Rangers AFC finish runner-up
The Rangers AFC side which finished second in the Nelson division one league. Absent were Bjorn Waechter and Alessandro Uderzo. Photo supplied.
Marlborough football side Rangers AFC finished their Nelson men’s premiership division one campaign in style, scoring a vital win in their final match to claim second spot in the competition.
At Saxton Fields in Nelson on Saturday, Rangers beat Nelson Suburbs Reserves 1-0, courtesy of a second half penalty, thus clinching their sixth victory in succession to bag the runner-up position.
Rangers were prominent early on, creating a number of good opportunities through Keagan Mortimer, Jeimar Zapata, Victor Crafts and Tore Waechter but could not find the back of the net. At the other end Suburbs created chances, only to be denied by some excellent saves from Rangers’ keeper and man of the match Luc Sherwood.
The breakthrough came in the 62nd minute, when the lively Zapata was fouled in the penalty box, Waechter stepping up to convert the penalty.
This was Rangers’ eleventh trip over the hill, with more to come.
Manager Wolfie Waechter said, “Kudos to the commitment of all our players. Finishing second behind the deserved league winners FC Nelson is a great result for a squad full of young, first-time senior players. This is the seventh season in a row with a first or second finish for Rangers."
On Saturday, Rangers will take on the same opponent in the first round of the Price Charity Cup knockout competition
Final points: FC Nelson 42, Rangers AFC 28, Tahuna 27, Nelson Suburbs Reserves 23, Richmond 8, Golden Bay 2.
Local competition
Rangers Reserves joined clubmates Rangers Athletic at the top of the Marlborough senior men’s division one football table, seeing off Central FC 6-2 on Saturday.
Athletic fought out a 1-1 draw with first round winners Trojans AFC, underlining the tight nature of the top echelon competition now it has been divided into separate divisions.
In the third division one game, Rangers Masters overcame Rangers City 3-2.
In division two, Picton and Central Wolves continue to show the way. On Saturday, Picton downed Wolves 6-1, meaning the pair share top spot on the table. Second equal are Rangers Colts and Renwick Lonewolves, who drew 2-2 at the weekend. In other games, BV Masters beat Trojans Angels 6-4, while Trojans Strikers downed Trojans Spartans 4-0.
Points:
Division one: Rangers Reserves 10, Rangers Athletic 10, Trojans AFC 8, Central FC 3, Rangers Masters 3, Rangers City 0.
Division two: Picton 9, Central Wolves 9, Rangers Colts 7, Renwick 7, Trojans Strikers 6, BV Masters 6, Trojans Spartans 3, Trojans Angels 0.