Match report by Bob Rayner

Rangers travelled to previously unbeaten Harpenden Town in the league on Tuesday night and secured the three points in an exciting game with a brace from Jordan Ajanlekoko and a brilliant solo finish by Elliot Buchanan. The win by three goals to two was Rangers third straight win as they look to make up for their late start to the campaign. Despite Rangers enjoying the better of possession for periods of the game, Harpenden were a huge threat going forward and gave the visitors plenty to concern themselves with. Risborough's Harry Stratton tested the home keeper early on with his low shot and Rangers created several half chances as they kept the ball at will in the opening minutes. However, it was the home side that took the lead after nine minutes when they pounced on a poor pass just inside the Rangers half and with the visitors defence slow to react, Town had acres to attack down Risborough's left. The eventual shot was parried by Ben Bridle-Card and the loose ball was backheeled by Town's Jones to trickle agonisingly over the line. Five minutes later and Rangers' Exauce Kifwasima produced a good run and cross to find Stratton, the latter shooting straight at the keeper. On the quarter hour Rangers equalised following a neat move, when Hassan Jalloh slipped a ball through to Ajanlekoko who cleverly lifted the ball over the keeper into the net. Moments after the restart a great move by Rangers saw Buchanan have the ball in the net, only to see the flag raised for offside. Buchanan was in the action again soon after when he teed up Jalloh who fired high over the bar. Andrei Chiraic forced a good save from the Town keeper on 20 minutes and Town countered, ending with an easy stop for Bridle-Card. Kifwasima's dangerous cross was well taken under pressure and at the other end Bridle-Card parried and Fabian Etienne cleared. On the half hour Chiriac tried a cheeky long range effort that fell well, well wide of the mark to the keepers relief. Town then forced a corner that was well taken by Bridle-Card before Rangers were on the attack again, Chiriac producing a diving save off the keeper at the expense of a corner, the resultant short corner being fired into the side netting by Jalloh. As half time approached good skills from Stefan Powell set up Buchanan who tried to chip the keeper but to no avail. As Town countered Ollie Sprague tidied up a dangerous break and Rangers hit back with Chiriac having the ball in the Town net, but again the flag was raised. More good work from Buchanan to lay off to Kifwasima, the Rangers right back's low cross cut out by the diving keeper. Right on half time Powell did well to rob the ball in the middle of the park and feed Jalloh, the tall winger then slid a perfect through ball to Buchanan on the centre spot who caught out the high Harpenden back line to race away toward goal, calmly rounding the keeper to give Rangers a slender lead at the break.

The second half was barely a minute old when a loose ball from Rangers was snaffled up thirty yards out allowing Town's Webb to race in and neatly chip the ball over the advancing Bridle-Card to level the scores. Soon after and Rangers had a good shout for a penalty turned down after it appeared that Kifwasima's cross was handled. A minute later though, they were back in front following some great football with some neat one-two's, Kifwasima eventually laying the ball back to Ajenlekoko to smash the ball into the roof of the net from 18 yards. More good football from Rangers involving Keano Robinson, Stratton, Buchanan and Chiriac, the final header from Powell well saved. Rangers had to defend a corner soon after and a frantic moment of pin-ball in the area was eventually cleared by Etienne. The game was fairly open now and Sprague did well to get his head on a dangerous cross before Rangers countered and the Town keeper managed to gather Kifwasima's cross at the second attempt. Half chances came and went for both sides and with five minutes to go Chiriac again saw the keeper off his line and went for goal from just inside the Town half, the ball dropping onto the top of the net with the keeper stranded. A weakly hit shot from Town was easily gathered by Bridle-Card and at the other end Robinson's free kick was well saved as it looked to dip just under the bar. With two minutes remaining Rangers should have scored another when a quite brilliant triple save by the Harpenden keeper denied Chiriac, Buchanan and Powell, all at close range! There was still time for Town to fizz a dangerous ball across the Rangers goal-face as they pushed for an equaliser, a slight touch bringing a corner. The resultant corner kick was punched away by Bridle-Card with Ajanlekoko hoofing the loose ball to safety. One last chance for Rangers when Alex Cathline's shot low was straight at the keeper and deep in injury time a Town free-kick was headed over the bar from close range. A good win on the road against a good side and hopefully Rangers can keep up this form as they entertain Moulton in the FA Vase on Saturday, followed by the league fixture at Kings Langley on Bank Holiday Monday. The kick off for Saturday's FA Vase game at the Kamtech Stadium is 3pm. One interesting stat, AJ last scored for Risborough Rangers on 3rd September 2011 when he was just 16.

Rangers Man of the Match: Elliot Buchanan. Plenty of candidates, particularly AJ with two goals . But for me Elliot just takes it. He was the perfect target man, holding the ball up, bringing others into play and seeing things others may not. He is no slouch either, willing to chase lost causes and still showing pace enough to be a defenders nightmare. Brilliant solo goal, and I'm not sure he was offside for the disallowed one too!