Rangers Delivered A Broad-Side

Rangers took an early lead before conceding three first half goals in a niggly match at the Tithe Farm Social Club. An early reply in the second period gave the visitors hope before another red card and a sin binning put paid to that as the home side added a fourth whilst Rangers were down to nine men. It all began so brightly as Rangers, fresh from a one-nil victory over Harefield in the week, opened the scoring when Lewis Toomey headed powerfully home from Matt Peake-Pijnen's free kick after 11 minutes. Broadfields were level four minutes later when a deep cross evaded Peake-Pijnen and landed at the feet of Swaby who slid the ball home from eight yards out. Seven minutes later and United took the lead when a long low shot from outside the box by Holland found the bottom corner. Two shots, two goals! Broadfield added a third 10 minutes before the break when Rangers' Wiktor Makowski fouled in the box and United were awarded a penalty, Tomkins scored in off the post. On the stroke of half time Rangers keeper, Craig Hill, saved well at the feet of an onrushing attacker, injuring his knee in the process.

Rangers made two changes at half time, bringing on Josh Stranks and Alfie Branwhite and it had an immediate effect with Makowski pulling one back on 47 minutes, beating two men before rifling home to finish a great individual goal. United almost hit back with Branwhite making an excellent block at the other end. A neat move by Rangers from back to front ended with Alex Kedzierski firing over when well placed. With 15 minutes of the second half played and Rangers sensing a comeback the inevitable happened when Joe Fitzgerald picked up a second yellow card for a high foot and for the ninth time this season Rangers were reduced to ten men. Despite this, Rangers enjoyed a good spell as they went in search of an equaliser, until they once again shot themselves in the foot; this time Kedzierski sent to the sin bin for something said to the referee. With Rangers down to nine men it was only a matter of time before United scored a fourth, Hill unlucky as he tipped a shot onto a post, the rebound snaffled up by Levy, leading to Broadfield celebrating as though they'd won the title. Kedzierski came back on and saved further blushes with a diving header as United threatened again. Despite his injury, Hill was still able to make several good saves as the home side made the extra man count. A good run and cross from Branwhite was well gathered at the feet of Toomey by the Broadfield keeper as Rangers searched in vain for a consolation late on. Some unsavoury behaviour from the United skipper at the end (and during the game) soured a good win for the home side. Not really what one expects from the skipper but that's modern day football for you!

It was a poor defeat against a team that themselves had only won once in their last eight games. Rangers themselves must look at where it has all gone wrong in a team that on paper should be doing better. They have a very good keeper, two experienced centre-backs, a midfield three that many would envy and a couple of proven goal-scorers, yet Rangers have picked up just four points from a possible 18 in their last six league matches. The discipline hasn't helped, as I have mentioned before, and the chances of winning football matches diminish greatly when you keep getting red cards and sin-binnings!