IRISH CUP THIRD ROUND
ARDS RANGERS 0
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 3
By Dessie Adams
ARDS Rangers saw their Irish Cup campaign brought to an end at the third round stage as Premier Intermediate League side Queen’s University progressed as a result of a 3-0 win at Drome Park.
As they have done in most other games this season, Rangers started brightly, but they never really troubled Neil Shields in the Queen’s goal and, despite the locals having dominated proceedings in the opening half-hour, it was the visitors who opened the scoring.
A lack of concentration by the home defence saw Queen’s take a quick throw which was delivered into the box and a deflection off captain Ben Mulgrew found its way into the net.
For Rangers, both Jamie Patterson and Kyle Mackie had good opportunities to equalise but they failed to trouble the ’keeper and the half ended with the visitors still ahead.
The second half started slowly for the home side and they conceded a second goal seven minutes in – again a poor goal to give away with a cross into the box being met by an unmarked Queen’s forward who tapped into the empty net.
Rangers tried hard to open their account but, despite having plenty of the ball, they never really troubled Shields and it was Queen’s who wrapped up the tie with just over 10 minutes remaining as a corner into the box was deflected off two of their players before finally finding its way into the net.
Rangers look ahead to a return to league action against Rosario this Saturday.