Third placed Parkgate from South Yorkshire visited West Street for a real six pointer. Rangers only three points behind with a game in hand and on an unbeaten run of ten game unbeaten.  But Rangers had to start without influential captain Steve Robinson and Billy Walmsley made the bench carrying a knock. The real surprise was the exclusion of Ross Haywood, relegated to the bench. It meant for a rebuilt back four. Green and Atkinson took the centre-back roles and Shaun Black and Mark Dale took went right and left back respectively. That’s three players who didn’t start at Hall road.

Rangers started brightly, Holt feeding Catton who’s cross to the farpost was challenged for  by Whitehouse but the ball was cleared . 1min. Then Whitehouse cut inside and ran at the box but lost real control and the chance was cleared. 5mins.

The game became pretty scrappy, neither side really showing enough to get on top. In fact it was into the 20^th. Minute before either side made inroads. But when a cross from the right looked destined for a Parkgate player at the far post, the covering Ricardo handled but the assistant referee had already signalled for offside. Rangers reacted by racing down the other end, Northen cut in from the byline and pulled a cross back but unfortunately it was behind the onrushing Danny Clarke. 22mins.

Three minutes later and Parkgate had a free kick deep inside the Rangers half. The ball into the box was cleared to Whitehouse who carried the ball cross –field before playing the ball into Andy Catton's path, but as he got to the edge of the box Pargates Adam Fretwell scythed him down. How he stayed out of the refs book beggars belief (especially as Mr Abey produced a string of bookings for somewhat innocuous incidents throughout the game) Clarke's dead ball flew harmlessly over. 25mins.

Andy Catton's pace early on was causing some problems on the right, but as with both teams the final ball was somewhat lacking.

On the half hour Rangers had a free-kick around the half way line. The ball up to Holt was fed back to Clarke who’s cross into the box was half cleared by Parkgates keeper Lee Manderson, but the closing Dave Ricardo could only shoot over as the ball skipped up as he set to shoot. Three minutes later and a challenge by Holt on Darren Fawcuss brought a bad reaction. Holts attempted block saw Fawcuss follow through kick Holts studs, Fawcuss reacted by Elbowing down onto Holts head.  The ref booked both, Holt was late but not intentionally dangerous, Fawcuss was booked for retaliation?

Then on 39minutes the deadlock was broken when the ref gave free kick to Parkgate out on the right flank for what seemed a nothing challenge. The ball into the box was met around the penalty spot by Caine Cheetham with a flick that Simpson saw fly past him into the corner. 0-1

A minute later Rob Northen was clean through and into the box but with only the keeper to beat he chose power and thundered his shot wide. It should have been an equaliser.

The last five saw Parkgate press the Rangers box. On 41 a half chance was bundled away, on 42 and a run down the left saw a great  cross flash in front of two Parkgate players before going wide. then a free kick was fired well over as Rangers were glad to hear the half-time whistle. 

HALF TIME 0-1

Marcus Brameld replaced the injured Shaun Black at the start of the second half.

The second continued as the first, Rangers made the early running, a couple of corners won without troubling the goal before nearly being caught on the break. A Rangers throw deep into the Parkgate half was quickly turned into a counter attack which ended with a cross from the right inches away from Parkgates Andy Ring in the box.60min. As the time ticked away both Rangers Clarke and Parkgates Haigh were booked for somewhat innocuous reasons.

As The game fell into the last 15minutes the over officious ref was stifling the play.

Catton did well on the right to fire in a cross that Manderson held onto whilst backtracking, in a spell of Winterton pressure. Holt won a corner that Catton went across to take, his first two crosses didn’t clear the first defender but the third nearly caught out Manderson but he reacted well to paw out the dead-ball that nearly crept under the bar.

With only 12minutes to go Fawcuss made a challenge on Ricardo that the rangers captain was unhappy with, Ricardo reacted by forcibly untangling legs, Fawcuss reacted by standing up and forcing his head into Ricardo’s face, all in front of the ref. Ricardo was shown Yellow, Fawcuss a straight Red.

The free kick was given to rangers but the ball was cleared to Ricardo on the left side of central midfield. His somewhat hopeful shot from 25 yards was expected by all to be collected by Manderson but it somehow went through his arms and legs and in. 80mins. 1-1

Winterton chased a winner in the last ten, Catton fired in a free- kick low into the box that just needed a touch, Manderson collected. 85mins. Then on 89mins. Holt chased down a back pass, Manderson got there first but his clearance fell to Whitehouse who fed Holt and continued running, Holt found him in the box with a back heel but he young winger opted for a low drive when players were appearing in the box and the last chance of the game had gone.

FULL-TIME 1-1

Probably a fair result in a game spoilt by the referee.