As rangers resumed hostilities after last weekends enforced inactivity due to the weather, Pete Daniel made a couple of changes to the starting line-up. Recent signings Mike Betteny and Gavin Cooper from Rossington Main both started in at full back. Haywood dropping to the bench and Billy Green rested.

Worsbrough came to West Street after a string of defeats that spoilt what had been a very good start to the season. The opening ten minutes had Rangers with the upper hand but Worsbrough showing capable of pushing rangers back, especially from set pieces.

Mark Whitehouse tested the right back on 11mins with some direct running that got him into the box, only the legs of keeper Stainthorpe kept the scores level. A minute later and WB Ryan Poskett had a chance on the left when found in space by a cross field pass but his shot went well wide.

As WB pressed, Rangers broke clear on 20mins. Holt showed strength down the left cutting inside along the edge of the box before squaring to Catton who’s cross/shot found Northen, but his first time flick flew just wide. Two minutes later Betteny and Whitehouse combined to win a corner but the chance was cleared.

On 23mins. Rangers were slow to react to a WB throw on the left that was fed back to the thrower who crossed deep to Lee Garside who headed over. It was a warning. Five minutes later a free kick from deep was unconvincingly cleared for a corner by Atkinson, the dead ball in was only half cleared and pumped back into the box where the ball was fired home only for an offside flag to keep the scores level.

Winterton picked up the pace. Northen nicked the ball on the right and raced into the box only for the impressive Richard Adams to make a brilliant full stretch tackle to clear the danger for a corner. 34mins. The corner in was met by Holt whose header hit the underside of the bar and onto the head of a defender who cleared off the line,  the ball was fired back in to Northen who at full stretch got a knee to the ball but the goal bound ball was again cleared.

Then on 36mins. Rangers took the lead with a goal out of the top drawer. Rob Northen was sent through to the by line where his cross at full speed was perfect for Andy Holt  appearing in the six yard box to head into the far corner. 1-0

Two minutes later it should have been two. A ball into the box just needed a kick from a yard out but what seemed like a mass of Rangers players trying to find the decisive touch the WB keeper appeared out the mass of arms and legs with the ball and the chance had gone. 

HALF TIME 1-0

Worsbrough started the second half strongly, racing down the left and crossing to Garside whose fierce header from six yards out looked destined for an equaliser until Ben Simpson arched backwards like Nero from the film “The Matrix” to incredibly tip over the bar. 46mins.

Worsbrough continued to press; a long throw was flicked on, on 51mins but with no-on appearing at the far Winterton cleared.

Robinson and Atkinson look to be resuming the partnership formed before Atkinson’s leg break; Robinson particularly has had an outstanding first half of the season.

By 60mins Rangers were back in the swing. A corner cleared to Cooper was driven back into the near post, the keeper spilled and Northen reacted quickly to gain possession, turn and cross only for the ball to be cleared for another corner. The dead ball to the near was flicked on but went over everyone for a goal kick.

A minute later Mike Betteny was allowed to run at the box by the retreating defence before unleashing a drive that went wide of the post as Winterton picked up the pressure.

The hard work paid off on 63mins. A lofted ball into the WB box was headed backwards by Adams under pressure. Keeper Stainthorpe back peddling furiously saw the ball clip the bar before his attempted hand off found the chest of the poaching Andy Holt to bundle the ball home from a yard out. 2-0

It was effectively game over. On 79mins. The industrious Rob Northen was sent haring into the box only to fire against the oncoming keeper’s body. Northen who was Rangers leading scorer last season just can’t find the killer touch of last term to compliment the superb work-rate and unselfish running. On 84mins. Another lobbed ball caused hesitation in the WB defence, sub Dransfield nipped between keeper and defender to nick the ball, Northen then only had to hold his nerve to lob the keeper into the empty net but the chance went over.

A couple more half chances for Whitehouse and Dransfield kept the ball in the WB half before the ref signalled for full time and a Winterton win.

FINAL SCORE 2-0