TEEN star Fraser Aird lapped up his trip to the seaside with a late winner for Rangers.

Paul McManus cancelled out Jon Daly’s opener for Arbroath before midfielder Aird’s 87th-minute winner.

And it sends Ally McCoist’s men into the Ramsdens Cup Final on a wave of confidence.

The champions will face Raith on Sunday bidding to add the second piece of silverware in a possible unique treble of the League, Ramsdens Cup and Scottish Cup.

McCoist (below) said: “It’s massively important for us to go on and win the cup. Raith are far better than their league position suggests.

“I’ve seen them a few times and had a good chat with Terry Butcher about them and he knows just how much of a threat they can be because they knocked Hibs out of the Cup. It’s a proper game and we’re looking forward to it – as are Raith.

“I know they have sold out their allocation because I have been on to Turnbull Hutton (the Raith chairman) to see if he has any spare tickets and none are coming my way. That shows what this game means to everyone.”

Rangers star Kyle Hutton added: “As a lower-league side it would be an amazing achievement to clinch this treble. We are focused and hope we can take a big step forward against Raith.”

Gers have visited some quirky grounds over the past few years but few could have the character and unique weather conditions of Gayfield, which sits just yards from the North Sea.

And the North Sea is exactly where the ball ended up after just 60 seconds.

With Arbroath trying to make the best of the swirling wind, Rangers skipper Lee McCulloch booted the ball away from Bobby Linn and into the water.

Seconds later McCulloch was a relieved man as Gers allowed Kevin Nicoll a free crack on goal from 15 yards. His drive went inches over, though.

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Rangers raced straight up the park to threaten Sandy Wood’s goal. Daly had his first attempt in five minutes but ?his half volley flew over

Arbroath were defying their rock- bottom status and Linn was impressing. He had a chance in nine minutes but failed to connect properly and his effort trundled into Cammy Bell’s hands.

Gers had loud appeals for a penalty turned down when McCulloch’s low drive appeared to hit Alan Cook’s hand.

At the other end Michael Travis met a Paul Sheerin corner to head over.

Arbroath were giving as good as they got and Linn then had two chances inside five minutes. His first effort was well blocked by Bell while his second rippled the side-netting from 20 yards.

But it was Gers who made the breakthrough, much to the delight of their vocal travelling support.

Aird’s deep cross was met by Daly who claimed his 25th goal of the season with a close-range blast.

Aird, 19, almost doubled their lead as he cracked a drive off the underside of the bar. The Canadian-born star was proving to be the most influential player in the game and bang on half-time he had a chance to make it 2-0.

His curling free-kick appeared to be heading for the top corner before Wood reached out to turn it over.

Despite the miss, the Rangers fans were clearly in party mode. Chants of “Championees” were punctuated with songs about Gers lifting the Scottish Cup. The Ramsdens Cup didn’t seem to merit a mention.

But McCoist’s side still has a bit of work to do and that was underlined in 61 minutes as Arbroath equalised.

It was a defensive disaster and Gers will have to up their game if they are to upset Dundee United in the Scottish Cup semi-final next month.

Sebastian Faure’s misplaced header fell straight to McManus who spotted Bell out of position and drilled the ball beyond the Ibrox No.1.

Rangers tried for a quick-fire response with Aird again at the heart of their move.Robbie Crawford’s cross was flicked on by Aird into the path of Daly but he snatched at the chance and fired wide.

Suddenly the stroll in the park for Gers that was anticipated by many pre-match was becoming a slog.

Arbroath had a renewed spring in their step as they hunted for an unlikely winner. And as the pressure began to tell on the visitors, so their tempers frayed.

Ricky Foster was first into Euan Anderson’s book before Daly pushed Ross Chisholm. Furious Daly felt he had been fouled by Chisholm and knocked the Arbroath man to the deck.

The home crowd called for Anderson to produce a red but he decided yellow was a harsh enough punishment.

Then, just when it seemed Arbroath had done enough to snatch a valuable point, Rangers nicked it.

Sub Calum Gallagher’s low drive cannoned off Daly and again off Aird to stumble over the line.

And there it was. With quite possibly the scrappiest goal of McCoist’s reign Rangers claimed the win that pushed Arbroath towards the trapdoor.