Winterton made four changes to the side that drew at Sth. Normanton last weekend. Green and Haywood moved from bench to starting line up to take both full back roles. Trialist Garry Clewett was given the centre half berth alongside Robinson and Dransfield was given his first league start replacing the off form Northen up front.

Hall Road came with a few new faces from the reverse fixture in September, notably the much travelled Jamie Barnwell back at the club for the umpteenth time playing up front.

It was obvious from the kick off this was a much improved Hall Road side from the team Winterton beat in the Vase earlier this month.  Both sides looked lively from the off, Danny Clarke tried a quick free-kick from 30 yards out, inside 3 mins, that HR keeper Paul Sharp collected easily. 5mins later when Rangers gave the ball away Bishop broke well down the right before firing across the face. Winterton responded instantly with Whitehouse appearing on the right before running at an angle across the face and firing low into the corner where Sharp tipped it around the post at full stretch. An exciting first 10 minutes as you could wish for.

After edging the first twenty minutes Rangers, Hall Road started pushing on, Bishop and Barnwell very mobile across the front line was asking questions of the back four. A couple of corners and free kicks were keeping Rangers pegged back. A ball into the box was only half cleared before a shot, that looked destined for the bottom corner, was tipped around the post by Simpson.

It was end to end stuff; Clarke was brought down on the edge. Whitehouse’s free kick dipped just over the bar on 27min. and then Simpson had to punch clear on the half hour under pressure. Winterton were beginning to edge the pressure, Clarke and Whitehouse linking well with the hard working Holt.

On 35mins a Rangers corner was half cleared to Clarke who rifled his shot goal-wards only for it to be headed clear. Two minutes later Hall Road midfielder Walker should have done better after Rangers gave the ball away, he got to the edge of the box before firing wide. Then back up the other end, a throw into Holt was laid off to Whitehouse whose shot was tipped over by Sharp. The dead ball into the near post was turned goal wards only to be cleared off the line by the player on the post, the ball was pumped back to the far post where Catton fired into the side netting. 39mins.

Then as the gripping first half came to a close Ben Simpson pulled off a fantastic save at full stretch from Bishop to concede a corner. 44mins. Then a sucker punch. The dead ball was flicked to the far post where Jacklin's header looped over Simpson and under the bar. 0-1

A great first half by both sides that Winterton edged with possession but ended up trailing.

HALF TIME 0-1

Rangers were right back in it straight after the break. On 51mins Jacklin, hero at the end of the first, inexplicably handled in the box when jumping with Holt. Dave Ricardo calmly stepped up to fire home the penalty. 1-1

Winterton again the dominant force where pressing well, Whitehouse raced goalwards but flashed his shot across the face from a tight angle on 66mins. Hall Road were still dangerous going forward two minutes later they broke down the right crossing to the left where sub Shaun Day fired poorly wide. It signalled a Hall road spell of pressure exacerbated by Rangers inability to clear the box when the chance arose.  

As the game turned to the last ten minutes Rangers went looking for a winner, Clarke fired a fierce drive just over from the edge of the box on 85mins.  Sub Chris Call then clipped the bar.

Finally the pressure paid off with a minute to go. A Corner was cleared out to the edge where Ricardo fed Danny Clarke on the left. The ex-Hall road midfielder ran at the defence and into the box, his first shot was blocked away but he retained possession and fired into the bottom far corner in the 89min. 2-1

FINAL SCORE 2-1

In as entertaining game we have seen at Rangers this term, Winterton were worth the victory riding their luck occasionally but creating chances from all angles. The win lifts Rangers to second, still with games in hand.