Plains Rangers women's football team made amends for their men at the weekend, recording their second straight win.
On Saturday, Plains Rangers men travelled to play Rotorua United. Rangers started well, playing some nice football and Ben McPherson hit the post. However, Rotorua made the most of lack of cohesion in the Rangers defence and scored an early goal. Rangers continued to pass the ball around nicely but were rocked again when a well struck shot from well out sailed over their keeper and into the goal.
Rangers' luck was proved to be out after the interval, when again they struck the woodwork and had the Rotorua keeper pull off an accidental save with his back to a goal-bound shot. Rotorua caught Rangers on the break to score a third and then a well struck shot from the midfield made the scoreline look like it was a convincing victory. Rotorua 4 Rangers 0.
Guy Askew was named player of the day in the rather rearranged Rangers line-up. Yet again, Rangers men have another week off this week, before their final league game away to Papamoa.
The news was much better on Sunday however. Rotorua United White's women's team came to play Alignments Plus Plains Rangers at Awakeri. Rangers had a good share of the territory from the start and went close when player of the day Shirley Patterson put a strong header just wide. The game was locked up at 0 – 0 at half time. However, Rangers' keeper Kate Robbie came out of goal for a spell and it was a vital move, Robbie scoring with a well struck shot. Plenty of pressure saw Rotorua concede an own goal and then Jenny McIntyre followed up on a well saved shot to bury the rebound and grab a 3 – 0 win for the delighted Rangers team.
It was a very solid all round performance, with the defence coping well, and the midfield playing strongly. Shirley Patterson was especially impressive and deserved her player of the day nomination. This Sunday Rangers' women finish their league programme with a home fixture against Tauranga City.