Billed as the game of the day for division one, forth placed Sth. Normanton visiting second placed Winterton. Pete Daniel fielded the same side that won at Emley last week, Steve Ward continuing up front with leading scorer Andy Holt recovering from illness, and Lee Mohammed keeping his place on the bench after his performance at Nostell recently.

Both sides started tentatively, Sth. Norm. warming their shooting boots first on 4mins. If not their radar, firing well wide after a free kick was half cleared to the edge of the box. Rangers’ first attempt on 11mins started with a Green ball into Ward on the edge of the box who touched onto Clarke whose drive was parried by the keeper Whalin. Four minutes later and a corner from the right was headed wide by Ward going away from goal.

On 16mins. Whitehouse crossed into Northen but his header was easy for Whalin. Then Ward was sent racing into the box but as he set to shoot the ball was nicked away from him. Soon after Steve Underwood limped out of Rangers engine room after going over on his ankle on 21mins. Clarke joined Ricardo in the centre; Mohammed came on into the left side of midfield.

Dave Ricardo nearly gifted Sth. Norm. the lead when his back pass left Rangers two non two, but the cross from the right saw Robinson at full stretch get enough on the ball to take the ball away from danger. 23mins.

Ten minutes later and the game sparked into life. Rob Northen on the left had a cross blocked back to him before he sent the ball to Catton on the right just outside the box, as he shaped to shoot the defender closing turned his back and as Catton shot goal wards the ball hit the defenders raised arm and a penalty was given. Rob Northen stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way. 1-0

On 42mins Catton crossed to Matt plant who headed over as Rangers settled into the game. Then on 45mins. A Rangers attack was broken down by a centre back but as he carried the ball up field Lee Mohammed racing back nicked the ball off him, Ricardo then sent Clarke racing into the box but his shot was well saved, the ball went back towards Clarke who, with his back to goal was looking for options when the left back Berry had a rush of blood and attempted the tackle from behind, bringing Clarke down in the process, Penalty. Northen again stepped up and fired into the same corner as his first, the keeper got a hand to the ball but Rangers doubled their lead. 2-0 Half Time.

Most people were still getting their coats on when rangers made it three. The half was just passing a minute old when a cross from the left to the far found the smallest player on the park who rose highest to rattle his header against the underside of the bar and down and although the keeper smothered it the assistant ref gave the goal. 3-0 Andy Catton. 46mins.

Catton appeared four minutes later, ghosting into the centre where he again rose well to head home unmarked a corner to make it 4-0

A five minute spell had snuffed Sth. Normanton out of the game. And to compound matters, on 52minutes after staying up after a corner Matt Plant loitered near the far post as a lofted cross from the left saw keeper Whalin back peddle to take the ball, only to drop it at the feet of Plant who snatched his chance firing in from a tight angle. 5-0.

On 58mins Sth. Norm. striker did get to the edge of the box but pulled his shot wide of the far post. Rangers responded, Ward did well on the by-line to feed Mohammed (who had switched with Northen for a forward berth) but his shot was blocked away. 60mins.

On 62 mins. Sth. Norm tried a long ball that found them one on one with Plant but the big centre back came out on top heading back to Whittleston, Almost straight away the same move had them up against Robinson who tried to flick the ball away only for the ball to hit the strikers chest, as Robinson claimed a hand-ball, Whittleston claimed the ball at the strikers feet.

Three minutes later Ward chased a Robinson channel ball to the byline before rifling a low cross across the face, Mohammed at full stretch just failed to get the final touch with the goal gaping. Catton coming in from the right fired into the side netting. Then on 70mins Rangers produced probably the best move of the game. Catton and Mohammed linked well to drive down the right before crossing to Clarke on the edge of the box who laid the ball back into the path of Ricardo whose fierce drive looked destined for the top corner before Whalin dived, full stretch to tip it away.

Two minutes later Sth. Norm got their consolation goal. Whitehouse stumble over the ball, gifting the ball to Baxter who raced into the box and calmly fired across the face and in. 5-1

Both sides made changes, Ward and Northen made way for Dransfield and Sharpless, and the game became a bit scrappy, the Rangers youngsters up front looking to turn and run the Sth. Norm defence when control was the order of the day but they settled and Rangers saw out a win that meant Rangers moved 13 points clear of third place. Then after the game it transpired that leaders Parkgate had drawn at home to Staveley meaning Rangers would only be a point behind if they win their two games in hand.

FINAL SCORE 5-1