Winterton got a break from league action, by visiting Derbyshire and Premier side Mickleover Sports for a stress free tie in the league cup. With Both Billy Green and Rob Northen unavailable, Chris Keel started at right back and Billy Walmsley in centre midfield and Danny Clarke out to right midfield.

With all the changes Rangers expected a tough test against a side from a division above.

The early exchanges saw both sides testing the back lines with both linesmen busy with their flags. Mickleover went closest first when a cross from the left found Strzyzewski free but he headed over. 8mins. and although both sides were pretty even Mickleover looked more composed.

13mins. - Mickleover won a corner, that was initially cleared, but the ball back in found Lanky (AKA Crouch) Channon North in the box reaching to head home. He got a touch that deflected in off Rangers Skipper outstretched leg and over Ben Simpson. 1-0.

It snapped Rangers into stepping up a gear. Whitehouse got to the by-line and pulled his cross goalwards but it was cleared., then a great through ball had Andy Holt shoulder to shoulder with the full back but as he broke clear into the box he stumbled with the defender with only the keeper to beat, and the keeper blocked his shot out to Barnwell who’s shot was again blocked away. 15mins.

16mins Rangers won a corner that was pumped to the far where Whitehouse took a touch before firing onto the side netting.

Mickleover then worried the Rangers box where Cunningham should have done better only headed wide. 23mins. A minute later Rangers wondered how they weren’t level. Danny Clarke ran at the box on the right, but Skewed his shot across the face, to the feet of Whitehouse who’s first time shot was blocked away by the keeper, then Clarke had a second shot that the Keeper that again was blocked away to Barnwell as his shot was blocked again. The Derbyshire outfit were

25mins. Andy Holt again tested the keeper with a shot from the edge of the box as they did most of the pressing.

The half came and Mickleover had weathered the storm, A cross 9into the Rangers box was cleared away but as Winterton looked to push up a cross to the far found Cunningham who headed home 2-0. It started to look like Mickleover were starting to control the play and could have gone further ahead on 41mins. But Haywood stuck with the striker doing enough to stifle a shot on goal and the loose ball was cleared.

Winterton closed out the half with a good flowing move that culminated in Whitehouse forcing a good save from keeper Wilson.         

HALF TIME 2-0

Rangers came out in determined fashion. Two minutes in and a free kick into the box was only half cleared to Clarke on the edge but he only got a shin to his strike and the keeper saved. 

Then Mickleover should have put the game out of reach when Cunningham shot straight a Simpson from inside the box. 49mins.

A minute later a s Rangers Mark Whitehouse made a jinxing run at the heart of the Mickleover defence, but as he broke into the box with only the keeper to beat the ref brought the game back for a foul to Rangers on the edge of the box. Again Rangers were in the ascendancy; Ricardo made a run to the by-line and won a corner.

Winterton ‘s best move of the game saw a sweeping ball from left to right find Clarke in space n the left, her raced into the box before delivering a cross that Jamie Barnwell was inches away from converting. 56mins.

Then a big turning point. Rangers won a free kick just inside the Mickleover half. As the players jostled for position, Keel was pulled up short by a punch from Mickleover captain Strzyzewski. The linesman spotted it and a red card was shown. 58mins.

Four minutes later Rangers pressure paid off.  Haywood threaded a ball through that Holt timed his run to meet. He raced into the box and shot for the far post. The keeper at full stretch palmed it away but Clarke had followed in and fired home. 2-1 62mins.

Winterton were electric, When Barnwell was fouled on the edge of the box, Whitehouse fired in a free kick that Chris Keel deflected past the wrong footed Wilson in the Mickleover goal and it was all square. 2-2 65mins. Two minutes later when Keel won a 50-50  before curling a cross to the far post where Jamie Barnwell’s diving header flashed the wrong side of the post. 67min.

Dave Ricardo probably playing his best game for Rangers this season won a header that sent Holt into the box from the left, but his rising drive was well held by Wilson . 69min. Rangers continued to press Barnwell crossed to the far where the defender headed over with Keel closing. The resulting corner was cleared but Rangers came straight back with Whitehouse flashing a low drive that skipped up and nearly went over the keeper, hitting him in the chest as he attempted to scoop up the ball. 70mins.

A minute later and Winterton deservedly took the lead. Jamie Barnwell’s angled run got the ball it deserved and as he powered into the box he scored with a quality finish into the far corner. 2-3 71mins.

Mickleover were looking for an equaliser and pressed Rangers box, mainly from the right but Winterton pairs Whitehouse and Haywood on the left and Atkinson and Robinson in the middle pretty much dealt with all.

Rangers continued to carve out the best chances. Clarke twice shot over from the edge of the box around 74mins. Holt forced a good save out of Wilson before Whitehouse fired over, 75mins Then Holt was sent through on goal but his shot across the face went the wrong side of the post. 76 mins.

Pete Daniel then made a change Marshall replacing Walmsley, Clarke coming into the centre.

Mark Whitehouse who looked sharp all game was now commanding the left flank, he cut inside on 79mins. Before giving Holt the opportunity to fire in a low drive that the keeper again did well to save.

Andy Holt then gave way to Rhys Pindar, after a brilliant, hard working display that had everything except the goal it deserved.

Pindar stretched the keeper with his first touch, 86mins.

Then 90mins Whitehouse won a crunching tackle out on the left before cutting inside two defenders before capping a great performance by firing home. 2-4

FINAL SCORE 2-4

Winterton have had some great performances this season without the result to show for it, today they got both. Rangers had four centre half in the side and took a while to get up to speed, but when they did they steam-rollered the Premiership side.