Paradise Won!

Anyone who had seen the Kamtech Stadium pitch on Wednesday morning, following Tuesday night's youth team game, would have claimed that only a miracle could have got this game on by the Saturday, such was the damage done! But thanks to the hard work of a team of volunteers, including three of the youth team parents and our very own chairman and supporters, hours of filling foot-holes, divots and gouges by hand ensured that the game went ahead. The surface was still very bobbly and made passing on the ground and running with the ball difficult, but it was Rangers that adapted to the conditions better, gaining revenge for a four-nil away defeat earlier in the season at Milton United with an exact reverse score. Following a cagey beginning Rangers broke the deadlock on 13 minutes when a deep cross from right back, Lewis Thorne, looked to be going out for a corner. Greg Hackett had other ideas however and caught Milton napping when he kept the ball alive before beating his man to create space for a shot, rifling home from the angle of the six yard box. Six minutes later and Hackett doubled the home sides lead, calmly slotting home after a neat knock down from Matt Peake-Pijnen's free kick. Milton looked shell-shocked as Rangers threatened to run riot. Ben Sturgess started a good move with Owen James providing Lewis Toomey with a good chance well saved. Shortly after, Adam Smith's effort was parried away by the United keeper after more good work from Hackett. Rangers continued to press and in the 36th minute Hackett picked up the ball just inside the Milton half before threading a pass through to Lewis Toomey. The Rangers top scorer raced between two defenders to slot home past the onrushing keeper and make it three. Milton tried to counter and Rangers keeper, Craig Hill, did well to recover when he spilled a cross under pressure, saving the follow up shot low down. Three minutes to half time and Peake-Pijnen's defensive block cleared more danger before Risborough hit back following a great pass from Gary Connolly to Toomey; a neat one-two with Adam Smith saw Toomey's shot well blocked.

The second period was a little less eventful with Rangers defending their lead well, skipper Josh Urquhart and Connolly were in fine form in the centre of defence and with Sturgess and the tireless Dan West shoring up the midfield, keeper Craig Hill did not need to register a save. Six minutes in from the break and Adam Smith should have scored a fourth for Rangers when Hackett's neat chip picked him out at the far post, Smith's close range side-foot volley going wide of the gaping goalmouth. He made up for it two minutes later though, with a sublime finish from keeper Hill's long ball over the United defence. He timed his run perfectly to beat the advancing keeper and chip the ball over his head into the empty net. With the game over as a contest it was 15 minutes from the end before any further chances of note, and they all came Risborough's way. Following a flurry of substitutions a good ball from Peake-Pijnen picked out the tricky Owen James, his volley straight at the keeper. Another neat move from the home side ended with Manny Williams shooting just wide. A minute later and James produced a good run from the right, his angled shot inches wide of the far post. A West freekick just cleared the bar before a long range shot from Hackett was easily held. In the last minute Williams was desperately unlucky not to have got the fifth when his goal-bound effort hit the trailing foot of the prone keeper, somehow staying out. Williams pounced on the loose ball only to see his second effort blocked by a desperate tackle. A good win against a decent side on a difficult surface. The work-rate from all was excellent. Always good to get a clean sheet whilst the forward line looked a threat on every foray. The substitutions worked well, particularly Alex Kedzierski in defence who looked solid and Williams lively up top. Rangers will be looking to keep up this recent good form when they travel to a resurgent Holyport on Tuesday night, kick off 7.45pm. The Ris' are home again on Saturday when they face Chalfont St. Peter at the Kamtech Stadium. Kick off 3pm.

Rangers Man of the Match: Greg Hackett. Two great finishes, the first all of his own making. An assist too, with a fine pass for Toomey's goal.
A player of real quality and work-rate to match. Already won over the Rangers faithful, causing a buzz every time he gets the ball.