Rangers Come Good

Holmer Green arrived at the BEP Stadium in the Saturday afternoon sunshine in determined mood as they battle to avoid relegation. And battle they did, forcing an early goal and holding Rangers level at the break. It took a dominant second half performance by the home side to finally put the game out of reach for the visitors. Rangers began well with Sean Coles' wicked cross just deflected off the stooping head of Gavin James. Holmer hit back on the break, the shot easily held by Rangers keeper, Jack Brooker. A minute later and Holmer went off script, opening the scoring when a near post corner was misjudged by Asher Yearwood, with Brooker only able to help the ball into his own net. The following 15 minutes saw the home side enjoy plenty of possession with chances limited by some fine defending from the visitors. Marcus Wyllie forced a good save low to the keepers left on 20 minutes as the pressure began to tell and gaps began to show. Three minutes later and some neat play between Alex Kedzierski, Coles and Wyllie set up James for a fine finish, lobbing over the keeper to level the scores. The game became a little scrappy as both teams struggled on the hard surface. A couple of half chances with both James and Coles unable to get shots off with the ball bouncing awkwardly. Josh Urquhart headed Lewis Patrick's cross straight at the keeper from seven yards. In the 45th minute Joel Read headed Wyllie's corner wide under pressure and a melee in the Holmer Green area saw Wyllie, Coles and James all have shots blocked by some desperate defending.

Whatever Rangers' manager, Mark Eaton, said at half time, it had the desired effect as they went straight on the attack. Coles squared to Ben Sturgess who fired over from a great position, with the goal at his mercy. Soon after' more great work by the excellent James allowed Wyllie to fizz a ball across the goalmouth, just avoiding the head of the diving Coles. James was again in the action, firing just wide a minute later. Urquhart got onto the end of Keiron Schmidt's corner, heading into the side netting and 12 minutes into the half, Patrick's superb cross flashed through untouched, leaving the left back to ask why there were no takers! The continuous pressure finally paid off in the 59th minute, when Wyllie's free kick was just too hard for the keeper, giving Rangers the lead. Rangers continued to press, another neat lay off from James with Urquhart screwing his effort wide. A great throw from Brooker set Wyllie away and his cross was headed into the side netting, Coles again diving full length. Soon after and Wyllie shot wide when he should have passed before Schmidt had a good strike blocked for a corner. More good work from James and Coles set up Strugess again, who side footed over from the edge of the area. On 74 minutes Wyllie whipped in a dangerous free kick and Coles, flying in, beat the keeper to glance in the home side's third. It was no more than Coles and Rangers deserved following an onslaught on the Holmer goal. Two minute later, following some nice play from Schmidt, Wyllie cut in from the left, avoiding several challenges, to smash an unstoppable shot past a despairing dive from the overworked keeper, for his 35th goal of the season and Rangers' fourth of the day. Rangers continued to threaten and again Patrick fired across the face of goal. A rare foray by the visitors, a cross from the right bounced harmlessly wide of Brooker's post. A fine move by Rangers ended with neat one, two, Patrick's shot well held. In the closing minute Wyllie fired a free kick high over the bar and substitute, Evans Lamboh's low strike was just wide of the foot of the post. A very good second half for Rangers against a resilient Holmer Green. Like Rangers, the visitors have two games left and if they put as much effort into those as they did today they could yet avoid the drop. Rangers now go to Tring Athletic on Tuesday night, 7.45 kick off, before their final game, at home to New Salamis next Saturday. Kick off for that one is 3pm.

Rangers Man of the Match: Gavin James. The perfect centre forward performance. Played supremely well with his back to goal. Held the ball up, brought others into play and chased lost causes. Not afraid to do the hard graft as well as the clever stuff. A really good finish for his goal too.