Rangers Have The Edge On Edgware

Rangers picked up their second win in a week with a three-one victory over North London visitors, Edgware & Kingsbury FC, on Saturday. It followed the five-nil demolition of Penn & Tylers Green on Tuesday night in the Berks & Bucks Cup, making it two wins in a row for struggling Rangers. Edgware had the first chance on seven minutes, a low drive just wide of the post. It was ten minutes later that Rangers had a chance, with Gary Connelly failing to divert his free header goalward from Harry Scott's corner. In the 19th minute Edgware again went close with another low shot just wide. Moments later and a penalty shout by Edgware was waved away, much to the relief of the Rangers fans, VAR may have seen it differently! Then, Scot fizzed in a dangerous cross that Ben Sturgess skimmed wide with a glancing header. In the 31st minute an excellent run and low cross from the impressive Mike Harding set up Ben Peters to slide home from close range to give Rangers the lead. Edgware pressed for an equaliser and Rangers, led by skipper Josh Urquhart, defended several crosses as the visitors enjoyed a good spell. With four minutes to the break Rangers broke out and a fine reverse pass from Harding set Toby Nnadozie away, the midfielder firing wide with just the keeper to beat. The visitors countered and, from nowhere, an innocuous looking cross came off a trio of players, wrong footing Rangers keeper, Ryan North, to level the scores. It was unsure if the Edgware's Popov got the last touch or a Rangers defender? Soon after and Rangers full back, Jamie Robinson made a superb block to deny what looked a certain goal. The closing minutes of the half had Rangers on top as Harding turned and scuffed a shot straight at the keeper, then Joe Fitzgerald neatly fed Scott, who then found Harding with a superb cross, the striker heading wide with the goal gaping. It was Scott again, picking the ball up wide right before cutting in and firing a shot that the keeper couldn't hold. Peters followed up to slam home the loose ball and send Rangers into the lead at the break.

Two minutes into second period and a neat move from the visitors ended with a shot wide of the far post. A second shot from distance soon followed, this time high and wide. A Rangers counter saw Liam Enver-Marum make a good run before crossing to Harding, the latter seeing his shot brilliantly blocked by a desperate boot. North did well with his feet when sold a little short on a back-pass, neatly beating his challenger before clearing the danger. Edgware had the ball in the net in the 58th minute after North made a good save initially, the rebound slammed home, but the scorer was offside and Rangers breathed a sigh of relief. Rangers and Scott then began to exert some control. Scott cut in from the right to force a save low down. Scott's corner then picked out Sturgess at the back post, the midfielder's header dropping onto the roof of the net. Then, a free kick to Rangers in the 68th minute saw Scott's driven cross superbly headed home by Enver-Marum to extend Rangers' lead. Minutes after, Robinson produced a trade-mark marauding run deep into the visitors area, ended by an excellent tackle as he shaped to shoot. At the other end Edgware were awarded a dangerous free kick on the edge of the Rangers box, however, the shot was sent high into the trees behind. Rangers hit back with another Scott corner met by a leaping Rahman Ajibola, whose powerful header was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by the Edgeware keeper. Rangers then survived a scare as a shot was fizzed across the face of their goalmouth and soon after, North did well to fall onto a dangerous cross that evaded everyone else. Heroics from the visiting keeper followed, when he brilliantly denied both Scott and Harding from close range. Another good save from Scott soon followed. The last word went to Edgware with a shot from distance clearing the Rangers cross-bar with the whistle following seconds later.

A much needed win for Rangers but there is still work to do and they don't come much harder than Tuesday night when Rangers entertain Flackwell Heath in the League Cup. Kick off at the Kamtech Stadium is 7.45pm.

Rangers Man of the Match: Harry Scott. For a second game in a row H gets the nod. He was run close by good performances from Mike Harding and the evergreen Ben Sturgess, but H was again involved in every attacking move with his pace and skill causing problems all afternoon. His crosses and delivery from set pieces are right on the money with two assists to boot.