This game was important to Rangers promotion aspirations. Gedling started the day in fourth place three above Winterton but only by two points

Rangers are undefeated in the last seven games and have been miserly in defence and fancied their chances against the Nottinghamshire outfit.

Pete Daniel welcomed back Andy Holt after a late fitness test but Mark Whitehouse who limped off against Teversal was unavailable. Billy Walmsley was preferred to James Atkinson at centre half, and Andy Catton returned to the left side of midfield.

Rangers lost the toss and had to attack the west street end first half, and attack they did. Right from the off Winterton were asking questions, a ball into the box would not come down for either Holt or Northen and the ball was cleared as early as the 2^nd min. Two minutes later a Rangers free kick into the box was headed down to Northen’s feet but as he shaped to shoot the ball was nicked away.

The pressure continued. A Rangers corner was flicked on at the near post and Northen appeared at the far but steered his header the wrong side of the post.5mins. Two minutes later Northen nicked the ball off Burke as the defender looked to tidy up an attempted through ball. Northen cut in from the by line going goal wards and as he pulled the ball back was clearly brought down from behind and the pass was cleared for a corner.

The initial corner turned into three and a Ricardo shot that was deflected over was the best Rangers got for the pressure.

It took 12mins. For Gedling to look to test Ben Simpson, but the lobbed cross was well held by the Winterton stopper. Then two minutes later Rangers grabbed the goal their early pressure deserved. Rob Northen angled his run to perfection to race onto a through ball and as he reached the edge of the box he calmly lobbed Mason in the Gedling goal. 1-0 14mins.,

Gedling then settled into their own game, neat passing and movement had Rangers on the back foot. A free kick on the corner flag was floated into the Rangers box where Simpson managed to half – clear to Gedling’s Saunders but he shot well wide. 16min. Gedling continued to pass around but Winterton got men behind the ball and worked hard to maintain the lead. Then on 19mins Gedling’s Back managed to escape the clutches of three Rangers defenders in the corner before pulling back for Laws but he wasted his chance – shooting wide. 19mins.

For every passing move that Gedling put together, Rangers shut down and went down the other end and produced a goal scoring opportunity. Holt Raced to the box before feeding Danny Clarke who’s shot across the face went just wide.20mins.

Andy Holts return to the side, added power to offset Northen's pace. Holts no slowcoach either and on 27mins he powered through a challenge to get into the box and square the ball that rangers were unlucky not to get onto, Northen recovered possession and sent the ball back into the box, where Holt couldn’t get to the ball and the chance was cleared.

As the half came to a close, Rangers seemed to get behind Gedling at will. Gedling were getting increasingly frustrated and felt the officials were missing offsides and started to lose some composure. Holt raced through on 41mins and with the keeper to beat squared to Catton but Mason stood up well and saved the drive. As Rangers geared up to take the corner, the assistant ref. called the ref across and he sent off Gedling’s Richardson for apparently swearing at the official.

Winterton continued to dominate the closing minutes. A route one lob from Walmsley had Holt race into the box but a brilliant challenge took the ball from his toe on 43min. then on the stroke of half time a long throw from the right into the box was only half cleared to Clarke who’s touch and first time shot was heading bottom corner before it got a slight deflection that saw the ball hit the foot of the post and away.   

HALF-TIME 1-0

The Second half couldn’t have started better for Winterton; Haywood in possession on the left spotted Clarke’s run from midfield on the right and slipped the ball into his path. As he reached the edge of the box the ball skipped up and Clarke rifled a shot that flew over Mason and under the bar to make it 2-0 47mins.

Gedling responded and won a free kick on the edge of the box, but their attempt at a quick free kick hit the wall and the ball was cleared away. 50mins.

Rob Northen could have made it three on 55mins. When again clean through but a last ditch tackle in the box took the ball away.

Even though Gedling were a man down they were still a danger and looked as if they could still get something from the game and at times it was hard graft for Rangers as they chased down the ball across the park. The hour saw Gedling waste a shooting opportunity, firing over and then a bit of a scramble the other end before Green crossed for Walmsley to head wide.

On 65mins Black replaced Dale in midfield. Three minutes Later Rangers were nearly caught out, Green chose not to head a lofted ball on the edge and the ball fell to Back who ran at the box and straight into Walmsley’s block away to Gedling sub Epps and his dipping shot went just over. 68mins. It started a bit of pressure for the visitors and rangers were prone to giving away niggly free kicks. On 71mins. A free-kick into the six yard box was snatched out of the air by Simpson, three minutes later in similar circumstances Simpson got a hand to and Epps again shot over. 74mins.

But again Rangers responded when Northen sent Holt after a through ball that he hit first time and forced Mason to make a good two handed save to tip away. 75mins. Two minutes later and Gedling capitalised and a Black slip but Robinson stood up well to clear the pressure.

The game fell into the last ten minutes and Gedling threw everything at Rangers, winning three corners on the bounce but Winterton stood up well. Then Northen nearly sneaked another when he chased down a back pass to the keeper who fired his clearance straight at him but recovered well 85mins.

More balls were pumped into the Winterton Box as Gedling looked for a way back. Simpson showed good hand on 86mins. And Walmsley charged down another Epps strike from the edge on 88mins. But Northen again could have sneaked another on 90 when he nicked the ball but fired across the face.

FINAL SCORE 2-0

Make no mistake Gedling are a good side who look good in possession, but Rangers created chance after chance today before and after the sending off and deserved the victory.