Northern Rangers went cross town to Launceston City, the old enemy!  Looking for 3 more points as the club continues to battle toward its premiership defense.

Persistent rain during the last couple of days had played havoc with the City ground, and the Reserves and Under 18 games had ploughed the ground into a swamp, and the lines were barely visible at best.  Lengthy discussions between the officials, coaches and match managers eventually produced the options of moving the game to kick off at 3pm on the City practice ground, or postpone the game to a later date as the main pitch at Mitsubishi park was officially deemed unplayable by Mr. Pele.

Northern Rangers Coach Adam Whitemore was given the final decision, and despite many in the side carrying injuries, Whitemore opted to continue the momentum and play the game at 3pm on the practice pitch, which was smaller but in considerably better condition.

So following the women’s game between Northern Rangers and Launceston City, which ended in a 4-2 win to City, the premier league game kicked off.

Northern Rangers began in fine form and put City under early pressure, with Dumbuya, Bremner and Jago all having early chances, but it was City who scored first when Macri made the most of a lose ball in the box following confusion between the defenders from a corner, the ball somehow fell directly in front of goal and Macri swooped to dispatch it past the advancing keeper.

Moments later and City had scored again after Luke Tuma lost his footing in the mud and missed his clearance, leaving the ball for  the advancing City striker to send home with again only the keeper to beat.  Rangers were shocked to find themselves 2-0 down against 8^th placed City.

Sam Luck was commanding defense and in some good form, but skill errors in the mud were making others lives considerably more difficult.

However, as has been the case all year, Rangers reacted with a swift and brutal response to falling behind.  First it was Bremner who slammed home his chance from close range after a great break away.  Then Andrew Nicholson proved why he is the most dangerous right midfielder in the Northern Premier League at present.  His run from half way arcing around the City defense and into the penalty box was ended when the City defender challenged desperately from behind and missed the ball collecting only Nicholson and a penalty was awarded.  Hingston stepped up to tuck the ball home into the side netting.  Launceston City’s keeper dove the right direction but was unable to touch the ball Hingston had hit with expert accuracy.

Within 5 minutes Bremner had again netted for Rangers to give them the 3-2 lead before half time, a great turn around to see the Rangers go into the break with the lead.  News filtered through via a raw of excitement on the hill that Burnie had drawn level with Devonport in the game at valley road, but Whitemore was determined to keep the senior squad focused on the job at hand.

The twists and turns continued into the second half, again City started off proceedings when a save from Marshall Pooley ended in him on the ground in agony after hyper extending his knee, at the back post Luke Kolodziej was lurking and taped home the ball to level the scores again.

Pooley was able to continue, but with some discomfort.

Then again Rangers responded briskly thanks to some Nicholson magic when he tore off down the right side line, cut back inside up the bye line and into the box, looking for the cut back but not finding a suitable option, Nicholson struck the ball on an acute angle slipping the ball between the keeper and the near post and into the roof of the net for a sensational goal and put Rangers back into the lead.

Barely another 5 minutes past on the referees watch and City had put themselves back on level terms to make it 4-4, desperately trying to hang in the game, Macri notching up his second goal of the game after his header at the near post, bobbled along the cross bar and back into play, bouncing off Luke Tuma’s back and into the net for a freak goal.

Rangers again dug in and worked hard for the lead again.  Whitemore introduced Patty Lanu-Atkinson into the game for Stefan Jago to try and inject even more pace to the forward line.  Lanu-Atkinson immediately sent warning signs to the City defense burning his defenders off with his pace and looking dangerous.  Lanu-Atkinson eventually sped off and crossed the ball to Bremner who struck and won a corner after his shot took a deflection.

Gabriel Tams drilled the corner into the box directed and Todd Hingston who yet again rose above and nodded home the ball for the 5-4 lead with 20 minutes still to play.

The game still had many chances left as the sun set in the west Rangers looked to be in trouble after City won the ball in midfield, sent Macri off on a run one on one with Pooley in goals,  Pooley timed his run to perfection and pulled of a stunning save to keep Rangers in the lead. 

Injury time ticked on and on, but the time ran out for City and Rangers had pulled of a win that can only be described as Shambolic.  Taking nothing away from the determination of the Launceston City side who took it right up the Northern Rangers, but the circumstances surrounding the game, the weather, the injuries and fitness tests and eventually the seesawing score changes that resembled a cricket score rather than a football match.

It got sweeter though as Burnie had pulled off an expected win over Devonport at Valley road, to give Rangers a 4 point gap at the top of the table with two games to play, the last against Devonport themselves and next weeks clash with Somerset at Cardigan street.

Rangers have not dropped a point now since the 2 all draw against Devonport in the last round of the first half of the season.

Whitemore saying to the side following the win, “you don’t win a thing for being 4 points clear with two games remaining.”  The importance of staying focused and working on each week at a time, never more important than right now.

Adam Whitemore's Comments,

“The state and size of the pitch certainly evened up a game we would have otherwise won very comfortably. We never really got into a rhythm at any stage, but in the end did enough.

3 of the 4 goals we conceded were a shambles. We still need to defend better as a team. Sam Luck was excellent when we needed leadership and composure and Todd Hingston and Andrew Nicholson yet again stepped up when the game needed winning.

I was very happy with Issa Dumbuya too.

Our ability to respond when we go behind is incredible, and shows huge self belief, but we need to dominate games from the outset. I expect us to put in a better overall performance this week. You get nothing for leading with 2 games to go.”

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