FOLLOWING last Saturday's comprehensive defeat at the hands of second-placed Walsall Wood, Rangers entertained fourth-placed Blackheath Town on Saturday and suffered another defeat.

MALVERN RANGERS 0, BLACKHEATH TOWN 2

On a bitterly cold day, Rangers gave their valiant band of supporters very little to cheer, although without unforced errors could quite easily have enjoyed some reward.

After enjoying a decent share of possession in which Rob Perrins, Rob Cullen and Dave Perera looked as though they could cause the visitors defensive problems, Rangers fell behind after 29 minutes from the penalty spot. A Blackheath player in possession but going away from goal in the six-yard box was unnecessarily fouled by Andy Fletcher and John Farmer comfortably scored from the resultant penalty.

Ten minutes later, the visitors were denied a second goal when the scorer was offside.

However, in the last minute of the half they were gifted a second goal. Mark White needlessly gave away a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and Gareth Meese's fairly tame kick was allowed to squirm into the net through keeper Ross Sanders.

Rangers were forced into substituting Ross Sanders at half-time with a groin strain, to be replaced in goal by central defender Adam Spencer, who himself was struggling with a groin problem which restricted his movement in the first-half.

He had to make a couple of scrambled saves during the second-half and although Rangers themselves huffed and puffed, they never really threatened the Blackheath goal.

Blackheath's choice for man-of-the-match was Rob Cullen.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Rangers, sponsored by the Cross Keys Inn, travel to Ludlow for a West Midlands League division one fixture, which is a real six-pointer. Kick-off 2.45pm, players to meet Brooklyn Motors and The Oak Apple 12.30pm and at Storridge 12.45pm.

Rangers have been drawn away to Midland Combination Feckenham Reserves in the semi-final of the Evesham Hospital Cup due to be played on Saturday, April 8.