WITH the postponement of last week's Express & Star Division One South fixture away to Chaddesley Corbett, Rangers travelled to Lower Gornal to face undefeated league leaders Sedgley White Lions for their first league fixture for a month.
SEDGLEY WHITE LIONS 3, MALVERN RANGERS 1
They found their opponents just that little stronger, fitter and more competitive as they raced into a 3-1 interval lead. During the second half Rangers definitely matched their hosts and a second goal would have proved very interesting.
After ten minutes Simon Rea made a great run from just inside the Sedgley half to the edge of the penalty area, but just as he appeared to be shaping for a shot, he tried to play Rob Perrins in and the attack was broken up. Sedgley went straight up the other end and forced a good save from debutante Ross Sanders.
Just one minute later the home side went ahead, winning a corner on the right, the ball was played short and then played to the far post where Richard Dovey was left totally unmarked to head home.
After 27 minutes, after a Rangers attack was broken up, Brett Lowe picked up the ball and went on a mazey run which left a number of players in his wake before scoring.
On the half hour Ross Sanders made an excellent save. Five minutes later Stuart Harvey forced his way into the box brushed aside a defender before shooting inside the post but to Rangers' dismay the effort was disallowed for a foul.
On 40 minutes Sedgley went in a three goal lead when a right wing cross to the far post was headed home by David McKenzie.
Just on the stroke of half time Rangers gave themselves a lifeline when they reduced the arrears. Mark Owen played a long free kick to the edge of the penalty area where Richard Forde headed on for Rob Perrins to score.
Rangers started the second half brightly and certainly enjoyed the lion's share of possession, after 16 minutes Rob Perrins played Chris Allen clear and he forced an excellent save from Wesley Cox in the home goal. In one of their rare attacks of the second half Sedgley struck the post in the 20th minute and for the next five or ten minutes enjoyed their best spell of the half.
Thereafter Rangers took the game to Sedgley without being able to score. Sanders was a spectator for long spells but kept his concentration to make a couple of good saves late on.
Man of the match: Ross Sanders.
Tomorrow (Saturday) Rangers, sponsored by Willie Thornes Snooker Club, entertain Mahal and will be seeking revenge for a 1-0 defeat in September. Kick-off 1.45pm, players meet ground 12.45pm.
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