It's Grand Up North!

Rangers' trip to a soggy North Greenford United in West London on Tuesday night produced a game that had everything; Three great goals, goal-line clearances, a penalty save, a sending off and a referee with spirit who stood up for himself on a feisty evening! The pitch at Berkeley Fields was never going to be suitable for a pretty game of football following the recent heavy rain, but it did produce an exciting and hard fought encounter that saw the best team on the night win comfortably. Rangers began brightly against a team that hadn't been beaten at home in the league this season with Wiktor Makowski warming the United keeper's hands with a powerful early strike. Rangers' Harry Scott went close after four minutes when he cut inside to fire inches past the foot of the post. United countered with a ball over the top, a final shot high over the Rangers crossbar. 10 minutes in and a dangerous low cross was well gathered by Rangers keeper, Craig Hill. Rangers' Lewis Toomey then robbed his man in the United area and forced a good save at the near post. It was end to end stuff as a great saving tackle from Alex Sethie snuffed out a United counter. On 17 minutes Hill made a great double save on the line as Rangers allowed a free header at the far post. Seven minutes later and it was United's turn to defend when, following a nice Rangers move, Scott, having committed the keeper, laid it on a plate for Toomey in front of goal. The normally reliable striker could have stroked the ball into an empty net but inexplicably took a touch, giving a retreating defender a split second to slide in on the line and divert the eventual shot away from danger. It was a monumental miss and a monumental piece of defending all in one. In the 34th minute the tireless Ben Sturgess drove into the United penalty area before being upended. The referee had no doubt and awarded the penalty. Up stepped Toomey, who had not missed a spot kick all season, but his luck ran out when United's Patmore guessed the right way and saved well. Four minutes later and Rangers finally got the goal their endeavour deserved and this time Toomey turned provider when he latched on to Josh Urquhart's ball, held off his marker and squared to Makowski who slammed home from 14 yards. Four minutes later and Rangers midfielder, Toby Nnadozie, won the ball before finding Sturgess, who in turn fed Toomey. Toomey turned well before picking out the arriving Scott who jinked around the keeper to double Rangers' lead. On 45 minutes United flashed a rare shot wide of Hill's far post but Rangers were soon back on the attack with Sturgess' powerful strike well blocked.

Three minutes into the second period and Toomey was unlucky not to score when he turned and hit a looping shot that rebounded off the corner of the United post and bar. United came back with a neat move, the final effort blazed over from the angle. Rangers then hit back and Gary Connelly picked out Makowski with a good pass, the latter just beaten to the ball by some smart goalkeeping. Moments later and a United move down the Rangers right saw some good defending by Connolly and Urquhart to force a shot into the side netting. At the other end Scott did well to race down the United flank and fire a testing ball low across goal, with United defending well to cut out the danger. A deep corner followed that was cleared only as far as Makowski, his powerful strike wide of the mark. In the 70th minute Rangers put the game beyond United after some superb work from Makowski. The Rangers man chased down the ball and forced his way past several challenges before squaring to Toomey just inside the area. This time Rangers' top scorer made no mistake, smashing home from 15 yards. Shortly after, an awful free kick by the home team was high, wide and not very handsome. Next, a great ball from Rangers left back, Alfie Branwhite, found Makowski, who raced forward to feed Toomey, this time his shot just wide of the far post. As Rangers consolidated United pressed hard for a consolation. A shot from 35 yards sailed over before a better chance was wasted following good work by the winger, a poor touch in front of goal allowing Hill to collect comfortably. A bad tackle from behind by Rangers' Liam Enver-Marum in the closing minutes saw the substitute rightly given a red card. Further niggly fouls by both sides followed during the extended time added on, with the referee dealing well with the nonsense as Rangers saw the game out comfortably.

An impressive performance on the road at fourth placed North Greenford. Rangers looked solid in defence again, with a third clean sheet in a row, whilst looking dangerous going forward with virtually every attack. Despite two misses that he won't wish to be reminded of, Lewis Toomey is looking good with another great all round performance; He is now joint top scorer in the division! Sturge and Toby Nnadozie have got to be the fittest midfield pairing I have witnessed so far this season and Harry Scott is really coming into his own too. A run of six games unbeaten should give Rangers confidence going into Saturday's away fixture at Chalfont St Peter. Kick off at Mill Meadow on Saturday is 3pm.

Rangers Man of the Match: Wiktor Makowski. Wiktor set the tone from the off with his direct running, pace and tenacity. His selfless work rate and perseverance was infectious, setting the pace for the rest of the team to match. Scored a good goal and set up another through pure guts and determination. Never afraid to shoot.