Despite a valiant fightback Risborough exited this season’s Berks & Bucks Senior Cup following a penalty shoot out to Newport Pagnell Town.

Rangers Manager Gary Meakin rang the changes for the fixture, giving some squad players the chance to stake their claim for a starting place whilst also taking the opportunity to rest some of the First Team regulars.

The first half of the first half passed largely without incident until the 24th minute when a Newport freekick on the left was misjudged by the home defence and bundled into the net by Tarik Dallas. Risborough should have equalised on 42 minutes when Alex Cathline was given a clear sight of goal but his effort was well saved by Finlay Penniston-Walker, the first of a string of fine saves by the visitors keeper that rightly earned him Man Of The Match.

On 51 minutes David Appiah shot over after being set up by Alex Cathline whilst two minutes later both EK and AJ made last ditch blocks to deny Newport Pagnell a second. Rangers made four changes on 60 minutes but sixty seconds later they went further behind as a Ben Ford freekick from the halfway line caught out Ben Bridle-Card in the Rangers goal. Credit where credit is due, it was a great strike!

From then on, it was pretty much all Rangers. Both Rio Connell and Jon-Jo Bates saw shots saved by Penniston-Walker who also made a fantastic double save from a Rio / Ronnie Rock double strike. He was finally beaten on 87 minutes when Christian St. Louis was fouled in the area and Niko Muir stepped up to give the keeper no chance from the resulting penalty.

Rangers laid siege to the Newport Pagnall goal but just as it looked as though it was too little too late, Manny Folarin sent in a freekick that was bundled home by the impressive Ronnie Rock to take the tie straight to a penalty shootout.

With Pennsiton-Walker saving two of Rangers penalties but Newport Pagnell converting all of theirs it was the visitors who progressed to the next round.

For Rangers, it is the small matter of a home FA Vase tie this coming Saturday against Northampton Sileby Rangers. Your support would be most welcome.

Come On The Ris!

Grab you tickets for Saturdays FA Vase Fixture here