RANGERS travelled to the home of Goodrich FC to play Wednesfield Reserves with just 12 players, which meant that manager Roger Kitchener was forced to start and the only substitute was Simon Burge.

WEDNESFIELD RESERVES 3, MALVERN RANGERS 5

With confidence low following three successive league defeats, Rangers were naturally very tense, despite the fact that they had beaten their opponents 6-1 just over a month ago.

With a couple of early chances, Wednesfield took the lead on 10 minutes. A partial clearance by Mark Owen was picked up by full-back Richie Tomlinson and an attempted cross sailed over Mark Wright and into the far corner.

Three minutes later and Rangers were level. A long throw by Rob Cullen was headed home by Andrew Fletcher inside the six-yard box.

The home side took the lead in the 26th minute and again it was not a good goal to concede, with Fletcher being caught in possession on the edge of the box and Chris Baugh capitalised to comfortably score.

Rangers should really have equalised on the half hour when Neil Bond made an excellent run but Simon Rea failed to get any power on his shot, comfortably gathered by home goalkeeper Dave Rammell.

Just five minutes later, Rangers were level when a long ball out of defence enabled Sam Black to shrug off a number of defenders before firing home.

Thirteen minutes into the second half, Rangers had a lucky escape when the home side struck the post and just four minutes later Rangers took the lead for the first time. A corner on the left, taken by Rob Cullen, was met powerfully by Danny White to head home.

Once again, Rangers' defensive frailties were exposed and Levi Mactintosh was allowed to race onto a through ball and score from distance with Wright way off his line.

Rangers went back in front after 29 minutes when Rob Cullen took on a number of players on the edge of the box before scoring with a good shot into the corner to make it 3-4. Rangers got some breathing space three minutes later when Cullen played the ball to Sam Black, who scored powerfully into the corner.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Rangers, sponsored by the Cross Keys, entertain Brereton Town, whom they lost to 3-0 three weeks ago when they gave one of their worst performances of the season. Players to meet at the ground 1.30pm for a 2.45pm kick-off.