Risborough returned to winning ways with a relatively comfortable victory away at struggling Crawley Green.

Despite starting on the front foot – Elliott Buchanan had a goal bound effort charged down and Josh Williams saw a shot saved – the first of many – by Crawley Green keeper Cameron Groom, it was the home side who almost took the lead when, on 11 minutes, a mix up in the visitors defence let in Ciaran Maher who was denied by a fine block from Risborough’s debutant keeper Kai Mussilhy. That was as good as it got for Crawley, though, as Groom was by far the busier of the two keepers – he almost single-handedly kept Risborough out with saves from Lewis Albert, Hasan Jalloh, Andrei Chiriac and a brilliant tip over from Elliott.

Just as it looked like it might be ‘one of those days’, Rangers finally found a way past Groom on 38 minutes, a fine move on the right ending with a give and go between Hass and EK, the latter shooting past the Crawley Green custodian. One became two, two minutes later, when a ball from Hass was flicked on by Elliott, and Lewis Albert nipped in front of Groom to slot home his second goal in as many games (and give himself an early birthday present in the process)!

The second period began as the first had ended, with the ball in the Crawley net. Josh Williams went on one of his trade mark runs down the right wing and sent in a cross that was met by the on-rushing Andrei Chiriac to put the game beyond the hosts.

Both sides made full use of their substitutes, Rangers continuing to have the majority of play and, if anything, overplaying as they went in search of further goals. Despite some near misses by Andrei and Rio Connell, the score remained 3-0, though Rangers were grateful for a fine triple save by Mussily right at the end to preserve a clean sheet.

The victory moved Rangers up a place in a very tight top end of the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division. Next up is the short trip to Aylesbury Vale Dynamos this Tuesday, December 2nd.