Atrocious weather conditions brought the best out of Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers when they traveled to play league leaders Tauranga City Relics on Saturday.
The classy home team was on the back foot from the start. An early Rangers raid saw Jaiden Ibbetson square the ball across goal for right winger Ben Howe to race in and score. Relics were not top of the table for nothing though and they got their brand of football going, but centre backs Ben Fretwell and John Stephen had the pressure on their strikers. Rangers used their speed up front to advantage, with the wet ground making it hard for defenders to turn. Ibbetson doubled the lead for Rangers after fifteen minutes and then Ben McPherson made it three nil. Relics were not happy and kept coming at Rangers. Keeper Christian Wetting made several great saves but finally Relics got on in the net themselves. Late in the first half, Howe cut in from the right and chipped the ball across goal for Ibbetson to score. Rangers led 4 - 1 at the break.
The home team upped the ante in the second half and had the better share of possession. However, the Rangers defence was staunch. Andy Brabant broke up the Relics passing in the midfield and Kirk Bain made some good interceptions and then used the ball well bringing it out of defence. Wetting was called on to make two more outstanding saves from close quarters. With fifteen minutes to go Relics were running out of ideas as to how to break down the best defence in the league and Rangers got away on them. Ibbetson got through into the penalty area and was brought down. Player of the day Wetting stepped up to score the resulting penalty. The final score line of 5 - 1 to Plains Rangers will go down as a demolition of the league leaders, but the game was a good spectacle of hard fought football in driving wind, rain and cold. The referee Andrew Lambert did a fine job of keeping the game flowing and being decisive too.
For Rangers, this was a fine team effort with all individuals in top form. The Relics' spokesman did emphasize the impressive performances from Wetting and Fretwell in the after match speeches however.
This Saturday Rangers have a home game against the other Tauranga City team, and will hope to emulate this showing to make up for a poor outing in the first round.
On Sunday, Plains Rangers women had a lot more of their game with Rotorua United than the score indicates. Rangers played well and had quite a few attacks that deserved some reward. The Rotorua team pushed the off side law to the limits and ended up winning 16 - 0. For Rangers, player of the day Kate Simons led the attack very well.
This Sunday Rangers women have a bye.