Rangers win one, lose one

Without a win in the first four games meant the result was more important than the performance, which, in truth, was bitty and far from convincing.

After taking over in goal on Saturday, skipper Brannon O’Neill this time filled in as joint centre half, enabling Aaron Walsh, the man he took over the armband from, to continue up front.

O’Neill led by example against visitors who included three former Rangers in their squad, although only Terry Gacias started. Jake Forward saw some late action but Naim Rouane was unused.

Dockers keeper Jake Buss kept out a Jamie Weston free kick and Walsh header before being beaten by a 30-yarder from josh Hawkes on 23 minutes. The shot took a slight deflection but was undoubtedly Hawkes’ goal and followed a move started by his pass to Charlie Pitcher, who also did extremely well to get over a cross that was only half cleared

Before the goal, Josh Bryant had, perhaps, been fortunate not to concede a penalty for manhandling Tyler Goatcher, while Gacias was booked for a foul on James Westlake.

Afterwards there were chances at both ends, with Westlake overhitting his cross after a great Rangers move but later making amends with a goalline clearance from Greg Manton’s set-piece header.

Jake Holmes finished poorly when put clean through by a long clearance by his keeper and Pitcher dragged his shot wide of the far post from a great ball by Pat Rose.

After the break there was never much in it before Rangers sealed the points with a somewhat soft penalty award given by referee Greig Walker, who had a poor match all round.

Visiting skipper Manton was adjudged to have hauled down Pitcher and Walsh duly put the spot kick away to ease home nerves.

It was Walsh who had missed the first chance of the second half, ballooning the ball over from Weston’s pull back before Rangers had a real let-off on 66 minutes.

They failed to deal with long throw by Goatcher and Jake Holmes, who had earlier been thwarted by a good block by Daley Clark, rattled the underside of the bar with a superb overhead kick.

Rangers: Gordon; Clark, O’Neill, Bryant, Vinten; Hawkes, Westlake, Weston, Rose; Pitcher, Walsh. Subs: Maskell (Weston, 89). Unused subs: Wilson, Fugl.

Middy Starman: Brannon O’Neill, led by example in yet another role.

pagham 4 st francis rgrs 2

On Saturday Rangers had keeper Rob Gordon sent off after half an hour but skipper Brannon O’Neill took over and saved the resulting penalty.

Gordon was shown red for bringing down Scott Murfin two minutes after Aaron Walsh had put Rangers ahead against hosts who had lost theirfirst three games.

O’Neill’s reprieve courtesy of saving Howard Neighbour’s spot kick was shortlived, however, as on 36 minutes he was beaten by Joe Briggs’ deflected shot.

Neighbour made amends with a fine headed goal on 41 minutes but Rangers were level seven minutes after the break when Charlie Pitcher’s pass was turned in by Jamie Weston.

But Neighbour struck again from a corner on the hour mark and 12 minutes later Murfin completed a miserable afternoon for Rangers, who also picked up four bookings (Bryant, Walsh, Fugl and Maskell), while full back Tom Barnes suffered a nasty cut above the eye.

Rangers: Gordon; Clark, Barnes, O’Neill, Bryant, Hawkes, Rose, Pitcher, Weston, Walsh, Westlake. Used subs: Fugl, Vinten, Maskell.