A Win At Last!

Rangers dished out a five goal drubbing at local rivals Penn & Tylers Green in the Berks & Bucks Cup first round with an emphatic performance on Tuesday night. Penn & Tylers play in the division below Rangers and an upset looked on the cards as Rangers travelled to French School Meadow without a win in six games. The home side had only lost by one goal to nil in the FA Vase the previous Saturday, away at step 5 Arlesey Town, and with home advantage they could have been forgiven for expecting to make life difficult for a side low on confidence. Rangers however never looked in danger, with a superb performance on an excellent pitch, that showed a gulf in class as the home team looked happy to keep the score down from the off. The lively Harry Scott produced two testing crosses early on as Rangers pressed from the first whistle. The home side defended several corners with a couple of half chances not capitalized on by the visitors. Ten minutes in and Lewis Toomey's goal-bound effort was well blocked. This was followed by a superb save by the Penn keeper of Rahman Ajibola. A rare break by Penn saw a wild shot from distance fly high and wide. A series of crosses from the flanks were well defended by Penn before, in the 18th minute, Toomey's header from Scott's corner was blocked, the rebound looped to Joel Read who headed to the far post where Ajibola forced home from close range to give Rangers a deserved lead. Five minutes later and Scott's pass to Toomey was well defended as the Rangers striker threatened. Scott was again the provider with a nice inside ball to Liam Enver-Marum, who fired a fierce shot into the side netting. Read then found Enver-Marum with a clever pass and the big striker followed up with a fine run before sliding the ball across goal for Scott to tap home and make it two-nil. Shortly after, Toomey left the field with an injury and was replaced by Mike Harding. More pressure from Rangers followed with Toby Nnadozie firing just wide. At the other end a long deep high free kick was punched away by Rangers keeper, Connor Hunt and Rangers were back on the attack with Enver-Marum's short free kick to Scott, who shot wide. Moments before the break a powerful free kick by Scott ricochet off a defender before being diverted goalward by Harding straight at the grateful home keeper.

One minute into the second period and Rangers added a third when Scott's cross was not dealt with and Ben Peters slammed home from six yards. Penn countered with a corner that was easily dealt with. Rangers hit back and Scott produced another good run before chipping wide as the keeper narrowed the angle. The Penn keeper did well again soon after, making a good save off Harding who was through on goal. More heroics followed when he saved at the feet of Ajibola as Rangers continued to turn the screw. Rangers left back, Jamie Robinson, with another marauding run, set up Harding, whose shot was turned away for a corner. In the 64th minute a superb move started deep in Rangers half by Josh Ilunga, ended with Nnadozie upended in the Penn & Tylers penalty area. There were no complaints as Enver-Marum made it four from the penalty spot. There was no respite for the home side as Rangers superior fitness showed. A good pass from Enver-Marum sent Scott on his way to whip in a dangerous cross for Ajibola to launch himself at, missing by a whisker. A moment for Penn came when a rare mistake from Rangers presented them with a one on one with Hunt, who saved superbly at the cost of a corner. The following corner was cleared by skipper, Josh Urquhart, and Scott raced to the other end to fire low just past the far post. Soon after another Scott free kick was glanced goalward by Urquhart, straight into the hands of the keeper. A couple of substitutions by Rangers saw Ben Sturgess and Gary Connelly join the play, presumably to manage the game out. With six minutes remaining a mistake by the Penn defence left them exposed and Scott rounded off a fine game by skilfully flicking the ball up and lofting it over the stranded keeper to make it five-nil. In the closing minutes Sturgess couldn't quite get on the end of Scott's cross and Urquhart forces an error from the home side to present Scott with another chance, but the winger could only shoot wide of the empty net from some 30 yards.

An excellent showing by Rangers and just the tonic needed before Saturday's league fixture against Edgware & Kingsbury. It is fair to remind ourselves that Penn & Tylers Green play a step below Risborough but the players stepped up their game and showed a gulf in class in what could have been a tricky game. The home side ran out of steam as Rangers' superior technique, fitness and athleticism was evident for the full ninety minutes.

Rangers Man of the Match: Harry Scott. We all know what a great player H can be and his performance here was a cut above. Involved in nearly every attack, the home side never got to grips with him. Skill, pace and a goalscoring touch too, his second was class.