Football: Hateley double decisive

Kilmarnock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Rangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

TWO second-half goals within six minutes by Mark Hateley sent Rangers into a Tennents Scottish Cup final meeting with Dundee United on 21 May, but the holders were forced to fight every inch of the way in this semi-final replay by a skilful and determined Kilmarnock side who had taken the lead in the first half.

Tommy Burns, the Kilmarnock manager, kept faith with the side which drew 0-0 on Sunday while Rangers drafted in Steven Pressley, Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant. But the Ayrshire side were invested with a confidence which saw them push forward from the start.

Their enterprise was rewarded in the 17th minute with a goal which stunned the Cup holders. Tom Brown accepted a short corner with his back to goal and sent a cross into the area which was headed on by Craig Paterson to the back post. Tom Black stole in past Gordon Durie and sent a low shot into the net.

The immediate response from Rangers was a Richard Gough header from a corner which drifted wide, but the Ibrox side steadily drifted out of the midfield battle as Kilmarnock took a grip of proceedings and Ally Maxwell, the Rangers goalkeeper, was forced into saves from Ally Mitchell then Shaun McSkimming.

The tie was turned around within seven minutes of the second half starting, with Rangers scoring two goals after Kilmarnock had almost made it 2-0. A poor kick from Maxwell was chipped back by Mitchell, leaving the goalkeeper to scramble back and push the ball over the bar.

Within seconds Rangers were level. Durie fired a delightful crossfield pass to Durrant, whose cross was headed in off the crossbar by Hateley, and Hateley scored again six minutes later, side-footing home after a powerful Durie run down the left had exposed the Kilmarnock defence.

Kilmarnock (5-3-2): Geddes; MacPherson (McInally, 79) Montgomerie, Paterson, Millen, Black; Mitchell, Reilly, McSkimming; Brown (McCluskey, 73), Williamson.

Rangers (4-4-2): Maxwell; Pressley, Gough, McPherson, Robertson; Durie, I Ferguson, McCall, Durrant (Huistra, 81); McCoist, Hateley. Substitute not used: D Ferguson.

Referee: L Mottram (Wilsontown).