Winterton’s journey in the FA Vase continued at West Street on Saturday with the visit of Ashville from Merseyside. Ranger’s side was virtually unchanged from last weekend except for the welcome return of James Atkinson to the defence after recovering from a broken leg.

The first ten minutes set the pattern for the rest of the game. Rangers set the pace but seemed just off the level of performance of recent weeks, Ashville were organised, industrious and dangerous on the break, with Steve Forbes pace showing as early as the 10^th. Minute with a run at the box that Robinson did well to clear.

Rob Northen then had a shot deflected into the keeper’s arms from inside the six yard box, as both sides sparred for a leading edge.

As the 20minute mark came by, Rangers started to spend more time in the Ashville half. Green curled in a cross to Clarke in the box who turned away before warming the keeper’s hands.

Then on 26minutes as a ball into Holt in the box, the centre back climbing all over him, the referee adjudged it to be sufficient to award a penalty. Dave Ricardo calmly sent the net billowing and Rangers into a deserved lead. 1-0

Winterton continued to press; the lively Andy Catton was fouled. The ball into the box found Rob Northen wide open but his flicked header went the wrong side of the far post. 28min.

Then on 33mins and as Ashville attacked down the left, a ball into the box went over the striker, Donnahue forcing him away from goal. As Ross Haywood followed him out, Donnahue hooked the ball goal wards hitting Haywood on the arm from barely a yard away. Referee Mr Abey inexplicably pointed to the spot. McPadden equalised. 1-1

Three minutes later Andy Catton should have restored the lead when he appeared in the box to latch onto a deep cross from the left, but he miss hit and the ball was collected. Then on 38mins the outstanding Steve Robinson pinpointed Rob Northen who flicked on for Andy Holt to race into the box and fire into the far corner from a tight angle to make it 2-1

Ashville broke clear again on 41mins.throughForbes but Rangers defensive powers of reaction closed out the chance.

HALF – TIME  2-1

Rangers started the second half with Northen and Holt linking to provide a shooting chance for Clarke but he fired well wide. Then Ashville enjoyed their best period of the game with time with the wind at their backs they pushed Rangers back.

Holt had a free header from a corner to the near post fly wide on 61mins. This was only light relief as the Mersey-siders pressed.

Rangers started to emerge from the pressure around 70mins when Northen’s good run to the by-line before crossing had Holt wide open in the box but his Header was well collected by the keeper. A minute later and Northen replicated his run to pull the ball back to Holt who was closed down quickly, he laid the ball into Billy Greens path but the full back fired well over.

Pete Daniels made some changes Whitehouse was introduced to the left for Underwood and Haywood limped off to be replaced by Bettney. Whitehouse made an immediate impact with his direct running. A run to the by-line looked to have created a great opening as Holt arrived unmarked but the cross was too close to the keeper on 75min.

As the game moved into the final 10mins. Winterton where doing all the pressing. On 80min. a quick ball to Northen had Rangers on the break again; he moved the ball onto Whitehouse who shot over from the edge. Then Northen again made an incisive run into the box pulling the ball back to Holt, he squared into the path of Catton who rattled the bar from 8 yards out. 81min.

Andy Catton made it 3-1 on 89mins. When Man of the Match Dave Ricardo sliced open the defence with a pass for Catton to run onto. He struck the ball in full stride and in off the underside of the bar, unstoppable.

The ref found a full 5 mins extra at the end of the game and Rob Northen nearly grabbed a 4^th his hard work deserved with a lob that the impressive ASHVILLE keeper Craig Bryant tipped over.

FINAL SCORE 3-1