Winterton travelled to Rotherham for the biggest game of the season. First placed Parkgate against second placed Winterton. With Billy Green retiring and Steve Underwood unavailable, recent signings Cooper and Archer took up the right back and centre midfield positions, Sharpless was chosen for the left back role.

The first ten minutes were tentative but Rangers picked up the pace first. A throw on the left into Holt saw the young striker turn and fire across the face on 8mins. Two minutes later a long Simpson clearance was chased by Rob Northen before he back heeled to the chasing Andy Catton who played the ball first time into the box but unfortunately Holt was caught flat footed and the chance had gone. Winterton continued to press; Holt made ground down the right before linking with Catton who squared for Whitehouse whose shot flashed across the face on 12mins.

The pressure paid off, on 13mins. A throw on the left to Whitehouse saw the full back dive in and Whity skip past him and deliver a cross to Andy Holt who tapped home. 0-1

This didn’t mean Rangers were al over Parkgate but the defence were dealing with most, Atkinson looking strong in the air. On 15mins keeper Ben Simpson twice had to come and clear his box as Parkgate pressed.

Andy Catton tried a shot himself on 21 mins. That the keeper held with Holt closing. Parkgate reacted by racing down the other end from a Rangers corner and it needed Archer chasing back to block away on 24mins. Then Simpson had to save with his feet after a cross from the left and the resultant corner was headed wide from a good position. 27mins.

The game continued to ebb and flow, Northen had a half chance on the edge of the box but it needed a first time shot on 28mins. Then Steve Robinson had to make a good tackle in the box to clear away another Parkgate half chance a minute later.

Then back up the other end, Catton raced to the by-line before winning a corner on 31. Four minutes later Rob Northen chased down a long ball and nicked the ball from the Parkgate keeper out of his box and squared to Holt who was brilliantly tackled as he shaped to shoot.

On 38mins. A Parkgate free kick from the left was flicked on and Simpson saved well. Another free kick into the box was half cleared only for the shot to flash across the face on 41mins.

Then on the stroke of half time Rob Northen raced through to the edge of the box only to be brought down by the keeper. A free kick was given and the keeper shown only a yellow. (I can never work this out. If a defender brings down a player with the keeper rooted to his line he is sent off as the last man, the keeper in this instant was the last man – go figure) Mark Whitehouse stepped up to curl a superb free kick into the bottom corner and give Rangers a two goal lead going in at half time. 0-2

The second half started with another controversial refereeing decision. Parkgate attacking on the left over hit the cross. The attacker chasing the ball turned and hit the ball goal wards which hit Danny Clarke on the arm standing two yards away. He made no movement towards the ball with his hand but the referee gave a penalty and Parkgate were right back in it. 1-2 47min.

Rangers reacted well, Holt was sent through on the keeper who blocked away his shot to Northen and then again the keeper saved on 50mins.

Three minutes later a lobbed ball towards Northen was flicked towards Holt in the box and as he shaped to shoot the full back was pulling him back and a penalty was awarded. Rob Northen converted. 1-3 53mins.

The madness continued Andy Holt was sent racing through down the right flank, the Parkgate keeper Naylor lost the plot and raced out and attempted to body check the Rangers striker, it sent him wide with defenders closing, the ball across to Northen saw a shot blocked away by the returning Naylor and then again as Northen shot again. When the ball went out of play the referee showed Naylor a second yellow and off he went. 58mins.

Mark Whitehouse could have put the game beyond Parkgate on 62mins. When he skipped past the right back and rattled the post. A minute later and a Parkgate long ball had Simpson stand up well to save.

Then on 63mins Rangers Clarke failed to clear a Parkgate attack, the cross back in was blocked by Atkinson before Parkgate grabbed a goal back. 2-3

James Atkinson limped off with a knee injury and Andy Catton was replaced by Ricardo. The loss of Atkinson was pivotal and in truth Rangers collapsed against ten-man Parkgate.

Parkgate seemed to have more desire for the fight and one or two Winterton players were slow to the tackle and allowed the ball to bounce when it needed players to put their foot through it.

On 70mins Rangers cleared a header off the line from a corner; the ball back in was headed into the ground and over with Winterton stretched. Five minutes later it was 3-3 when a corner was rifled home with little defence.

Then the sucker punch came on 78mins. A Parkgate free kick on the left was fired right footed in swinging goal wards. Simpson made a mess of it and it dipped over him and under the bar. 4-3 It was a poor way to concede but Rangers had been ragged for most of the half and Parkgate wanted it more.

Parkgate closed out the game with Rangers only sporadically looking likely to grab something from the game.