after a minute. If you lose goals at key times in games like that you are going to struggle.
“First 10 minutes, I thought we were in control, after the goal, but you can see why these boys are at a club like Rangers, they are all good football players.
“It was a good experience for us, I’ve told them to keep their heads high. We didn’t die wondering; we gave them the respect they are due but we also tried to have a go as well and play our way.
“You can’t let them score after a minute. Ben has a chance at 1-0 and a minute later they make it 2-0 with a dubious offside, but take nothing away from Rangers, they deserved the win.”
The students made the journey to Dumbarton to face an in-form Rangers side having lost 3-1 to Berwick Rangers at Forthbank on Saturday. But before the game had really started, the Colts had hit the front. Charlie McCann struck sweetly into the top corner within a minute, leaving Stirling with an early mountain to climb.
Stirling wrestled early control of the game and attacked with intent. A well worked move gave Jamie Penker a sight at goal, but his effort was saved.
Rangers were forced to make an early substitution and Ure capitalised seconds after coming on, following excellent work from Kane Ritchie-Hosler, to double the lead.
The game seemed out of sight right before half-time as Lowry punished Thompson for losing the ball, as he dribbled round Ben Fry and tapped home.
The same problems occurred for the students in the second period. A goal minutes after the restart and another on the full-time whistle, from Lindsay and Ure respectively, capped an impressive performance.
There was no lack of effort from the students though, they worked tirelessly off the ball throughout and made Rangers work for the three points.
The University host Gala Fairydean Rovers on Saturday at Forthbank as they look to get back to winning ways.
Stirling University: Fry, Downie (Taylor 57), Doan, Thompson (De Zoeten 57), Berry, Lavery, Davidson, McGale (Hutchinson 74), McGill, Kennedy, Penker.
Rangers B: Hogarth, McKinnon, Fraser, King, MacKinnon, Miller (Strachan 66), Lowry, McCann, McKee (Ure 24), Lindsay, Ritchie-Hosler (McCausland 55).