It was a case of scraping together eleven players for Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers when they traveled to play Otumoetai on Saturday in BOP division one. The home team started strongly, hitting the woodwork a couple of times in the first few minutes. However, Rangers settled down and began to play some football of their own. After twenty minutes, Rangers got their noses in front. Ben McPherson robbed an Otumoetai defender of the ball, sped into the box and neatly put it past the advancing keeper. However, Otumoetai bounced back, scoring soon after. Near the end of the half a penalty was awarded to the home team after their striker was fouled and the kick squeezed under the Ranger's keeper. A further goal put Otumoetai in a strong position at half time.
Rangers kept plugging away in the second half. A good opening period saw a Barrie Hawkes header cleared off the line and a Patrick Lambert shot well saved. Ben McPherson won and then converted a penalty. Otumoetai kept regaining their advantage however. Rangers got it to 3 - 5 after good work from player of the day Sam McPherson gave Jacob Heath a chance, which he took well. Rangers gave away another penalty late in the game for the score to end up 6 - 3 to Otumoetai.
It was a gutsy effort from a make shift line up, which also lost Matt Dalgity to injury late on. Kirk Bain put in a terrific shift in defence to keep his team in the game.
This Saturday Rangers are scheduled to meet Whakatane Town at Awakeri.
Rangers' women's game at Tauranga City was postponed due to field conditions. This Sunday they host Kawerau Town.