Team: Goodchild, Goode, Ford, Howell, Brown, Rose, O’Brien, Coyne, Arthur, St.Aimie, Maguire
Used Sub: Folkes for Arthur
Rangers came out of the blocks quickly again at Harlington and continued their good habit of scoring early in the game. A long ball from Aaron Goode was chased down by Kieron St.Aimie and as the centre half and keeper waited for each other to deal with the danger, St.Aimie stole in and despatched the bouncing ball with aplomb. After that the game was fairly even as each side battled to gain the upper hand. Rangers were always keen to get the ball wide to use the pace of Romone Rose and Chris Arthur on the wings whilst the visitors were passing well with their No.11 prominent in their best moves.
Billy Coyne, playing again in central midfield, had a good run and pass to St.Aimie whose shot was saved. Then Danny Maguire picked up the ball on a break and fed Rose on the right. He drove forward and played in St.Aimie who tried to feed Arthur with a deft flick but it was blocked. This type of quick break was typical of Rangers play but often the final pass or shot was just lacking. Coyne tried his luck again a few minutes later but his shot was easily gathered by the keeper. Just before the half hour mark, the final shot was anything but lacking. Maguire was shoved in the back and he picked himself up to dispatch a superb curling free-kick into the top corner from about 22 yards, I’m not sure if the keeper even moved ! Wycombe came into the game a little more after that and Josh Ford and Aaron Goode were on hand to clear up at the back. Just before the break, Rangers missed a good opportunity to extend their lead. Lee Brown joined in the attack down the left and an astute pass put him clear near the by-line but his cross was blocked at the near post. Half Time: 2-0
Wycombe started the second half brightly and were passing the ball well and kept possession in the Rangers half for long periods without ever really testing Chris Goodchild. Despite the pressure, the R’s were always a threat on the break with the pace of Rose and Arthur out wide coupled with the strength and guile of St.Aimie and Maguire to set up the attacks. Rose in particular was getting clear more often and provided several crosses for the strikers, one of which Danny Maguire headed over when well placed. Before the hour mark though, this threat provided the third goal. St.Aimie received a ball out of defence and his flick put Rose clear down the right. He drove forward and although his low cross was just behind the advancing St.Aimie, it fell perfectly for Maguire and he coolly guided the ball into the bottom corner from about 12 yards.
Halfway through the second half, the visitors pulled a goal back. Further neat passing created some space for their centre forward and he fired home from the edge of the area with Goodchild well beaten. Rangers responded within a minute as a run and cross from Arthur found it’s way to Maguire who cleverly lifted the ball over his marker before his shot on the turn was well saved. With 20 minutes remaining, James Folkes replaced Chris Arthur with St.Aimie moving out to the left side allowing Folkes to play up front. Wycombe then had a strong shout for a penalty as the ball appeared to strike an arm in the Rangers area but the referee was unmoved.
In the final ten minutes Romone Rose was still full of running and he hit the outside of the post with a shot from a tight angle. At the other end, the visitors kept pushing forward but the Rangers defence held firm. Full Time: 3-1 Good to see Jbee, Julia, Alan Barnes, Rob, Simon, Steve, Roger, Clive Senior, Pat, Tom and Big Paul.
Froods