Hunt The Saviour

If you were to pick three teams to begin your league campaign against you probably wouldn't have chosen the opening three that Rangers face in their first season in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North. Last Saturday they played title favourites, the heavily sponsored Rayners Lane, second up was this game at Reading City, who finished third last season, and next Saturday they travel to last season's runners up, Egham Town. As expected, Tuesday's trip to Reading was as hard as could be expected under the dim lights at Scours Lane and Rangers can thank keeper, Connor Hunt, for earning them a point with a string of great stops and a brilliant penalty save in the last minute. It was a game of two halves with Rangers enjoying the better of the first half, Lewis Toomey lobbing just wide after three minutes. Toomey was through on goal minutes later when he was set away by Harry Scott, shooting over from just inside the box. Good work from Ben Sturgess and Lauric Diakiesse offered Scott the opportunity, the Rangers winger firing wide. 22 minutes in and Diakiesse and Toby Nnadozie combined well with the latter's final shot well blocked by some desperate defending. Three minutes later and another great tackle denied Toomey following another good move from Rangers. Rangers took the lead soon after, a superb diagonal pass from Alex Sethie found Joe Fitzgerald who flicked on to Scott. His low centre found Gary Connelly who cut inside to fire home. It was no more than the visitors deserved but Reading showed some intent following the restart with their first real chance, a move down the Rangers left ended with Hunt making great reaction stop, followed by another save from the rebound. With four minutes to the break a long range effort from City flew harmlessly wide before Fitzgerald replied with his effort also going wide. City showed a glimpse of things to come with a neat move, finishing with a side foot straight at Hunt.

The second half began with Reading showing their attacking intent, a great challenge by Matt Peake-Pijnen clearing the early danger as City threatened. A half chance for City followed, headed well wide. Rangers countered with Scott's cross deflected into the City side netting. 55 minutes and the home side equalised, an attempted headed back-pass by Rangers fell short, leaving Hunt stranded and was pounced on by City who had the easiest of chances to level the scores. Straight from the restart a Rangers break saw Diakiesse denied with an excellent block eight yards out. At the other end Peake-Pijnen made another good tackle to deny the home side as the game flowed end to end. Fitzgerald then fired over from the edge of the City box on the counter before another City effort went high, wide and not very handsomely over Hunt's crossbar. One of City's best weapons, the long throw, caught Rangers out ending with a volley wide of the post. Half hour into the second period and another cross from Scott found Sean Coles who clipped his shot straight at the keeper. City hit back and a great save from Hunt earned them a corner and they should have scored when the resultant cross was headed wide at the far post, the player totally unmarked. With ten minutes of normal time remaining Hunt dived well to push away a goal-bound shot, the rebound fired into the side netting. The home side were attacking in waves with another City header wide of the mark. Another long throw was half cleared by Rangers, with the follow up strike deflected for a corner following a good challenge by Josh Urquhart. On 86 minutes Rangers mounted a rare attack, Scott again the provider, his cut back just nicked off the toe of Fitzgerald. This marked a mini come-back for Rangers with Liam Enver-Marum racing away before cutting in a drilling his effort inches past the far post. Soon after, Connelly headed just wide following a free kick. Dead on 45 minutes and back came City, Sethie conceding a corner with a good tackle. The cross came in and some incredible pin-ball in the Rangers six yard box followed, with the ball hitting the crossbar and Hunt blocking during the melee before the visitors cleared. In injury time at the City end Scott should score when set up by Nnadozie, firing over from 8 yards. Back came City and an almost carbon copy under-hit back-pass from Rangers let City in, this time Hunt making the challenge and conceding a penalty. It looked curtains for Rangers until Hunt dived low to his right to brilliantly push the ball to safety. Rangers could have nicked it from a corner at the end following good work by Enver-Marum. The corner fell to Sturgess, his effort blocked, the rebound falling to Connelly, this time his shot was deflected straight at the grateful City keeper. It would have been harsh on City after mounting an impressive second half comeback, but Rangers will need to weed out the unforced errors that have been costing them goals, starting Saturday at Egham, hopefully.

Rangers Man of the Match: Connor Hunt. Who else? Several superb saves, especially in the second half when City laid siege. Topped off by a fantastic penalty save. The former Everton man showed his class under pressure.