Mark Brennan Reports

On a hot, sunny day in South Bucks, the newly named CMG Stadium hosted the opening fixture of the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division 2026/27 season as Risborough went head to head against Potton United.

The first fifteen minutes saw both sides enjoying periods of possession, a decent final ball proving to be elusive to either team. That changed on 16 minutes when a cross from EK was collected by Josh Williams who fed Niko Muir. His inch perfect cross landed perfectly for Rangers frontman Elliott Buchanan to poke the ball past Alex Desmond and give the hosts the lead.

That only seemed to spur the visitors into life. Within sixty seconds the dangerous Taylor Keely had left his marker standing and sent in a cross that the equally lively Alie Bangura should have done better with. Sixty seconds later Bangura made amends as he raced down the left wing and sent in a cross that the on-rushing Keely clipped over a stranded Ben Bridle-Card to put the sides back on level terms.

Rangers almost retook the lead on 22 minutes when some neat link-up play between Muir and Rio Connell set up Buchanan whose goal bound effort somehow hit keeper Desmond and came down off the bar and away to safety. That was as good as it got for Rangers for the first half as Potton took a firm hold on the game. Manny Folarin had to clear off the line on 34 minutes and Bridle-Card had to be alert to keep out an effort sixty seconds later. It was down the flanks that Potton were having most joy and a minute before the break Keely again left his marker chasing thin-air as he flew down the right and sent in a cross that was neatly put away by Ezra Forde. Half time, 2-1 to Potton.

The early part of the second half saw Bridle-Card having to make some decent, if routine, saves to stop Potton running away with the game. Risborough then shuffled their pack and this seemed to have the desired effect as they finally got into the game. Desmond made a decent save on 70 minutes to deny Buchanan and he pulled off a fine point blank save ten minutes later when Elliott looked certain to score.

Rangers did get their deserved equaliser on 86 minutes. Buchanan hassled a Potton defender into a mistake and pulled the ball back into the box to set up Jack Hutchinson. He scuffed his shot but it fell kindly for David Appiah who marked his home debut by firing home from six yards.

For sure a game of two halves for the watching 147 and one that both sides will feel they could have nicked all three points from. Rangers now move onto Tuesday night an away fixture at Harpenden Town.

Come on The Ris!