SCOTTISH COCA COLA CUP THIRD ROUND

Wednesday 30 August 1995

Away - Ibrox Stadium

Rangers V Stirling Albion

3 (1) v (0) 2

Hateley 14	Taggart 81
McCall 60, McCoist 72	McCormick 86

Attendance :- 38, 685

Stirling Albion produced a spirited and brave performance against the Scottish Champions, that saw Rangers nervously hang on for victory and stumble into the quarter finals of the Coca Cola cup. Stirling found themselves 3 - 0 down after 72 minutes and looked like they were going to concede more, before they summoned all their energy and spirit to produce an amazing fightback that saw the Binos come close to taking this match into extra time.

The Albion playing in the Second Division at that time must have been relieved when they read the team sheet before the match and saw that Rangers would be without the injured Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup, but even without this pair, Rangers still produced a multi million pound team for this game.

The Albion got off to the worst possible start when after only 14 minutes they fell a goal behind. A Rangers corner by Charlie Miller was cleared back to him and when his cross came in it was met on the head by Mark Hateley who sent a long looping header towards the Binos goal , Stirling 'keeper Mark McGeown seemed to have the effort covered but he mis-judged the ball and it squeezed insde his right hand post. That goal came shortly after a Gordin Petric free kick was deflected, which left McGeown with no chance but the ball smacked the post and was cleared to safety.

The Albion suffered in confidence from this early blow and were lucky not to fall further behind when Ally McCoist chipped McGeown but the ball landed on top of the net. The Albion having finally got over the initial shock found themselves coming more into the game and they came close through Steve McCormick . Ally McCoist missed another good chance for Rangers before, Stirling captain Tommy Tait found himself inside referee Alistair Huett's book for a foul on Richard Gough.

The Albion started the second half believing that they could still sense glory in this match and Ian McInnes emphasised that when Goram had to act sharply to thwart his effort. David Robertson then came close for Rangers before the ever impatient Rangers support got the chance to welcome a second goal. Mikhailichenko slipped the ball inside to Stuart McCall, who took a couple of strides before hitting the ball low into the corner of the net on the hour mark. Ally McCoist then added to Rangers tally before the Stirling fightback began.

With nine minutes remaining a John Gibson cross from the right was executed brilliantly by Craig Taggart whose header left Andy Goram in the Rangers goal with no chance. Then with only four minues to go Steve McCormack was on hand to knock home after Andy Goram had saved Joe McLeod's initial effort.

Steve McCormick does his cart-wheel to celebrate scoring in the Albion's 3-2 defeat

Stirling were firing on all cylinders now and looked as if they could get another goal to force this match into extra time. And Stirling should have had another when Joe McLeod and Steve McCormick only had Richard Gough to beat. McLeod ran at Gough with McCormick free to his right. Everyone was crying out for McLeod to slip in Big Stevie but the little winger decided to go on his own and his effort from 18 yards went well over the bar.

When the referee brought the Rangers misery to an end the chorus of boos from the Rangers fans, only added to the joy and proudness that the Albion fans had for their team that night. The Albion had come close to producing their biggest ever upset. Well done lads.

Rangers - Goram, Wright, Robertson, Gough, McLaren, Petric, McCall, Miller, McCoist, Hately, Mikhailichenko. Subs - Durrant, Durie, Thompson

Stirling - McGeown, McKechnie, Watson, Mitchell, McQuilter, Tait, McInnes, Deas, McCormaick, Taggart, McLeod. Subs - Gibson, Farquhar, Armstrong

PAUL DEAS AND MARK McGEOWN KEEP ALLY McCOIST AT BAY

 

"Ronnie, Ronnie " - RANGERS MARK HATELEY IS CHALLANGED BY RONNIE McQUILTER WHILE COLIN MITCHELL WATCHES CLOSELY