After a promising first up performance, Rangers fielded a side against Launceston United, with not one single player who wouldn’t be able to play in this age group again next year.

As with last week we were sloppy to begin with, conceding too much run to United’s wingers, and not offering enough protection to keeper Zach Chugg, conceding again in the first 5 minutes when Brad Pearce scored a quality goal. With United on top early, and Rangers struggling for quality possession, it took a penalty to get us on the board. Hayden Vandervelde was brought down in the box by a mistimed challenge, with Harry Thannhauser coolly converting from the spot.

United made it 2-1 after a goal mouth scramble, before new Rangers signing Billy Searson got on the board for his new club. Bill has always been an opportunist, and we certainly need one of those in our line up. He gets into the right position, has a strikers instinct and great first touch, and given any breathing space, he doesn’t often miss the target.

Rangers went into the break 3-2 after conceding another scrambly goal. The half time discussion evolved around defensive organization, and early in the second half Tannar Hinds and Tim Murfet injected themselves into the game, not only defending well in their fullback positions, but pushing on for valuable midfield possession. Harry was also combining well with Jesse Fulton and Rory Ward in midfield, and for the first 20 minutes our possession football was first class, and our opposition looked rattled.

In fairness to all players, the rotation of substitutes continued, with a tendency to unsettle the team, and control ebbed away, but not before Jesse spotted the United keeper of his line and Hayden free in the middle, putting in a beautiful cross on Hayden’s head for a quality finish.

With United controlling the remaining 20 minutes or so of the match, the test for Rangers was always going to be organisation in defence, which was the focus for the entire match. With Alex Fulton, Chris Collins, and Jarrod Garwood refusing to buckle under the pressure, and all players lifting their workrate, the lads held on for a well deserved draw. With room for improvement still evident, the coach is well pleased with progress so far.