RANGERS travelled in pouring rain to a sodden Inkberrow on Saturday for this Worcester League Premier Division match where referee Geoff Williams decided to start the game and certainly both teams should be applauded for trying to play, and largely succeeding in playing, some good open football in atrocious conditions - the only ingredient missing being goals.

INKBERROW 0, MALVERN RANGERS 0

In the opening early exchanges Lee Brookes saw a close range header from a left wing cross go wide of the post whilst at the other end Clive Churchill, forced to play in goal following last weeks late injury to Phil Birch, made two excellent saves to deny the home side.

It took quite a long time of the first half before the few brave sideline spectators had their wish in seeing Mark Adams in the Inkberrow goal dirty his lily white shorts. Rangers' best other opportunity of the first half saw David Beats played clear in on goal by a good pass from Marc Kitchener and whilst grounded on the edge of the penalty area no free kick was awarded.

The second half continued in much the same vein with both sides striving for the breakthrough. Clive Churchill made his one slight mistake in an otherwise faultless display in very, very difficult conditions when he endeavoured to punch clear, the ball however spinning goalwards but was comfortably cleared off the line.

Rangers were then denied what looked like an obvious penalty for handball in the area, but the referee waved play on.

With ten minutes remaining Rangers had a great opportunity to open the scoring when Simon Rea released Marc Kitchener in on goal with an excellent through ball but instead of the shot going across Mark Adams' goal he chose to go near post allowing Adams to save for a fruitless corner.

The draw was certainly a fair reflection of play, a good point for Rangers on a ground where points have been very hard to come by over the years but in reality they needed all three to keep any sort of pressure on the top two sides Littleton and Archdale.

The joint Men of the Match were Steve Hodges and Sean Lynch.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Rangers, sponsored by the Three Horseshoes, entertain Droitwich Spa in a Premier Division fixture, kick off 3pm, players to meet Victoria Playing Fields 2pm.