Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers provided BOP division three champions AFC Fury with a real test on Saturday. Fury won the toss and played with a strong breeze behind them at their home ground at Te Puna. The skilful Fury strikers soon had Rangers under pressure and put away an early goal. The wind helped keep Rangers on the defensive and Fury had several opportunities before they doubled their score after thirty minutes. Rangers altered their defensive system and started to create some chances. Aaron Muggeridge received a pinpoint Jeremy Hawkes cross and held the ball up well till he was fouled, but the resultant penalty was put wide. Late in the half some great work by captain Richie Nillesen put Harley de Lacy through and he scored to reduce Fury's lead to 2 - 1 at half time.
Rangers played some of their best football of the season in the second half, winning most of the fifty-fifty challenges and putting together some good moves. Substitute Dean Butterworth got his head to a Simon Gowing cross and got Rangers up to 2 - 2. Rangers created quite a few chances, but were caught out when a defender was robbed of the ball and Fury scored the winner. AFC Fury 3 Plains Rangers 2.
Rangers' coach Brendon Cusack was happy with the football his team played and named the whole team as players of the day. Fury were happy to escape with the points but acknowledged the challenge Rangers had put up. This Saturday, Rangers play their final league game, against Whakatane at Rex Morpeth Park, kick off 2 pm.