West Resigns With A Win

The biggest surprise of the day was that, after just 13 games in charge, Mark West and his management team resigned following the game at Harefield United as Rangers wrapped up their first season in the Combined Counties League with a three-nil win. Mark West, assistant Stuart Blaik and coach Ben Johnson, gave their news to the Chairman just before the match before finishing their short tenure after 90 minutes of an entertaining game of football. The Rangers players showed no effect from the news as they began quickly with Urquhart heading Peake-Pijnen's free kick straight at the United keeper after two minutes. Three minutes later and West's curling free kick was tipped away by the keeper for a corner. The resultant corner was met by Gilmore who was denied by a point-blank save. Rangers enjoyed a good spell of possession intersperced with a couple of long Range efforts by the home side that did little to trouble Hill in the Rangers goal. A long throw from Peake-Pijnen, flicked on by Urquhart, caused some problems for Harefield as they scrambled to clear and soon after a free kick from Hackett dipped over United's wall to be tipped over the crossbar. The corner again scrambled clear. In the 33rd minute a clever free kick almost caught Rangers out with Hill making a good save low down by the post. Risborough countered and Hackett's shot was well blocked. United tested Rangers and a good turn and shot whistled past the far post as they broke, before a weak header was guided straight at Hill. The half ended with Hackett just beaten to the ball by the onrushing United keeper following a good pass from Luwero.

The second half began with Luwero firing over from the edge of the box and Harefield replying with a long range shot well over. Ten minutes in and Hill did well to race from his line to clear and just three minutes after Rangers took the lead when Gilmore timed his run perfectly to half-volley home Peake-Pijnen's free kick into the roof of the net. United looked to equalise and four minutes later Hill held on to a low drive. Rangers hit back and James produced a good run, but was unable to get any power into his finish. Hackett then did well to open up and curl a strike just over the angle of the post and bar. In the 70th minute a dangerous free kick from Harefield was headed over Hill and bounced off the top of the Rangers crossbar to safety as the home side turned the screw. United then broke well before firing a fierce shot just wide. Soon after, a scuffed effort fell nicely for Hill as Rangers weathered the storm. A good break by Rangers saw a clever dribble from Smith carried on by James, with the latter unlucky to see his shot hit the United post. At the other end Hill produced a brilliant save from close range to deny Harefield and shortly after another shot by the home side flashed just wide. With five minutes remaining Rangers extended their lead when a fine pass picked out James who raced around his marker and slid the ball home past the advancing keeper. The game was wrapped up in the 45th minute when good work by Smith allowed substitute Toomey to pick out West with a superb pass, the former Thame man finishing in style. It was a good win to finish what has been a strange and unsatisfying season in which Rangers have been frustrating, inconsistent, sometimes poor and occasionally brilliant! The biggest plus has been Lewis Toomey, who has managed to score goals consistently despite the teams myriad of changes in personnel and indifferent performances. Also, respect to club skipper and top bloke, Josh Urquhart, who has been loyal to the end whilst still proving to be one of the best defenders in this league and Ben Sturgess, whose loyalty is also matched by his tireless on-field performances that should be an example to any younger players as to what is expected when you cross the white line for your team. The club will be making an announcement via social media very soon, as they invite applications for the vacant first team managers position.

Rangers Man of the Match: Craig Hill. The three-nil score-line suggests a one sided match, but this was not the case and whilst Rangers deserved their win, it was Hill's saves that helped them to it. Despite struggling with an injury, Craig was called upon several times and was not found wanting, making some superb saves in the bargain.