Rangers made their visit to high flying Shirebrook with yet more changes to the line up as work and injury forced Steve Smith to introduce two new players to a makeshift midfield in Ryan Mellors and John Bailey and a new face up front in Jay Sobers.  Captain Billy Green returned but keeper Leigh Herrick started the game with a possible thumb fracture sustained last week at Worsbrough Bridge.

The first 5 minutes were fairly lively.  Rhys Pindar had couple of shots from distance that skipped just wide, but the pacy Johnson went closest when a long ball into his path found his angled run but his snatched shot flew well over the bar and the advancing Herrick.   The warning wasn’t heeded as a replica move caught Rangers square and this time Johnson fired home via the underside of the crossbar.

Rangers were trying hard to settle quickly and contain the lively Johnson who‘s angled runs looked to be pulling them all over in the early stages.  Rangers were still creating chances - after winning a corner that was initially cleared, the ball was crossed back into the box where Nikolaidis headed back to Pindar but he shot wide.

John Bailey stepping up from local league was working hard on the left and won a freekick with quick feet forcing Starkey to foul him.  Bailey and Starkey were still ‘discussing’ the decision when the fee kick was floated in and Pindar flicked in from around the penalty spot to make it 1-1.

Rangers had enjoyed a good spell of football up to the goal.  Jay Sobers playing his first game at this level for months after work commitments curtailed his playing with North Ferriby showed the type of first touch and control required at a higher level  Just before half time Shirebrook went close when a corner to the near post fell at the feet of Johnson.  His turn and shot was well saved low down by Herrick, the ball came back to Johnson who lifted it back to Orton whose header rattled the bar.

The start of the second half saw Johnson create more problems for Rangers when he raced into box and fired across the face of goal.  The visitors responded well when good work by Pindar and Nikolaidis gave Melor a great opportunity from the edge of the box. He shot hard and low to the keepers left which the keeper did well to parry.

The best chance of the half fell to Sobers as he latched onto a Shirebrook defensive lapse.  He initially shot from 20 yards, the keeper blocked but Sobers picked up the rebound, rounded the keeper and shot straight at the defender on the line who cleared.

Rangers new boys started to tire as the half wore on allowing the Shirebrook midfield to start bossing the game.  Further chances fell to Natress and Johnson for the home side but Sobers again went close for Rangers and should have scored but snatched at the ball in front of goal.

The winning goal came in injury time when the Shirebrook captain curled a superb right foot shot into the Rangers left hand corner to make it 2-1.  It was a bitter blow because Rangers deserved a share of the spoils for the commitment the players gave.