RANGERS stepped up their pre-season preparations by recording a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Falkirk in Alex Totten's Testimonial this afternoon.

A sensational strike from Lee McCulloch after only 22 seconds was cancelled out by Pedro Moutinho after the half-time interval but the Bairns' gave Walter Smith's squad a useful workout before the competitive matches begin at the end of this month.

Jean-Claude Darcheville, who played the second 45 minutes against Hannover earlier in the week, was one of five new signings in the starting line-up.

Alan Gow also featured against his former team while there was places for Carlos Cuellar, Lee McCulloch and DaMarcus Beasley in the team.

Rangers stunned the home support by opening the scoring before most had taken their seats and what a goal it was.

Falkirk were to kick-off proceedings but when a slack pass from Russell Latapy was intercepted the boys in Light Blues went on a swift counter attack.

Barry Ferguson played a neat one-two with Alan Gow before the captain chipped a delightful ball to the back post and McCulloch was there to blast home a low right-foot drive from a tight angle beyond Robert Olejnik.

It was the best possible start for Smith's men who, with Gow and Darcheville in attack, looked in determined mood.

Indeed, the Rocket could have given his side a second goal on eight minutes when McCulloch crossed from the right and Darcheville's sclaffed effort hit the post before being cleared.

The Bairns had their first chance of the game on 12 minutes after the club's inspirational leader Russell Latapy was fouled 20 yards from goal.

The former Trinidad and Tobago star stepped up but Allan McGregor read the danger and parried the ball to safety.

Despite this only being a friendly, Rangers looked pumped up, in particular Darcheville who was causing the home defence all sorts of problems with his direct style and pace.

On 24 minutes, Carlos Cuellar played a long ball over the backline to the striker who controlled the ball perfectly on his chest on the run before launching a powerful left-foot shot into the side netting.

The match suffered a lull on the half-hour mark as Kevin Thomson received treatment on an ear infection.

The midfielder was taken off as a precaution and was replaced by Charlie Adam.

The game eventually restarted but neither team was able to test the opposition's keeper prior to the interval, although the Falkirk fans were off their seats when referee Craig Charleston waved away what looked a stone-wall penalty when Papac clipped the heal of Michael Higton inside the box.

The second-half was to start with Rangers holding on to their slender one-goal advantage but Smith elected to make no fewer than six changes with Roy Carroll, Andy Webster, Brahim Hemdani, Kirk Broadfoot, Kris Boyd and Ian Murray coming off the bench.

Falkirk, however, were to get themselves back into the match with a goal from Pedro Moutinho after 49 minutes.

The ball fell to the striker in the right side of the six-yard box and his deft lob from the tightest of angles gave Carroll no hope on his debut.

Falkirk were in the ascendancy and enjoying the bulk of possession but Rangers should have got their noses back in front on 61 minutes.

Darchville came deep to pick up the ball and he found Boyd sprinting through on goal.

The prolific hitman composed himself but almost missed the ball with his left-foot swipe, much to the delight of the home support.

Darcheville was to replaced by Chris Burke in the 65th minute which led to McCulloch moving through the middle with his international teammate Boyd.

At this stage the pace of the match had dropped considerably although Liam Craig had a shot tipped over by Carroll on 71 minutes while Burke should have found the net with a left-foot sitter moments later.

The Gers then had further chances when Broadfoot and McCulloch brought out good saves from Olejnik with headers in the space of 60 seconds to keep the scoreline at 1-1.

Filip Sebo and Nacho Novo were given the chance to show what they could do when they replaced McCulloch and Beasley and their pace pace in the last third was to put a bit of pressure on the Falkirk backline in the closing stages.

Both teams pushed forward in a bid to snatch a winner towards the end but it was not to be although Boyd would have been kicking himself for not burying a close-range effort, again on his left side, with only the keeper to beat.

Charlie Adam also produced a terrific, curling shot which brought out a stunning save from the busy Olejnik.

Overall the game proved to be an excellent test for both teams and gave Walter Smith the chance to see almost his entire squad in action ahead of the club's two glamour friendlies against Ajax and Chelsea.

RANGERS: McGregor (Carroll 46); Hutton (Murray 46), Weir (Webster 46), Cuellar, Papac (Broadfoot 46); McCulloch (Sebo 76), Ferguson (Hemdani 46), Thomson (Adam 30), Beasley (Novo 76); Gow (Boyd 46), Darcheville (Burke 65)

Subs: Sionko