Rangers last game before Christmas and for 2005 meant for the short trip to a very cold Rossington. Pete Daniel was able to field the same side in consecutive games for the first time this season, against a team that has become something of a bogey side in recent years, including holding Winterton to a goalless draw in September.

On a difficult surface, Rangers stated their intent early on pressing the rossington defence from the off. Danny Clarke threaded a pass through for Rob Northen that won a corner inside three minutes. The incoming dead ball had shots from Holt and Clarke blocked away before Walmsley fired wide.

Three minutes later, after another corner was cleared Rangers Billy Green split the defence with a pass that sent northen through with only a defender to beat, but he stumbled under pressure. Clarke had followed up but with only the keeper to beat his first touch was too heavy and the keeper collected the ball.

Rossington couldn’t contain Rangers as they attacked from all angles. Northen’s pace was causing all sorts of problems. On seven minutes Northen linked with Whitehouse before crossing to Holt at the near post, but his turn and shot was blocked away.

Finally on 11mins. Rangers made the breakthrough. A Billy Green ball into midfield was flicked on by Clarke, Rob Northen raced through before lifting the ball over Valente in the Rossington goal. 0-1

Straight from the restart, Green won possession and drove it forward. The Rossington centre backs didn’t deal with it and Northen nipped in and again lobbed the keeper to double the lead. 0-2 12mins.

New signing Andy Catton looked sharp on the right, twice skinning the home sides full back before delivering crosses that were cleared, until the 16min. when a brilliant turn and run to the  byline created a great chance for Andy Holt approaching the near post, who made no mistake with his first touch. 0-3 16mins. Three minutes later, Whitehouse made a great run into the box before pulling his cross back to Clarke on the edge of the box, but Valente made a great save to tip Clarke shot round the post.

Rossington managed their first attempt on goal on 24mins with a shot from 25yards. It was a  spell of Rossington  pressure as Winterton took a breath after their devastating first twenty minutes. Ben Simpson was very sharp to tip round the post a shot from Bradley afeter he made ground down the right. But Rangers responded with Walmsley firing straight at the keeper and Catton creating another chance for Northen  36 & 39mins.

On 41minutes Rangers should have had a fourth, when Northen elected to shoot from the edge of the box when Holt was free inside.

A minute later it was, the impressive Catton bamboozled the left-back before crossing to the near post where Holt challenged the keeper. The ball cleared both and Northen collected his hat-trick by firing into the roof of the net from 6 yards. 0-4

Rossington closed the half with a good move linking midfield to the early ball up front, and Bradley again made Simpson react well to parry low to his right.               

HALF TIME 0-4

As the first half came to a close the pitch had become more treacherous as the temperature dropped to zero, and the second half was going to be a scrappy affair as the pitch deteriorated.

Danny Clarke who had commanded the centre of the park all game , won a tackle in the centre circle before threading a ball that Northen angled his run to perfection to before lifting the ball with the outside of his boot over the confounded Valente and just under the bar. 0-5 52mins.

Rossington responded well and almost grabbed one back, a through ball had leading scorer Bradley through on goal, but Ben Simpson stood up well and saved with his feet. 54mins. Pete Daniel then made a double substitution, Atkinson and Whitehouse coming off with Dale and Ricardo entering the fray.

For every attack Rossington produced Rangers made three. Catton shot across the face after linking with Northen. 60mins. Three minutes later Dale did the same.  Rossinton then had another good chance to grab a consolation but Simpson was in no mood to surrender a clean sheet and again saved with his feet. The game came to a close with Rangers still dominating but the conditions probably winning out in the end.

FINAL SCORE 0-5