Winterton’s recent drop in form posed some questions for Manager Pete Daniel prior to their journey to Gedling on the banks of the Trent . Rangers started with a new Keeper for the second week running, Dane Whittleston making his debut, and the welcome return of Billy Green put a smile back on the faces of the Rangers faithful. Mark Whitehouse dropped into left back with Danny Clarke on the left of midfield.

The difference in Winterton from last weekend was immediate to see, from the off Gedling were closed down and not allowed to get a foot hold in the game and Rangers looked for openings on the flanks, Clarke and Whitehouse prominent on the left in the early stages.

The first chance of the game came on 6mins. A free kick from halfway into the box was kept in play by Underwood then out to Clarke whose cross to Plant was headed over.

Then on 10mins. A Gedling attack was snuffed out on the right, Whitehouse raced 50 yards into the Gedling half before feeding Northen, Rangers were two on one with Catton calling for a square ball on the right, Northen elected to beat the last defender who got a foot in and the chance had gone although Northen was convinced he was tripped.

Gedling pressed into Rangers box on 12mins with a throw from the right, the defending was hesitant but the ball was cleared. On 20mins. When a poor clearance was snapped up and crossed to the right, Whitehouse got a head to the ball but it was played outside him to Gedling’s Grinnion who shot wide from the edge of the box.

Another free kick from just inside the Gedling half on 27mins. The ball in had Northen stooping to head goal wards but he couldn’t get enough on it and it was comfortable for the keeper. Three minutes later and Gedling had a similar chance only for Winterton to clear at the second attempt for a corner, the quick dead ball created a shot that went well over.

On 32mins Clarke charged down the left and into the box before firing in a low cross that went through the keepers arms diving low but with Catton close behind he couldn’t react quick enough as the ball hit his leg and went back into the keepers grateful arms.

A minute later Holt battled into the box and managed to square the ball across the face but no-one had caught up with him. Unfortunately Rangers leading scorer limped off soon after holding his hamstring to be replaced by Steve Ward.

As the half closed out it was rangers in the ascendancy. On 39mins Catton looking sharp jinxed in and out drawing defenders before feeding Green whose cross to the far found Clarke but his header was straight at the keeper. On 43mins a Gedling clearance was picked up by Robinson who fed Clarke pushing forward, his lobbed cross was just too far in front of Ward in front of goal.

Then on the half-time whistle Underwood’s strong tackle on full back Anderson saw him react, standing over the prone midfielder gesticulating in his face. Underwood reacted getting up, with that a ten man melee ensued with both benches coming on to separate players. It was a little ugly but the ref settled it down blowing for half time and booking three players, two from Gedling and Clarke from rangers, interestingly neither player involved in the tackle were spoken to. HALF TIME 0-0

Winterton were determined to continue the first half performance and two minutes in Ward nearly broke his Rangers duck with a run into the box from the left and a shot the keeper had to palm away at full stretch. Ward again two minutes later had a flicked header at the near post go just over from a Catton cross. Then a Northen flick on saw Ward flash a shot over the bar from the edge of the box on 50mins in a great Winterton start to the half.

Then on 52mins. The Rangers midfield forced a back pass that the keeper cleared poorly to Catton who raced into the box on the right before squaring the ball towards Ward; the keeper got a hand to it palming the ball to the edge of the box where the outstanding Steve Underwood fired home to give the visitors a deserved lead. 0-1

Gedling had a half chance two minutes later when Plant could only half clear a header but the shot went wide. On 55mins Rob Northen attempted a 35yard lob by the keeper collected. A free kick a minute later saw the keeper collect well low to his left with players closing.

Rangers created anther great chance on 57mins. Ward and Northen linked well to release Clarke down the left, he held up his cross and played the ball behind both Ward and Northen and into the path of Underwood on the edge who crashed his shot against the angle of the goal.

Rangers nearly doubled their lead on 66mins. A long ball had a Gedling centre back, back head the ball over his keeper but the stopper scrambled to tip the ball away.

A minute later and Whittleston was quick off his line to make a double save. The first at the feet of the attacker and the second to recover the ball. Gedling had to go long to try to make inroads into the Rangers defence. Plant, in his best game in a Winterton shirt was dominant in the air.

On 71mins. Steve Ward looking determined to get a goal cut inside from the left and curled a shot just wide of the far post. Then controversy on 75mins. Matt Plant under pressure hoofed the ball into the air, Rangers keeper Whittleston caught it and the ref gave a free kick inside the box for a back pass???

Obviously Winterton were very unhappy with the decision, and had to line up on the goal line to defend it. Gedling rolled the ball and Rangers flew out to block the shot, Green cleared off the line only for the ref to insist on it be taken again. Rangers were furious as they felt they had moved on the first touch. Thankfully the shot was blocked away for a second time and justice was done.

On 78mins Rangers were pressing again Underwood slipped in to nick a header that went wide, Northen retrieved the ball and crossed from the left only for it to be half cleared back to him where he crossed to the far where Plant rose highest to head against the inside of the post. It looked like it was going in but the Gedling keeper Welsh somehow managed to pad it out whilst facing into his own goal with a great reactive save.

Dransfield came on to replace Catton and fired into the side netting on 85mins with the last meaningful attack of the game. FINAL SCORE 0-1

This was an excellent team performance that front to back was very professional against a very good Gedling side that had very few real chances in the game.