Under 18’s: Kilmarnock 2-0 Rangers

Kilmarnock’s Under 18’s extended their lead at the top of the CAS Elite League with a fine 2-0 win over Rangers.

The young team’s victory against the joint-second side twinned with a defeat for Aberdeen sees the Ayrshire side 12 points clear at the top.

The Dons have four games in hand however, and Killie face a trip to the Granite City on Friday for an exciting clash.

Grant Marchant and Ben Brannan were on the scoresheet for Chris Burke’s side.

Cole Burke forced Halliwell into a save just seconds into the game as his 20 yard effort was stopped well.

The Killie defence blocked well in the fourth minute after a close-range shot looked sure to be heading goal bound.

Killie No 1 Brown was called into action when a Willox cross-come-shot had to be tipped out for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece, both Burnside and Wyllie had chances to fire Rangers ahead, but the former was blocked with the latter flying over the crossbar.

Burke had another effort from distance in the 22^nd minute, it fizzed wide to his dismay.

Two minutes later Marchant was slipped through on goal by Burke, and the former made no mistake in firing across Halliwell from the edge of the box.

Brown in the Killie goal then had the better of Willox twice as he pulled off two great saves back-to-back.

Marchant went ever so close to doubling his money in the 42^nd with a fine strike from distance, but Halliwell saved it.

Killie were reduced to 10 men in the 69^th minute when Daniel Devlin was sent off for violent conduct.

Burke had an incredible chance to make it 2-0 in the 76^th minute when he lobbed Halliwell from 25 yards, but his effort thundered off the crossbar and down on the line, somehow staying out.

Brannan then secured three points in the dying seconds with a stunning free-kick which left Halliwell helpless.