Plains Rangers were at home to Otumoetai Legends in BOP division one on Saturday. The visitors started strongly and put Rangers under pressure but the defence, with keeper Christian Wetting in super form, held firm. Midway through the half, Rangers got a better share of the play and went close to a goal. Husnul Gray had a good header well saved by the Otumoetai keeper diving to parry it away.
The second half was a hard battle, with both teams determined to get a result. Otumoetai eventually got their noses in front with a well worked goal. Rangers came back at them in the final ten minutes. A series of corners were won. Gray had a goal bound shot brilliantly saved by the visiting keeper, who managed to backpedal and somehow leap up to turn the shot over the bar. Rangers' keeper Wetting came up for a corner. He headed a good shot into a defender to win another corner. This time Wetting headed it powerfully into the goal, only for the referee to disallow it for a push elsewhere in the penalty area. The final whistle blew, Rangers 0, Otumoetai 1.
Otumoetai were jubilant with their narrow victory, while the home team felt very unlucky not to have at least shared the points. James Hart was named player of the day for his strong performance in the centre of midfield. Both goalkeepers had also had outstanding games.
This Saturday, Plains Rangers play a rare double header. Both their men's and women's teams travel to play Taupo on Saturday. The women's game is at 11am, with the men's at 2.30pm.

.