This week’s game against Ulverstone was scheduled to be played at Valley Road, Devonport but what was not expected is that the game was to be played on the ‘back’ ground which resembled more of a paddock than a football ground.

Rangers were without a few key players due to injuries and with some adjustments made to the line-up began the game at 100 miles an hour which for the ‘neutral’ made it all the more interesting. Passing was all over the place due to the conditions but this was the same for both sides added to this was a referee who made some rather strange calls to say the least and when it came to a drop-ball situation managed to fool everyone by throwing the ball in the air AFL style but even more ‘strange’ interpretations were to follow.

With the game going from one end to another and lots of chances being created Rangers again were having the majority of the play but when it came to the final third could not find the goal they were after. Ulverstone were playing for most of the half with 5 on the back line who worked really hard keeping out all attempts on goal until 2 minutes before half time when again John Wani came to the rescue with some fine foot-work in a very crowded 18 yd box managed to squeeze the ball home.

Rangers at the break were in front, but in keeping the interest going for the neutral, a cross from wide on the right managed to beat Rangers keeper Alex Bligh within the first 2 minutes of the second half levelling the score line. The tempo of the game remained throughout the half and again and again the Ulverstone defence stood their ground until with 6 minutes to go again John Wani put Rangers in front followed shortly by a thunderous shot on goal hit the post came out and back passed to the keeper, however the referee in this case judged it to be “unintentional” from the resulting kick-out as Rangers had pushed so many forward allowed Ulverstone to stream up the park and equalize against the run of play.

With the game now level with 2 minutes to go Ulverstone saw the opportunity to steal the game from the league leaders and did just that in the final minute winning 3-2.

Rangers coach John Crooks said after the game “it was disappointing on a number of levels, injuries, the ground, referee decisions, and the score line. We played well enough but we will need to do some work on breaking down such large defensive numbers – hopefully the team will learn from this result though”.