Revenge was sweet for Plains Rangers Edgecumbe on Saturday. Rangers hosted the high flying Otumoetai side in a BOP division one clash at the Edgecumbe Domain.
The first half was an even tussle, both teams having their periods of pressure. The speed of the Otumoetai outside halves was always a threat; however Rangers player of the day Kirk Bain, and David Dennis kept them at bay. Rangers worried their visitors when they retained the ball well in the front third of the pitch, Dan Logan in the thick of the action. Only two minutes before the break, the home team got ahead. Striker Dean Butterworth got up well to get his head to the ball before the tall Otumoetai keeper and another defender. Logan gathered up the flick on and stroked it unopposed into the vacant net.
In the second half the home team took more and more control. Jason Pullar did an excellent job holding the midfield together, while James Mitchell made a good linkman at left half. Butterworth almost put Rangers two up when he got on the end of a Mark Thompson free kick, but the keeper made an excellent save. More good work from Logan set up Ernst Vos for a goal on debut and Rangers were looking good. The home team slowed the ball down and held possession well as the game wore on, but Otumoetai did manage to grab a late goal to make the final score Plains Rangers 2 Otumoetai 1.
This coming Saturday Rangers are away to Tauranga City United.