Davies Pulls The Strings Against The Harps

If you made the trip to Harpenden Town for Risborough Rangers' league match on Saturday, you would have witnessed the best and worst of Rangers. Some very good attacking football and great goals, interspersed with some reckless defending led to a very entertaining game. But in truth, what should have been a comfortable victory for the visitors was made difficult as Rangers almost shot themselves in the foot. In the end a late strike from Curtis Brown gave Rangers a win by the odd goal in five. Rangers were bolstered by the excellent Scott Davies in the middle of the park, the former Reading, Wycombe Wanderers and Oxford United player spraying passes with ease, prompting Rangers forward at every opportunity. A welcome return from injury too for Keiron Schmidt, who had an excellent game in midfield alongside the industrious Ben Sturgess. As early as the first minute Davies tested the home keeper with a lob from the halfway line, the home gloves-man back-peddling quickly to make the catch. Soon after Marcus Wyllie broke through the Harpenden defence, his pass just too far from the outstretched foot of Asher Yearwood, with the goal gaping. Town settled and enjoyed a spell of probing the Rangers backline without troubling Sam Ashmead in the Rangers goal. Rangers came back into it with Davies' long throw causing panic in the Town defence. Rangers recycled the clearance and a superb pass from Schmidt picked out Liam Enver-Marum who in turn fed Tom Unsworth. The right-back fired in a pacey cross that was headed powerfully home by Yearwood to give Rangers the lead. The goal rocked Town and Rangers enjoyed a good spell with Schmidt's dangerous cross-shot just cleared. Then a skilful run by Wyllie, rounding two players, set up Sturgess to feed Yearwood, his turn and close-range effort just wide. The first warning signs for the visitors came in the 17th minute when Rangers left-back, Rico Greco was robbed of the ball a few yards from his own penalty area. The Town striker rounded Ashmead only to be denied by a brilliant tackle by Ellis Hercules, sliding in to prevent a certain goal. From the resultant corner Rangers break away, Enver-Marum firing across the face of goal from the angle. On 25 minutes Rangers were given an indirect free kick in the Town area after the keeper picked up a back-pass, Yearwood tapping to Davies who smashed the underside of the Harpenden crossbar, the ball bouncing to safety. Four minutes later and it was Town's turn to hit the woodwork. A well struck free kick following Greco's foul was curled over the Rangers defensive wall, clipping the top of the bar. At the other end another clever pass from Schmidt found Yearwood on the Town penalty spot. The striker laid the ball back to Enver-Marum who should have scored, side footing straight at the keeper. Moments later Schmidt won a good tackle on the edge of the Harps' area before shooting low past the post. A rare chance for Harpenden followed a long ball into the Rangers box, a fine turn and shot straight into the arms of Ashmead. Rangers regained the ascendancy as Wyllie cut in from the left to shoot low, the keeper gathering easily. On the stroke of half time Wyllie again, this time racing onto a through ball to round the keeper only to shoot across the far post from a difficult angle.

Wyllie was again in the action as the second half commenced; a jinking run and cross, headed wide by Hercules. Three minutes into the half however and the Harps were level. A good move down the middle looked to have been thwarted on the edge of the Rangers area, but a poor clearance sat nicely for Town's Jake Anthony, who curled a lovely strike into the top corner. The home side were level for just five minutes, however. Some good retention from the visitors, moving the ball from side to side as they searched for an opening, then a perfectly weighted ball from Davies found the head of Enver-Marum as he glided to head over the advancing keeper to put Rangers back in the driving seat. Another five minutes passed, and Town again equalised, and what a gift it was. Greco under hit his back pass, presenting Harpenden's Harry Bennett to skip around the exposed Ashmead to score. Minutes later and Hercules went close with a diving header from a Rangers corner, the keeper smothering his effort. Town then almost went in front after a good move down their right, the ball fed inside for a rasping shot that appeared to be diverted onto the Rangers crossbar by the desperate outstretched boot of Hercules. Rangers countered, another great pass from Davies picked out Enver-Marum, the big striker doing well to hold up the ball and feed Unsworth. A fine cross from the full back found Yearwood at the far post, his powerful header looking a goal all the way until a superb diving save pushing the ball onto the post, allowing the keeper to gratefully smother the rebound. More good approach play from the visitors ended with Schmidt firing wide from 18 yards. At the other end Rangers skipper, Josh Urquhart, was on hand to head clear a goal bound lob from his own goalmouth after Ashmead was left stranded. The game switched back to Town's area as Yearwood's tricky run and pass set up Sturgess, his shot straight at the keeper. With six minutes remaining Town fired well wide from distance to register their last shot of the game. Rangers however were unprepared to settle for a draw, a nice move down their right ending with an arrowing shot toward the bottom corner by Unsworth produced a fine save, the ball tipped around the post. Next it was Yearwood, now operating in midfield, cutting in from the left to shoot well over the bar. The same player then tried a bicycle kick following another long throw from Davies, again clearing the bar. Again, a Davies long throw caused problems, the ball half cleared to Sturgess, this time his shot high, wide and not very handsome. The game was won by Rangers in the 88th minute when Ashmead's clearance was flicked on by Yearwood to Davies. The midfielder turned to thread a pinpoint pass out to substitute Brown who took the ball in his stride before lashing home with a low shot in by the far post. It was a lovely finish by the former Winslow man, showing the undoubted potential he has. Four minutes into time added on and Ashmead was on hand to competently gather a difficult high ball and ease the Rangers fan's nerves.

A welcome win for Rangers and a deserved one on the balance of play. Harpenden are a good young side though and always looked a threat on the break, showing Rangers' vulnerability to the counter. Risborough were a threat going forward for the most part but again weren't clinical enough despite scoring three goals, especially in the first half; and with the defensive frailties evident, especially down the flanks, there is still work to do. Good to see Keiron Schmidt back though, he has been sorely missed and one can only hope that the other injured players will recover soon.

Rangers Man of the Match: Keiron Schmidt. Great to have him back in the side. Clever footballer with an engine and desire to match. Mentions too for Scott Davies, a class act as one would expect, and Ellis Hercules who twice rescued Rangers with some brilliant defensive blocks.