Winterton faced Premier opposition for the second time this season in Hallam. Rangers without leading scorer Holt, and cup tied Matt Plant at centre back gave another run out to youngster Lee Mohammed up front and James Atkinson returned to centre back.

Both sides started quickly in an up-tempo opening ten minutes, but rangers posed the most threat, Northen shot wide from the edge of the box on 5mins. Then a minute later a fierce drive across the face by Danny Clarke was turned into his own net by Hallam fullback Gareth Clayton. 1-0

Winterton’s movement in the attacking third was causing Hallam all sorts of problems Catton on the right ran at and beat the full back before seeing his shot blocked away to Billy Green who drove forward and fired a low cross that was hoofed away as Rangers continued to press. 12min.

Rangers two touch around the park was a pleasure to watch Northen and Mohammed linking with the midfield to maintain most of the possession.

It was 18mins until Hallam had their first shot at goal but Whittleston was in position to save comfortably. On 21mins a deep cross from Whitehouse at full back to the far post found Mohammed but he headed well wide.

Hallam were restricted to pumping balls from full back and the back four dealt with it comfortably.

On 32mins an Underwood ball looked to have sent Northen racing through on goal only the ball skipped up off his ankle and struck his arm, the ref gave the handball. Hallam did well on the left forcing a throw, which they delivered to the edge of the box but the two shots on goal were blocked away. This lively game continued with Andy Catton racing to the edge of the box before firing goal wards where the Hallam keeper smothered his bullet shot.

Then on the other side of the pitch Whitehouse intercepted a pass in his own half, and ran past two defenders and into the box where from a tight angle lifted the ball over the keeper where it bounced on the top of the bar. 36mins.

Then just before half time the impressive Greg Archer fed Clarke on the left side of the box before ghosting into the near post to receive the return ball which saw his bullet header, brilliantly saved one handed on the line. HALF TIME 1-0

Winterton started with a bang, working hard pressing the ball and winning possession. On 47mins. Rob Northen was given the ball on the edge of the box on the left, he cut inside, riding an early challenge before opening himself up and firing into the bottom far hand corner. 2-0 47mins.

Rangers were like a rash, not allowing Hallam to settle, pushing the defenders further back. On 55mins won a free kick on the right after some good work from Billy Green. The ball in was curled into the box around six yards in, Greg Archer ghosted in to head past the Hallam keeper. 3-0 

Hallam won a free kick three minutes later on the left; the ball was delivered to the far post where Clarke had to head behind for a corner under pressure.

Rangers on the break were swamping Hallam, Catton and Whitehouse were becoming more dangerous as the game went on. Northen and Mohammed’s phenomenal work rate created a chance on 62mins when Northen was sent through to the by-line on the left firing his low cross across the face just in front of the oncoming Mohammed.

It should have been four on 70mins. Clarke sent Mohammed through, the keeper came racing out of his box on the left, and was skipped around, Mohammed raced into the box where Rangers were two on one but he fired goal wards only to hit the wrong side of the near post into the side netting.

Three minutes later Northen was sent through with only the keeper to beat but as he entered the box with Catton screaming for a square ball, Northen fired low but the keeper blocked away.

On 75mins Hallam, Having a rare spell in the Rangers half had Wilson run across the face of the 18-yard box before firing low but straight at Whittleston. A minute later a Hallam free kick on the left was driven towards the near post, where it just needed a touch but ended up in Whittleston’s arms.

The last ten minutes Rangers were hunting for a fourth, Underwood raced through before pulling back to Catton but the ball was cleared away on 86mins, A minute later Catton did very ell on the right to beat the full back before crossing into the box where Northen flicked a header just past the far post. Then in the final minutes Clarke got to the by line before firing his cross across the face but just in front of the oncoming Mohammed.        FINAL SCORE 3-0

This was a resounding result and a superb performance.