Northern Rangers have missed out on their third straight Northern Premier League title on goal difference to Prospect Knights, despite winning their final match against Ulverstone 2-0.  The Club has finished the 2011 season level on points with Prospect Knights, but the Knights secured the title thanks to a 7 goal buffer in the goal difference column.

For Rangers to be assured of the title, Devonport needed at least to draw with Prospect, while Rangers had to secure a win against Ulverstone.  The club did everything they could, but the destiny was ultimately in the lap of the football gods, and Prospect won a tight tussle at Harley Parade.

This over shadows some other club milestones that included setting a few new club records.  The highest amount of points in a season was secured with 40, 1 point up on last year, and setting a club record for consecutive league wins, out to eight at the moment, and looking forward to building on that in 2012.

To the Rangers match with Ulverstone, Adam Whitemore and Tony Ludby had some shuffling to do with Scott Murray out for the rest of the season as he prepares for his academy time in the UK, Jago was back to fitness though, but unfortunately after a promising return from injury, Mark Ambrose was back on the injury list.

Patty Lanau-Atkinson dropped into midfield to cover Murray while Jago replaced Lanau-Atkinson upfront.

Both sides were in the game early, as Rangers pressured Ulverstone in defense, it was Ulverstone who looked more likely to score on the counter attack.

Joel Stone was a menace early, his first attempt came and he advanced on Marshall Pooley in goals one on one but Pooley made a save, the ball plugged at the feet of Stone and his shot in the mud was cleared off the line by Declan Cushieri .  Stone was off again moments later and Pooley came out to make yet another impressive save low to his left.

Hunt made his way up the by-line and cut a ball back to the waiting Dumbuya but Issa’s shot was straight at the keeper.  Stone again headed off on a one on one thanks to a fast break but his shot this time cannoned into the post and back into play.  It seemed the luck was with Rangers early, but Knights were already a goal in front at Harley Parade.

Nicholson opened the scoring for Rangers, he was sent through and shimmed around the Ulverstone defense and slipped the ball past Grey in the Ulverstone goal.

Shortly after cries for a penalty for Rangers but Mark Spicer was not interested and waved play on.

As half time loomed Rangers were in the position they needed to be, but Knights were getting stronger and went into the half time break 2-0 up.

The second half started and again Ulverstone looked the more likely to score first,  Pooley miss kicked a clearance straight to the feet of an Ulverstone attacker but the shot was sent wide of the goal.

After this Rangers upped the tempo a little and started to create more opportunities and control the game, Hingston doubled the lead for Rangers after Derek Schipper received a short corner and sent it perfectly to Todd Hingston to fire home.

There was drama at Harley Parade as Knights went 3-0 up, but immediately Chris McKenna got Devonport back into the game, and then again shortly after to make it 3-2, and Knights were under pressure, but they held their nerve and won their game, meaning that goal difference was enough to deliver the club its first ever senior premiership, and congratulations to them on that.

Rangers won their battle with Ulverstone 2-0, but it was a strange feeling winning a game that was so crucial to win, yet it was to no avail with the news filtering through of the result at Harley Parade.

It’s the harsh reality of football, and Rangers had missed out by the barest of margins.

The focus now for Northern Rangers moves to the State Wide Championship where the club will meet for the third consecutive year Clarence United at the NTCA in the quarter final match of the State Wide Championship.

The club will open the gates for free entry, and again we call on our supporters to come in the numbers we have been experiencing in the last few weeks and urge the club to victory. 

Adam Whitemore said after the game "