Heavy rain precluded this tie against Doncaster outfit Rossington; Daniel had three changes to the side that hammered South Normanton. Captain Steve Robinson returned at full back with Ross Haywood dropping to the bench. Dave Ricardo was suspended and with Jonny Leigh injured playing Sunday league and Rhys Pindar out, Judd Colley came in at centre midfield and Jamie Barnwell made a debut up front.

The visitors, playing in their fluorescent orange kit started brightly, winning a corner and then forcing a good one handed save from Ben Simpson before Ben Morley cleared the danger at the far post on 3mins.

On 8mins. The West street jinx for visiting players struck again. Rossington’s Phil Taylor had to be stretcher off to hospital after twisting his knee in the Rangers half.

Winterton then started to exert some pressure. Danny Clark raced onto a ball with the keeper closing shot wide on 20mins. Barnwell later had a chance when sent running through to the edge of the box but he pulled his shot across the face.

On the half hour, Barnwell did well holding up the ball before turning and finding Whitehouse’ feet, his first touch sent Sewell racing down the right. His low driven cross was parried by the keeper at full stretch, and cleared away as Whitehouse looked for the pieces.

Rossington, ever industrious, were only testing Simpson from range.

Ben Morley could have given Rangers the lead in first half injury time when in an identical position to Barnwell’s earlier attempt. But Morley fired wide of the near post.

HALF-TIME 0-0

Winterton continued to dominate the second half.

59mins. a corner from the right found Whitehouse, but he got too far under it and headed over. Dean Wilson then replaced Morley on the right.

The controversial flashpoint of the game came on 66mins. Whitehouse was sent through and raced to the edge of the box where the referee adjudges the Rossington main keeper Adam Valente to have tripped the oncoming player. The referee went to his notebook but only showed a yellow even though Valente was clearly the last man. (It was probably justice as he barely made contact with the Rangers striker, but if he gave the free kick the keeper should have walked.)

Sewell drove the free kick low into the box looking for a deflection but it got none and Valente read it well.

Whitehouse's  running was causing real problems for the Rossington defence. On 68mins. He cut in from the right but fired his shot straight at the keeper. A minute later a lofted ball from Green found Whitehouse who put Barnwell through but he again shot across the face when he should have done better.

Rangers where encamped in the Rossington half. Ross Haywood replaced Gareth Sewell on the left and the change brought more options.

On 81mins. Haywood linked with Clark before crossing to the far post. Whitehouse glanced the header wide from close in.

The final minute caused mayhem in the Rossington box. A Robinson ball was headed down to Wilson but his shot was blocked away by a desperate diving tackle only 3 yards out. Then as the last of injury time elapsed, a ball in from the right was headed back to White house whose rising shot was tipped over the bar by Valente.

FINAL SCORE 0-0

Winterton totally dominated but lacked the quality to convert the abundance of chances created in the closing quarter of the game. And lacked a ball player in the centre of the park.