Plains Rangers rescued their season with an excellent performance at Ngongotaha in BOP Div 2 on Saturday.
Rangers started into a steady breeze, and with their host’s determined play, were pinned back in their own half for reasonable periods. However, a committed performance by Rangers in midfield and defence kept the chances to a minimum. Meanwhile up front, Rangers launched some likely looking counter attacks, with Jason Shaw and Dan Logan both going close, and a Bas Overdevest header going over the top. The game was scoreless at half time.
After the break Rangers had the wind advantage and pressurised the home team. Logan got through on the keeper, only to be denied by an excellent close range save. This was rectified when, after twenty minutes, Logan gathered the ball on the edge of the area. His strong shot took a slight deflection off a defender and in it went. Rangers, having gone three weeks without a goal, were noticeably lifted by this. The midfield battle was now being won by Overdevest and Jason Pullar and some good width was provided by Brendan Cusack and Shaw. Centre back David Dennis won a
good header which put Logan away and he drew the keeper to score in style. The final score was Ngongotaha 0, Plains Rangers 2.
This was a total team effort, from the excellent play of sweeper Mark Thompson at the back to the commitment of strikers Logan and Aaron Muggeridge. Rangers’ player of the day went to Daniel Logan. The game was played in excellent spirit, with the Ngongotaha referee doing a very sound job. The home team were unlucky to lose left back Ian Guy to a back injury in the first half.
This result should give Plains Rangers the impetus it needs for the rest of the season. This Saturday, Rangers are at home to Tauranga City United One. Kick-off at the Edgecumbe Domain is at 2 p.m..