TOMMY WILSON took a squad of youth players to Northern Ireland last week and they proved too strong for Irish Premier League opponents Ballymena United and Glenavon.

Despite playing against senior opposition the Gers' young guns displayed great maturity to overcome both sides and had clearly benefited from a rigorous pre-season training programme prior to their trip across the water.

The Light Blues looked sharp and fit on their first outing against Ballymena on Thursday night even although they had to endure a couple of early scares before securing a 3-1 win.

After only 10 minutes Neil Teggart was upended in the penalty box and the same player stepped forward and coolly slotted his spot-kick into the net.

The Braidmen had their tails up at this stage and were, somewhat bizarrely, awarded a second penalty when the ball appeared to hit the hand of a Gers' defender.

This time around, however, Davitt Walsh's poor effort was saved before being cleared and this was a turning point in the game as the official then gave a third penalty, this time to Rangers, on 34 minutes

Chris Craig placed the ball on the spot and his execution was excellent.

Only three minutes later and the visitors were in front with a superb second goal.

Rangers broke down the right flank with pace and when the cross came in Steven Lennon was there to loop a fantastic header beyond Alan Blayney in United's goal.

After the half-time interval Ballymena's tempo began to fall and the fitness and technique of the Gers' starlets began to show.

The third and final goal of the game came in the 53rd minute when Blayney made a fantastic one-handed save but the ball fell kindly to Andrew Shinnie who tapped it home from close range to seal the win.

Having shown a great deal of character to fight back from a one-goal deficit against Ballymena, confidence was high going into the club's second friendly against Glenavon on Saturday.

And once again the Rangers players put in a strong performance with a convincing 3-0 triumph at Mourneview Park.

A goal just before half-time and two further strikes in the second period proved enough on the day for Wilson's boys but again they got off to a slow start.

The home side had two chances in the opening ten minutes to break the deadlock with Scott Gallacher the busier of the two keepers in the early stages.

Indeed, Glenavon proved to be stubborn opposition in the first-half but were dealt a cruel blow on 43 minutes when they fell behind.

Rangers produced a rapid counter attack which led to Andrew Shinnie blasting home a powerful shot beyond Robert Robinson.

Like the match against Ballymena, the second-half was one-way traffic with the visitors moving swiftly through the gears.

Steven Lennon doubled his side's advantage with a beautiful chip before Glenavon's substituted keeper Tuda Murphy made it three when he punched a Giorgos Efrem corner into his own net.

Back on home soil Billy Kirkwood's under-19s were also showing their quality with a 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic at Murray Park on Friday, July 18.

Goals from Kal Naismith, Isa Bagci, Ross Perry and a trialist gave last season's double winners an impressive victory and provides yet more hope for the forthcoming campaign.

Pictures courtesy of Drew McWillams.