As Winterton returned to league action against a backdrop of three losses, a visit to 12^th placed Parkgate it was hoped would reverse the trend.

A new back four with Robinson and Keel paired at centre back and Haywood and Colley and full back, it was hoped to stem the recent flood of goals conceded.

The early exchanges saw both sides working hard to gain the upper hand, Rangers pressing the Parkgate box as early as the fourth minute when Northen raced into the box but wanted a touch too many and had to settle for a tight shot from an angle which was cleared.

Two minutes later Clarke showed strength to win the ball under pressure but the centre half was too strong for Northen in the box. It was all Rangers, Northen nearly got a foot to a cross on 11mins. Inside the six-yard-box.

On 17mins. A throw from the right to Barnwell was neatly touched onto Clarke who’s shot was parried by the Parkgate keeper into Whitehouse’ feet on the edge of the six yard box but he fired into the side netting with the keeper scrambling to cover his lines.

Parkgate had showed signs of breaking the domination but their final ball was poor in the early exchanges. On 20mins. Parkgate made their first real chance of the game, when a cross to the far had Cusworth climbing with Colley but his header went wide.

On 26mins. Rangers wondered how they weren’t 2-0 up. A through ball into Barnwell’s path had him race to the edge of the box, but as he entered the box he chose the more difficult option of a square ball to the oncoming Northen. The ball was cleared but then a miss hit back-pass found Barnwell free in the box but he fired into the side netting.

Three minutes later the pressure paid off. A ball into Barnwell was superbly knocked on to Northen who calmly lifted the ball over the oncoming keeper to score 0-1

Winterton continued to control the possession, doing just enough to stifle the Parkgate threat.

Just past the half hour Holt did well shoulder to shoulder to gain possession before curling a great shot towards the top far corner but the Parkgate keeper Manderson produced a great full stretched save to tip it over the bar. The front pairing of Northen and Barnwell were creating chances on a regular basis but the Parkgate back four were working hard.

Then on the stroke of half-time Winterton committed suicide. A nothing ball in the air needed a good header from Holt but it flew straight to Parkgate's leading scorer, Keel had left him expecting the ball to be cleared, Cusworth made no mistake.1-1

Half time 1-1

The second half started with calamity. A lofted ball deep from the full back into the box had Ben Simpson calling for the ball but then hesitating , Cusworth couldn’t believe his luck as he headed over the stranded keeper and into the net. 2-1 46mins.

Winterton had gone, in the space of  5 minutes all their domination in the first half. On 52mins. It should have been 3-1. Whitehouse gave the ball away in midfield a quick ball into the box had the Parkgate striker Petch headed against the bar.

Barnwell then had a couple of chances to equalise. 54mins when sent through was brought down on the edge of the box, but the free kick was blocked away before the Parkgate keeper smothered the second attempt from Morley. Six minutes later Barnwell again made an opening on the left and fired a low cross towards the near post, but with Morley closing the Parkgate keeper smothered well.

A minute later, Parkgate struck again. Again down the left, Rangers were exposed by a quick break and a first time ball into Patterson who fired home on the half volley. 3-1 (61mins)

Winterton still looked for a way back but it also left them exposed. On 65mins Whitehouse, created managed to round the full back and fire a cross to the near post but The Parkgate keeper was equal to it. Three minutes later, Colley battled well in the corner to gain possession, the ball back then played into the middle where Holt tried to play a through ball which hit the defenders arm, before he cleared upfield, and it nearly cost Rangers as Simpson had to save at the feet of Cusworth. On 69mins. Again made space down the left and crossed into the box where Northen looked destined to score but a great tackle in the six yard box meant the chance was gone.

Pete Daniel then made three changes in the next five minutes. Colley, Holt and Northen were replaced by Smithson, Ricardo and Sewell respectively.  It was a gamble, Colley had been under pressure on the right and introducing Smithson in his place didn’t pay off as Parkgate exposed his lack of match fitness. And  with 8minutes to go the Rangers right flank was exposed again and Parkgate scored a fourth and a hat-trick for Cusworth with a simple tap in. 4-1

Rangers did get a consolation with the last kick of the game when Sewell got in a cross from the left and Morley stretched to fire into the roof of the net from close in.  

FINAL SCORE  4-2

An old cliché but a game of two halves. Rangers were so dominant in the first half, and should have gone in at half time three up. But ended up conceding two terrible goals either side of the half before collapsing as a defensive unit.