Rangers Down To The Bare Bones

Rangers were down to the bare bones when they travelled to Holyport last Tuesday night. With goalkeeper, Craig Hill out with injury and Adam Smith working, Ollie Bishop and Jeremiah Luwero unavailable, Rangers skipper and centre back, Josh Urquhart, was forced to go in goal whilst Devin Ballantyne made his first start for the first team. On the bench were two other youth team players, Alfie Peake-Pijnen and Logan Barton along with physio Steve Tavender. All three youth team players had played the night before! Things were not helped when top scorer, Lewis Toomey, was forced off with an injury ten minutes before the break. Given the circumstances the final score of 4-2 to Holyport was not as bad as some had expected. Despite the score-line the first half was a lot closer than suggested with Holyport taking advantage of their few chances. Three minutes in and Ballantyne had a chance in front of goal but couldn't adjust his feet in time. Holyport hit back with a cross flashing across the face of goal. Toomey then did well to create space for a shot that was well saved. 16 minutes in and a mix up between Stranks and Urquhart gave Dzemba an easy chance to give Holyport lead. Two minutes later and a neat move down Rangers' right saw Holyport extend their lead when Hoath side footed home. The home side couldn't have scored two easier goals. Rangers countered and a good move ended with West's pass just ahead of Hackett. In the 25th minute a good run by the lively James was centred for Sturgess just inside the box but his shot was blazed over. James again did well before cutting back to Toomey who struck his shot well, but straight at the keeper. It was Toomey's last action as he left the field injured to be replaced by the young Alfie Peake-Pijnen. The last ten minutes of the half saw Rangers forced back as they struggled to keep the ball. A couple of efforts were easily dealt with by Urquhart and on 45 minutes a curling effort cleared the angle of post and bar. During time added on a Rangers attack was cleared and Holyport raced down pitch for Pedro to add a third with a close range finish.

The second period began with a good ball from Ballantyne to James who raced down the flank, his cross cut out by some excellent defending as Hackett threatened. A couple of minutes later Matt Peake- Pijnen's low drive was well taken by the Holyport keeper. 54 minutes gone and Holyport's fourth arrived with their first attack of the second period, and despite some deserved criticism of the visitors defending of the cross, the finish was sublime as Dzimba took the ball down on his chest and volleyed home from near the penalty spot, giving Urquhart no chance. At four nil the game looked over with Holyport on a roll. Urquhart tipped two efforts over his bar in succession, the first a brilliant save that any proper keeper would have been proud of. A Holyport corner was then headed across the Rangers goalmouth and past the far post by a whisker as the visitors lived dangerously. With half hour to go Barton made his debut, coming on in defence, allowing Stranks to play in his more familiar role out wide, and it made a difference. It was good work from Stranks that set up Rangers first goal when he crossed for James to poke home a consolation in the 70th minute. Holyport came back with a quick break, a shot hitting the far post before Matt Peake-Pijnen cleared off the line. Urquhart furthered his goalkeeping credentials with a good take from a corner before Rangers countered with a good run by West, his shot well saved. Rangers made their travelling support dream the impossible in the 74th minute; a poor clearance by the Holyport keeper was intercepted by Hackett and he lobbed the ball back over the keeper's head from 25 yards to make it four-two. Spurred on by this Rangers continued to search for another with a good ball from Alfie Peake-Pijnen into the path of James, the Holyport keeper just winning the race to clear. A couple of tame forays from the home side followed before Alfie Peake-Pijnen was on the end of a Rangers corner but his effort was blocked. Soon after and James produced another good run, his shot just wide. In injury time another run and cross from Stranks was headed over by Hackett before the whistle blew an end to a strange game of football. With Hill in goal and Urquhart in the centre of defence where he belongs, things would probably have been better and Holyport would have faced a sterner test, but they can only beat what is in front of them, which they did in an efficient manner. As for Rangers, hopefully there will be a few more bodies available for our last game of the season at Harefield on Saturday and we can finish on a high. One good point was that the youth lads all did okay and Barton in particular looked solid and composed in defence in what was a difficult game to come into at four nil down.

Rangers Man of the Match: Owen James. Despite everything, Owen was a thorn in the side of whichever full back he went up against. Involved in most of Rangers attacks and always ready to track back. Earned his goal!