Heavy rain in recent weeks had taken its toll on the West Street pitch which was waterlogged on Friday evening prompting a pitch inspection on the Saturday morning, a local referee passed it playable and the match ref concurred.

Winterton welcomed Gedling to West Street barely two weeks after winning the reverse tie. Gedling had made a few changes since then including the manager. Rangers were without Captain Steve Robinson, Mike Bettney continued at centre back after impressing in midweek at Nostell, Whittleston returned in goal and leading scorer Andy Holt made a surprise return after injuring his hamstring at Gedling.

Rangers burst out of the starting blocks, Holt ran at the defence releasing Clarke on the left who crossed to the far where Catton needed more composure but flashed his shot over inside the first minute.

Two minutes later and the good start produced the opening. Clarke did well to keep the ball in on the left before running at the box and crossing to the near post where Northen fired against the foot of the post before ending at the feet of Holt who fired high into the roof of the net. 3mins.

Two minutes later Gedling’s Grinnion fired a shot wide after Bettney lost the bounce of the ball. Rangers responded by tearing up field with Rob Northen but he delayed his shot and the centre back stood up well to shepherd him away. 6mins.

The game settled somewhat with Winterton dominating possession and pressing the Gedling box. On 20mins. Clarke was found deep into Gedling territory on the left, he crossed to the far where Ricardo had ghosted in but headed across the face. Two minutes later Catton pushed on down the right to the by-line before crossing, the ball was put behind for a corner with the rangers forwards claiming it was a hand ball but a corner was given. Whitehouse curled in a fierce corner that the keeper had to push onto the underside of the bar before the ref blew for a Gedling free kick as Rangers tried to convert.

On 26 Winterton launched in a free kick from half way towards Matt Plant who got a flick on towards Holt but stretching with the centre back was the chance go wide.

Two minutes later Gedling had the ball in the net from ex-WBA player Matthew Turner but the whistle had already blown for offside. Rob Northen responded by firing in a low drive to the keepers right post where it squirmed Away from the keepers hands for a corner.29mins. Gedling cleared the dead ball down the left exposing Billy Green to a two on one but as they set to push on Catton nipped in a stole the ball before racing down the other end and firing a cross towards the oncoming Holt but the ball was at a difficult height and just behind the striker.

Whitehouse had to pick and choose his forward runs from his role at full back but on 32mins. He ran to the edge of the box before feeding Clarke who fired in low to Northen at the near but his shot was cleared away.

This was a golden period for Rangers who should have at least doubled their lead with the amount of chances.

As the half came to a close Gedling made a bit of headway, Spiers and Baum both fired goal wards forcing Whittleston to harm his hands, on 42 and 43 minutes. Before a cross from the right across the face saw Green compete strongly with Grinnion at the near as the ball whipped across the face of goal. HALF TIME 1-0

Gedling started the second half more brightly, Turner fired straight at the keeper from the edge on 50mins. An even better chance came a minute later when Whitehouse was dispossessed on the left by Grinnion who raced into the box before forcing Whittleston to save with his legs. Andy Holt was replaced by Steve Ward on 52mins.

Tempers spilled into a coming together when Northen was wrestled to the ground on 55mins. And one or two tackles flew in a five minute spell of hustle bustle. It was Gedling’s best spell in either match, twenty minutes they controlled the middle of the park but in truth didn’t have the cutting edge to make good on the amount of possession they had.

On 64mins Rob Northen broke free of his shackles to race into the box before firing across the face beating the keeper but also the far post. Again a minute later Northen got into the box before squaring to Underwood but the ball got stuck under his feet losing him the chance of a shot, he squared again to Catton but his shot was blocked by the hard working Walker.

A minute later Gedling broke from their own corner flag racing up the left before again flashing a cross across the face of goal with no-one there to tap home.

Both sides were creating chances, on 70mins Northen battled well winning possession before finding Clarke who fired towards the near post where Ward’s turn and shot found the side netting. Bettney impressing at centre half had to come off on 73mins when a stray elbow virtually closed his left eye, replaced by Atkinson returning after three weeks away.

On 77mins. Gedling found room on the right with Grinnion before his cross into the box to Turner looked a great chance before the wily Green challenged strongly forcing the header to go well over. Gedling looked to be getting nearer to their equaliser, with ten minutes to go Turner was again through on goal before Matt Plant made a brilliant tackle to dispossess the striker and clear the danger.

In the 82min Northen got clear on the left before pulling the ball back to Clarke who crossed towards Ward was a bit wayward and ward did well to cock his leg back to divert the ball over the bar. Three minutes later Northen managed to cut back from the right flank before running at the goal before his low shot to the near post was smothered by the keeper with both Underwood and Ricardo screaming for a pull back. 

With the ref awarding 4 minutes added time, Gedling forced Whittleston into a save low to his right for a corner. Gedling won two corners but as with all the game Rangers defended very well with the keeper coming out to gather the high ball in.

Then with little time left, Catton fed Northen in the box who drew the keeper and defence before squaring to Ward who rifled home Rangers second and his debut goal securing all three points. 2-0 90+4mins. FINAL SCORE

Winterton dominated the first half and Gedling the second but Rangers created the best chances in either half and deserved the win to maintain their 100% home record. Other results around the division saw Rangers extend their position against the following pack and maintain their position against leaders Parkgate.