Playing most of the good football was not enough for Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers when they traveled to meet Otumoetai on Saturday.
Rangers were hoping to knock over their hosts, who sit one place higher in the BOP division one table. Heavy rain set in during the first half and helped the home team get off to a good start. A hopeful shot squeezed the wet ball under the Rangers keeper and into the net. Rangers, undaunted, set about playing good controlled football and put Otumoetai under a lot of pressure. Cameron Wills took on the left fullback, and cut the ball back from the line nicely for Richie Nillesen to score. The rest of the half had Rangers on top, passing the ball around nicely, and creating half chances, but not finishing off anything.
In the second half, the contest evened up a bit, but Rangers still looked the most likely. A powerful Christian Wetting drive was blocked by the keeper but noone was on hand to put away the considerable rebound. James Krause got the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for a foul. Then the home team had a fine five minutes when they opened up the Rangers defence twice and scored twice. Rangers were stunned at this turn of events, and managed to pull a goal back via player of the day Cameron Wills, but the game ended Otumoetai 3, Plains Rangers 2.
For Rangers, Wills and centre back Paul Inglis were in top form, and the team played well as a unit. Rangers have another tough test this Saturday, when they travel to meet second placed Tauranga City United in an early kick off.