Rangers progressed to the Preliminary Round of the Emirates F.A. Cup with victory away at Abingdon United on a baking hot day in North Oxfordshire.

It didn’t take Risborough long to make the break-through, two minutes in fact, when a hopeful ball from Jack Hutchinson was misjudged by a home defender allowing Josh Williams to calmly chip past the onrushing Eddie Cavanagh in the Abingdon goal.

Indeed, most of the early action took place in the Abingdon half of the pitch as the visitors put together some nice, quick passing, moves. However, it was a routine straight from the training ground – and kudos to Assistant Manager Wes Daly for drumming it into the players – that led to the second goal. A 22nd minute corner from Rio Connell was played to Niko Muir who in turn found Josh Williams. He then exchanged passes with Muir who guided his effort past Cavanagh. Great stuff.

The only downside of the first half hour was an injury to forward Elliott Buchanan who was replaced by Bradley Bubb on 27 minutes. Still, Rangers continued on the attack and on 35 minutes Muir probably should have done better with a pull back from Rio that he put narrowly wide. Half time, 2-0 to Rangers.

The second half began very much in the same way as the first period. Jordan ‘AJ’ Ajanlekoko hit the Abingdon bar on 48 minutes and a minute later both Bubb and Muir were denied by a superb double save from Cavanagh. Sixty seconds later a Connell corner had to be headed off the line by the home defence as Rangers went in search of a third goal to properly kill the game off.

That goal never materialised, however, and Abingdon gradually started to get into the game. The lively Doyin Adefila sent in a shot on 57 minutes that was comfortably dealt with by Ben Bridle-Card. However, he was powerless to stop Adefila on 74 minutes as Abingdon strung together some quick one touch passes that were finished off by the winger poking the ball past Bridle-Card.

Manager Gary Meakin then made full use of his substitutes, all of whom put in a decent shift to help see the game out.

Rangers will now travel to Somerset to take on Wells City who play in the Jewson Western League Division 1, the same Step 5 level as Risborough. This will be a first ever meeting of the two clubs and the winner will progress to the First Round Qualifying of the FA Cup.

Come On The Ris!