Plains Rangers struggled to get their game going at Te Puke on Saturday. Perhaps it was the steady wind blowing down the pitch, or the effect of having the bye the week before.
Rangers lost the toss and played into a head wind. Te Puke used this advantage to push the visitors into their own half, using the long ball to advantage. Sweeper Harley de Lacy made one brilliant tackle to stop a Te Puke attacker as he was bursting through. However, Rangers did battle their way forward and forced a number of free kicks in good positions. Richie Nillesen also made some great runs for Rangers before succumbing to injury at half time. The game was scoreless at the break.
In the second half Rangers, with the wind at their backs, found it hard to get their combinations working. While Te Puke were kept at bay with some tight defence, keeper Matt Aberhart's work between the sticks earned him player of the day. As the game wore on, it looked like both teams would settle for a draw, however in injury time the telling moment arrived. Rangers midfielder got a nice flick through to Matt Ward, who fed Dan Logan cutting across the field. Logan changed the angle and put a great ball forward to Ernst Vos on the edge of the area and Vos struck a sweet shot past the keeper inside the far post. Moments later ref Grant Webber blew the whistle, the score Te Puke 0, Plains Rangers 1.
This coming Saturday, Rangers will need to lift their performance. They are at home to league leaders Kawerau Town. Rangers were the last side to defeat Kawerau, way back in late May, so the contest will be much anticipated. Kickoff at the Edgecumbe Domain should be at 2.30pm.