Rangers' Bank Holiday Blues

If the travelling Rangers fans were expecting a positive reaction following Saturday's mauling, they were sadly mistaken, as Milton United ran out four-nil winners in this Bank Holiday Monday league clash. It was another sloppy display by Rangers as United found it too easy to carve them open in the first half and were then grateful recipients of some awful mistakes in the second. If one could offer up some kind of excuse, Rangers were missing five key players in the form of centre back and skipper, Josh Urquhart, centre back Gary Conolly, left back Matt Peake Pijnen, striker Lewes Toomey and forward Lynton Sackey, and it showed as the makeshift back four looked stretched. Midfielder Ben Sturgess filled the right back spot, regular right back, Joe Fitzgerald moved to left back and centre half Joel Read was playing his first game of the season. Things weren't helped when their other centre back, Alex Sethie, had to come off with concussion in the 35th minute. Rangers had the first attack when Toby Nnadozie and Keiron Schmidt did well to provide Harry Scott with an opportunity to shoot, the winger denied at the near post. United scored their first on five minutes when a ball over the top caught Rangers square and following a nice cutback the ball was drilled into the net giving Connor Hunt no chance. Rangers countered with Scott firing straight at the United keeper. United broke and Hunt made a good save from a smart shot, before gathering a header from the rebound. Quarter hour in and a Milton lob from halfway sailed past the Rangers post harmlessly. Schmidt did likewise soon after, his lob sailing over the United crossbar. Sturgess then saw his cross deflected into the United keepers hands as Rangers threatened and soon after a good pass from Schmidt almost put Michael Harding in but the striker delayed his shot, eventually screwing his effort wide. Schmidt again did well to win a ball on the edge of the Milton box before hitting a dipping shot just over. United then surged forward and a 20 yard drive was well saved low down by Hunt, the subsequent corner also well claimed by Rangers gloves-man under pressure. The 26th minute and Hunt again kept Rangers in it with a parried save after United had cut through the Rangers defence. A few minutes later and a Rangers long ball to Rahman Ajibola caught the home side napping and his flick was well read by the keeper to deny Liam Enver-Marum. Some neat football from United followed as they again cut through before a stinging shot was beaten out by Hunt followed by Sethie bravely throwing himself in front of the follow up shot, taking the ball full in the face for his efforts. It almost knocked him out and he was wisely replaced by Josh Lunga. Play resumed and an overhead attempt from United went high over the bar. Rangers should have equalised three minutes before the break when a good pass from Lunga found Harding who set up Enver-Marum, who blazed over from a good position. The 45th minute saw United extend their lead when an uncontested dribble in the box as Rangers defenders looked on like spectators, ended with an easy finish. One had to feel sorry for Hunt! There was just enough time for Rangers to create a chance as Fitzgerald's good run set up Ajibola, but the midfielder fired over.

The second half began with an early chance for Enver-Marum who fired over. He was in again two minutes later, this time delaying his shot before running out of space; He really should have shot sooner! It was a good response from the visitors however and moments later Scott's curling free kick was brilliantly tipped over by the United keeper. Enver-Marum should have reduced the deficit in the 55th minute when he was through with just the keeper to beat but he tried to clip it over the advancing keeper, who gratefully gathered. Following a good start to the half Rangers committed suicide straight after Enver-Marum's miss when Schmidt was dispossessed on the halfway line and with both centre backs out of position the United striker had the simple job of running through to slide the ball past the despairing Hunt. Rangers looked for a consolation as Harding was set up by Scott, the former's strike well blocked by an outstretched leg. A free header following a United corner was well saved by Hunt and Rangers broke again, winning a free kick high up. The United keeper failed to hold Scott's free kick and Nnadozie should have scored from close in, side-footing the loose ball wide with the goal at his mercy. With 15 minutes remaining Scott fires a low ball across the face of the United goalmouth with no takers to add the finishing touch. Schmidt again volleys over, this time from 25 yards. A lucky break for United from a mishit clearance almost reached a lunging foot at the other end. Next up and Enver-Marum timed his run well, onto a neat through ball, United's keeper rushing from his line to deny him. In the 40th minute Scott's curling shot sailed just over as Rangers continued to search for a way back. A minute later and a routine Milton freekick was gathered at the second attempt by Hunt but with two minutes left on the clock, another howler by Rangers as Joel Read lost the ball a couple of yards outside his penalty area, allowing the tackling player to race in on Hunt before sliding the ball to his unmarked colleague to score the simplest of tap-ins. The final say of the match saw young Alfie Peake Pijnen's cross from the left end with a poor header by Enver-Marum. It summed up a bad weekend for Rangers, who could have played for another 90 minutes and not scored, whilst gifting chances to a grateful opposition at the other end! Rangers manager, Mark Eaton, must be hoping that his walking wounded and unavailable players are fit and available for next Saturday's fixture at Hilltop, where a win is now essential. Kick-off at Hilltop, who play at Hillingdon Borough FC's ground in Ruislip, is 3pm.