U18s Report: Rangers 0 Hibs 3

The wee Hibees gained ground in the race for the CAS Elite Under-18 League title with a brilliant 3-0 away win over second-place Rangers.

Dean Cleland hit a brace and Josh McDonald curled in a fantastic free-kick to give Hibs Under-18s their first league win over the Glasgow club this season.

Darren McGregor made just one change to his side, with Jamie McMurdo returning from suspension to reclaim his spot in the starting XI.

Neither side were able to create from open play during a tight opening stage, with Rangers’ Callum Burnside seeing his dead-ball effort whistle past the post.

Firing back their own warning shot, Hibs almost netted less than 60 seconds later. A fluid attack culminated in Cleland’s clever header — which forced a superb stop from Rangers number one Rydnn McGuire.

Ryan Mallon was called into action for the first time on 18 minutes, with our keeper getting down low to deny Lewis Stewart’s precise finish.

A glancing header from Christopher Eadie soon clipped the crossbar as the home side turned up the pressure under the searing sun in Auchenhowie.

On the stroke of half-time Hibs had two great chances to take the lead.

First, excellent midfield battling from McDonald before a piercing dribble from Cleland led to Rory Whittaker’s stinging strike that was pushed wide by McGuire.

Rangers broke forward from the chance, only to be hit again by another blitzing Hibs attack. This time Cleland took on the shot, after bursting through the host’s backline, but his shot dragged just wide.

Within two minutes of the second-half restart, Cleland was twice denied by two blocks as the wee Hibees sought to take entire control of proceedings.

Hibs kept the pressure on as McMurdo twice came close. The attacker fired both over and wide in quick succession from a pair of attempts from 20 yards.

The Hibees’ excellent start to the second 45 paid off on 62 minutes. An initial strike from Whittaker’s wide delivery fell to Cleland, who made no mistake in slamming home the opener beyond McGuire from close range.

Desperate to find a leveller, Rangers began to show the same urgency that brought about a much more equal first 45.

Stewart and Calum Adamson had long-range hits held by Mallon either side of a solo effort from Hibs substitute Luke Davidson that was well-parried wide by McGuire.

Screams of frustration rung around the sun-kissed ground as a Rangers defender wrestled with Cleland as the forward bore down on goal with 10 minutes to play.

That anger promptly turned into euphoria for the Hibees as McDonald sensationally curled in the subsequent free-kick from 25 yards to double our lead with 10 minutes remaining. 

A third would come in stoppage time to ensure Hibs secured all three points. After taking on the Rangers backline with a sublime solo run, Cleland finished off the match with a composed finish past McGuire.

The pivotal result puts Darren McGregor’s outfit six points clear in top spot ahead of Rangers with two matches to play in the CAS Elite Under-18 League.