Rangers claimed the Petrofac Training Cup today at the fourth time of asking after scoring 4 against Peterhead with none in return at Hampden. The Ibrox side had suffered three previous exits from the lower-league knock-out competition but there was never any danger of a repeat after Ally Gilchrist's own goal put Mark Warburton's side ahead. James Tavernier smashed home a stunning volley for the second while late goals from Andy Halliday and Kenny Miller got the party started. That left it to captain Lee Wallace to lead the newly-crowned Championship winners up the Hampden steps to collect the trophy for what should be the first and last time.
Cheered on by a huge 48,000-strong crowd, the Light Blues recorded what they hope will be the first of two wins at the National Stadium in the space of a week as they chase a trophy treble. The Light Blues could have used the game as a dry run for next week's Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic at the same venue and even named the side largely expected to take on their Old Firm rivals, with on-loan Tottenham defender Dom Ball anchoring the midfield.
Peterhead, meanwhile, brought back the six men rested by boss Jim McInally for last week's 2-0 defeat at Forfar, including 31-goal striker Rory McAllister. The League One minnows looked up for the battle as the game got underway and it took Gers quarter of an hour to muster their first attacks of note, with Harry Forrester and Halliday both seeing shots deflected out for corners - but it was a low-key start from Warburton's team. However, they were given a helping hand after 18 minutes when Gilchrist put into his own net. The Blue Toon defender tried to cut out Miller's cross after the veteran Rangers' man drove down the left and slung over a low cross but the defender's intervention sent the ball past goalkeeper Smith and the Ibrox men finally took control. Losing such a meek opener seemed to deflate Peterhead and they retreated into a defensive shape. Miller tested Smith when he flicked a header goal-ward, while the former Ibrox stopper dealt comfortably with Tavernier's 18-yard strike. But the right-back's next effort five minutes before the break was unstoppable. With the ball bouncing around the Peterhead box, Miller nudged it back for the Englishman, who lashed a sensational volley into the top corner.
Scott Ross came close to a lifeline for McInally's team but saw his header from Kevin Dzierzawski's corner blocked on the line by Jason Holt. The bumpy Hampden surface - relaid only last month - hardly helped Gers' passing game but Halliday had no excuses as he failed to find the net with a close-range header 15 minutes into the second period. Rangers' pace dropped in the closing stages but they could have extended their lead had Miller and Halliday both not somehow contrived to miss from point-blank range. But both made amends in the final five minutes. First Halliday rolled home his 85th-minute spot-kick after Blue Toon skipper Steven Noble felled Holt as he drove into the box, while Miller swept in the fourth after Michael O'Halloran danced his way to the by-line before cutting back.