Icy cold rain greeted Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers for their Tasman Cup game at Rotorua United on Saturday. The hosts caught Rangers napping, or perhaps wondering what they were doing on a pitch in such miserable conditions, and scored an early goal.
Rangers battled back, with the ball sticking in and skipping across the midfield surface water, making everyone's jobs interesting. Rotorua had the better of the first half, despite some great runs by Rangers' James Mitchell.
By the second half, the rain had stopped and Rangers came more into the game. Captain Richard Nillesen led by example with a good showing in the centre midfield. Aaron Muggeridge, in his first game this season, held the ball well up front. He was eventually replaced by Jordan Ogilvy, who was very unlucky not the even the scores up. A great first time shot curled past the Rotorua keeper, but rebounded away off the post. Mitchell also came close; having a strong shot blocked then the rebound cannoned off him and wide of the post. Rotorua had their own chances too, with a loud penalty shout waved away by the referee. The game ended with the score as it had been for 89 minutes, Rotorua United 1, Plains Rangers 0.
Rangers were not at their best, but had patches of good football. This Saturday, Rangers have another tough game, away to unbeaten AFC Fury.