Rangers Put To Bed!

Rangers lost their third match in a row as they collapsed against a rampant Bedfont Sports who had not won in their last three games. Playing to the backdrop of Heathrow's busy air traffic at the neat, well equipped Bedfont Rec. Rangers could have no complaints about the result on the superb 3G pitch at this lovely little stadium. Bedfont looked fitter, quicker and more determined than a lacklustre Rangers who looked hungover from last Saturday's defeat at title contenders Flackwell Heath. The visitors started well and from the kick off Ben Sturgess fed Harry Scott whose cross was headed over by Lewis Toomey under pressure from the home keeper. Then Risborough's Jeremiah Luwero fizzed a dangerous ball across the face of the Bedfont goalmouth where Scott was just unable to add the finishing touch at the far post. In the second minute Bedfont's first attack via a long ball over the top saw a mix up between Gary Connelly and Alfie Branwhite, allowing Sport's Beadle in to slot home and give the hosts an early lead. The next action came after 23 minutes when Connelly did well to block a goal-bound effort. The ball was cleared to Branwhite who was dispossessed in the left back position by Bedfont's Scott, the tricky winger then raced into the box un-challenged to rifle into the far corner with a fine finish to double the lead. A minute later the same player forced Rangers' keeper, Craig Hill, into a good save low down. Soon after and Harry Scott almost got one back when he saw the home keeper off his line and shot from just inside the Rangers' half, the ball sailing just wide with the keeper stranded. A couple of minutes later saw some neat play from Wiktor Makowski to set up Toomey, the Rangers striker's chipped effort safely gathered. A great turn and shot by Rangers midfielder, Toby Nnadozie, produced a brilliant save by the home keeper, tipping over a certain goal. On 37 minutes a clever Rangers move ended with Makowski's angled shot deflected wide at the near post and a couple of minutes later Harry Scott's free kick dipped wide too. With two minutes to the break a rare attack by Bedfont saw a foul from Josh Urquhart inside the Rangers area present Beadle the chance to grab his second and Bedfont's third from the penalty spot.

A slow start to the second period as the home side worked hard to close down and deny Rangers the space to play. 10 minutes in and Rangers' Hill did well to take a high ball under pressure. Three minutes later and Sports created a good move down their left before a snap shot from 10 yards was superbly tipped around the post by Hill to deny them a fourth. Rangers countered and Matt Peake-Pijnen's cross-field pass was taken by Scott whose shot was well blocked. From the corner, Urquhart headed down into a crowded area and Luwero poked home to pull one back for Rangers with half hour to go. Another corner soon followed for Rangers and this time Urquhart was desperately unlucky as his powerful header crashed against the Bedfont crossbar; a goal then would have made things interesting! A break from Bedfont saw Connelly cut out a dangerous cross before Rangers were back on the attack. Makowski was picked out by Sturgess before cutting inside to fire just over the angle of bar and post. Another great chance for Rangers came in the 83rd minute after a superb run and cross by substitute Josh Stranks ended at the feet of Luwero who somehow blazed over from eight yards with the goal at his mercy. With three minutes of normal time left a Bedfont corner was powerfully headed home at the near post by O'Neill to make it four. Five minutes into time added on and Rangers' substitute, Liam Enver-Marum, was foolishly sent off for a second yellow card, he had been on the pitch for six minutes. A breakaway for Sports saw Greaver rub salt in the wounds with Bedfont's fifth in the 96th. There was just time for Makowski to force a good save by the home keeper following good work by Ollie Bishop before the whistle ended Rangers misery. This result puts a massive dent into any diminishing hopes of Rangers making the play-offs. It was as poor a performance as I have seen from Rangers this season. Bedfont worked hard at pressing and looked fitter all over the pitch, as well as giving Rangers a lesson in finishing, scoring with virtually every chance they had. I mentioned discipline in last weeks report and we now top the red card table with eight, it is not a record to be proud of!