Mealing To The Rescue

Bob Rayner reporting

A dramatic late winner from new signing Marcus Mealing ensured Rangers took all three points against Milton Keynes Irish in a game where the hosts should have wrapped it up much sooner. Some wasteful finishing and a fine display by Taylor in the Irish goal meant that Rangers had to wait until the 86th minute to wrap things up after being pulled back level earlier in the second half. Rangers' first chance fell to top scorer, Marcus Wyllie who scuffed his shot when through with just the keeper to beat. Then Liam Enver-Marum powered a header inches wide following a Sean Coles' cross. The same two combined again soon after, this time Enver Marum's first time shot was parried out by Taylor. Wyllie followed up and his low effort was also well saved. Rangers continued to dominate and a neat move ended with Ben Sturgess shooting weakly at the keeper from a good position. On 20 minutes Irish registered their first shot when a free kick went straight to Jack Brooker in the Rangers goal. At the other end a good run by Lewis Patrick stretched the Irish defence only for his final ball to be played behind Enver-Marum who surely would have scored. A lull in proceedings followed until the 36th minute when Keiron Schmidt's shot struck the arm of an Irish defender and a penalty was awarded. It looked a little harsh and the Irish captain was sin binned for his views to the referee. Meanwhile Marcus Wyllie stepped up to lash home the spot-kick off the underside of the crossbar. Rangers continued to control proceedings and only the pace of Beaupierre for Irish caused any concern. As the game approached half time Enver-Marum neatly set up Morris whose fierce strike was blocked and a minute later Asher Yearwood and Coles combined well to set up Enver-Marum who shot over when well placed (in fairness to the experienced striker it looked to take a nasty bounce just before contact) leaving the Rangers faithful wondering if those missed chances would haunt us in the second half.

Irish registered the first shot of the second half, a curling effort wide of the far post. Five minutes later and Enver- Marum made a surging run into the Irish area and forced a great save from Taylor. The ball eventually came back to the same player and Taylor again saved. Soon after the Irish keeper was saving at the feet of Yearwood as Rangers looked to double their lead. Next up was Patrick, who evaded a couple of challenges before hitting a sweet strike against the foot of the post, this time with Taylor well beaten. Several half chances fell to the home side but the Irish defended stubbornly. 20 minutes into the half and Patrick again hit a shot that just evaded the angle of post and bar. Josh Urquhart then set Coles away and his pass was met by Enver-Marum with Taylor saving well at close range. Then the moment the home fans dreaded; a mix up in the centre of defence near the halfway line saw Beaupierre break away with just Brooker to beat. The Rangers keeper was up to the task and advanced to save at the feet of the speedy striker. The loose ball fell to Irish skipper Spence who finished with a great strike from 20 yards despite the efforts of Yearwood on the line. The goal lifted Irish, who enjoyed a mini revival with a couple of shots from distance, both causing no problems for Brooker, before they looked to sit back and settle for a draw. Rangers' manager, Mark Eaton introduced new signing Mealing in an effort to get the winner and in the 86th minute the striker did just that. After good work from Enver-Marum, the ball was played in to a closely marked Mealing who, despite the attentions of two markers, turned on a sixpence to slide home a shot just inside the post to a huge cheer from the crowd and celebrations from the team. In the closing minutes Mealing just cleared the bar with a decent strike and Wyllie nearly created a third following a great run and cross, with Enver-Marum just unable to get a toe on the ball. There was just time for Irish's Spence to get his marching orders for a needless foul.

In many ways it was a comfortable win for Rangers despite the close score-line, with the home side having plenty of possession and chances.
Credit to MK Irish too, a well organised side that were a threat on the break, who made Rangers work for the points. Rangers travel to Harefield next Saturday where they face an experienced United with a strong attacking forward line and it will be important that Rangers rediscover that clinical touch in front of goal if they are to come home with the points.

Rangers Man of the Match: Lewis Patrick. The teenager's first start for some time following his injury lay off. The left back grew into the game and not only defended well, with his pace helping to cover back, but he got forward more and more as the game went on and was a big threat in the second half. Unlucky not to score when hitting the foot of the post.