Eaton Bows Out In Wembley Win

All the talk before the game was about manager Mark Eaton, who has decided to move into the background at the club and take on the role of Director of Football where he will also be involved in the restructuring of the commercial side as the club moves forward to its next stage of growth. In his final game in charge before handing over to the reins to former Wycombe Wanderers legend and ex Thame United manager, Mark West, Eaton was rewarded with an appreciative ovation from the players and supporters before and after this emphatic victory over visitors, Wembley. It was a fitting way for Mark to finish what has been an incredibly successful five years at the helm. Rangers started with four new faces in their line up; Defender George Gilmore, midfielder Dan West, plus strikers, Adam Smith and Owen James. On a very soft pitch that quickly cut up, Rangers began well with skipper Josh Urquhart going close with a header after three minutes. Two minutes later and Smith hit a fierce near post shot, forcing a good save. James showed his skills early on with a tricky run to the by-line, his low also cross cut out by the keeper. Soon after, James picked out West with a good cross, the former Thame man heading wide. On 15 minutes Smith twisted and turned on the edge of the Wembley area before curling a shot just over. Wembley countered and a superb block from Urquhart kept the visitors at bay. On 25 minutes Wembley's keeper punched Ben Sturgess' free kick out to Alex Kedzierski, the Rangers midfielder firing back low and hard, forcing a good save. Two minutes later and West's dangerous cross-shot almost crept in at the far post as Rangers continued to pile on the pressure. A superb pass from Smith found Lewis Toomey whose fine effort was parried out only as far as James, his follow up was then turned against the Wembley crossbar by some desperate defending. Despite the pressure Wembley still offered a threat and a clever ball over the top almost let them in until Urquhart again saved the day with an excellent tackle. Rangers took the lead on 37 minutes after good work from Toomey set away James who still had much to do. The tricky winger beat two defenders before drawing the keeper and neatly slotting home. With a minute until the break a Wembley free kick was sent high and wide of Graig Hill's goal. In the 45th minute the home team doubled their lead; A powerful shot from Smith rattled the Wembley crossbar, James picked up the loose ball and re-cycled out to Sturgess whose pinpoint cross found Smith gliding into the box. Smith's first touch was sublime as he controlled the ball on one foot then swept it past the diving keeper with the other to delight of the the home fans and his team mates.

It was Wembley that had more of the play in the first period of the second half as they searched for a way back into the game. An early chance was again thwarted by a great tackle from Urquhart to end a dangerous run. West headed a Rangers corner wide soon after. In the 55th minute a clear chance for the visitors was fired over from close range as Rangers breathed a sigh of relief. 10 minutes later a neat move move by Wembley ended with a chip from just inside the box, lofted over the Rangers bar. Rangers rallied and a promising move by the home side petered out as the pitch claimed victory this time. Wembley's last chance came and went with a weak volley wide of the target. With both sides struggling on the sticky surface now, it was the introduction of their substitutes that gave Rangers the legs to finish strongly, and finish strongly they did. With five minutes on the clock Smith got his second and Rangers' third when he arrowed his shot into the bottom corner from 15 yards following some neat work from a corner. Toomey was rewarded for a fine game when he added two goals in the 90th minute, the first latching on to a poor back-pass and the second when he raced onto a through ball to round the keeper for his 21st goal of the season. With the new signings looking impressive the future looks bright, and with Lewis Toomey looking as though he enjoyed his afternoon with a battling performance, the forward line looked very potent. Mark Eaton finished his stint as first team manager as he began it, winning a football match. It was a fitting way for him to bow out.

We must now get behind the new manager and hope we can continue with win over Hilltop when we entertain them at the Kamtech Stadium on Tuesday night, kick off 7.45pm.

Rangers Man of the Match: Josh Urquhart. Mark Eaton's first big signing, Josh has been a great servant to Rangers and his performance today was typical of this classy defender. Several fine tackles and interceptions made this as much a convincing win as the five goals Rangers scored, as the clean sheet proved.