Rangers’ reincarnation as a Third Division club got off to a shaky start yesterday as they needed a Lee McCulloch goal in extra time to edge past Second Division Brechin City 2-1 in the first round of the Challenge Cup at Glebe Park.

It was the first competitive match for the fallen Glasgow giants, who are more accustomed to the Champions League than the Challenge Cup, since the club was re-formed as a new company following liquidation.

The Ibrox club, whose new owners Sevco Scotland were only granted a temporary licence by the Scottish FA to play the match late on Friday night, got off to the perfect start when Andrew Little gave them a fourth-minute lead.

However, the expected goal-rush never materialised for Rangers, who as recently as 2008 were playing in a UEFA Cup final, and Brechin’s Andy Jackson poked home a 43rd minute equaliser to ruin the party atmosphere amongst the 3,000 travelling support, who temporarily swelled their host town’s 7,000 population.

After a goalless second half, where both sides had chances to win the tie, it was veteran Lee McCulloch, one of only a few first team regulars from previous seasons to transfer his contract to the new Rangers, who spared Rangers’ blushes with a 102nd minute winner to book their place in the next round.