The frustrations continued for Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers on Saturday. Despite the horror series of injuries Rangers have suffered, they traveled to play Old Blues with a well balanced line-up.
The game opened in scrappy fashion, but Rangers were stunned when a penalty was awarded against them after a goalmouth scramble. It was duly put away to give the home team an early lead. Rangers kicked their game into life and a great cross from right winger Dean Butterworth found Simon Gowing charging towards the Old Blues goal. Gowing was halted by a studs-up tackle, with the resulting penalty converted well by Caleb Hyndman. Rangers gained the upper hand and were unlucky when a blast from Gowing was tipped over the bar, and then a lovely cross from Hyndman was not put away. Adding to the excitement was a great save from keeper Christian Wetting to keep out a misdirected Rangers clearance. Half time had the score at 1 - 1.
Rangers lost their shape for a while after the interval, and the home team benefited with a well taken goal. The atmosphere on the pitch started to degenerate, with a number of decisions puzzling the teams. Rangers were rocked with another penalty against them and, despite protests, it was also converted. Shortly after, while the home team debated a point with the referee, Butterworth took his chance and lobbed a freekick over the desperately backpedaling keeper to score from forty metres.
Rangers could only contemplate what might have been if luck had been with them, the final score Old Blues 3, Plains Rangers 2.
The Saturday Rangers are at home to Whakatane, and will hope to assemble a reasonable squad for this local derby. Kick-off at Awakeri should be at 2.30pm