Rangers overcome Suburbs side

Rangers AFC continue to feature at the sharp end of the Nelson division one football league, beating Nelson Suburbs Reserves 4-2 at A&P Park on Saturday.

The local side were forced to reshuffle their ranks for this match. The absence of Jordy Columbus saw Tore Waechter drop into the back line, Scott Belsham taking his spot in midfield, while Guy Nolan played up top in place of the injured Keagan Mortimer.

Rangers manager Wolfie Waechter said, “Suburbs Reserves are a team full of young, talented players, a number of them fringe players to their Mainland team.  And so we saw two teams focussed on playing decent, quality football”.

Rangers went ahead after 14 minutes when a Nolan cross intended for Bjorn Waechter in the six-yard box hit a Nelson defender and ricocheted into the net.

That goal helped Rangers settle down, launching a number of promising attacks through the hardworking Nolan and Jack Morris on the right flank. In the 24th minute Morris won the ball in midfield and drove all the way into the Nelson goal box where he was taken down for a penalty, calmly converted by Alex Duley.

The momentum was now with Rangers, who dominated the midfield battles, another fine combination between Nolan and Bjorn Waechter set up Duley for his second goal in the 32nd minute.

Nelson Suburbs pushed forward in a bid to grab a goal back but were caught on the break by the goal of the day. A 40m cross from Tore Waechter found Kane Elvy on the left wing. He sprinted past his marker and delivered a pinpoint ball to Duley who scored his third goal of the day with a powerful header.

Almost from the kick off, Nelson Suburbs replied with a goal of their own on the stroke of half time to send the team into the changing rooms at 4-1.

The second half became more intense and often scrappy, both teams pushing hard. Suburbs hit the crossbar twice with long range shots while Rangers let a couple of good opportunities go begging.

Suburbs had the last say, scoring their second goal in the last minute of a very entertaining game, but it was the home side who grabbed the points.

Bjorn Waechter and Belsham had strong games in midfield in front of a well-structured defence, with top performances yet again by Callum McDonald, Tore Waechter and the Elvy brothers, Boyd and Kane. Youngsters Fynn Hawes and Rico Chen are getting stronger every week.

Duley was named man of the match for his first half hat-trick.

Trojans on top

In Marlborough Motorworld division one action, Call Care Trojans moved to the top of the table with a 9-0 win over Picton Wildcats in Picton. They led 2-0 at halftime, with Thomas Largent scoring a hat-trick, Nathan Mathieson and Ben Mesman a brace apiece.

Meanwhile, Trojans’ closest rivals, Central Buccaneers, have slipped from the top spot after a 2-2 draw with stablemates Central Wolves at A&P Park. A Nick Rayner goal had Wolves leading 1-0 at halftime, before Jono Masters levelled soon after oranges. Hunter Ruffell then put Wolves back in front, only for Masters to bag his second in the 90th minute and clinch a draw.

The third division one match saw BV Masters come away with a 4-3 win over Rangers Woodbourne. A Ben Blackman hat-trick had Masters ahead 3-1 at halftime and, although Woodbourne had the ball in the net on three occasions in the second spell, one of them was an own goal, making the final difference.

Division one points: Trojans 19, Buccaneers, 17, BV Masters 12, Central Wolves 4, Rangers Woodbourne 4, Picton Wildcats 4.

In division two action, Rangers Reserves edged closer to top position on the table with a 4-2 win over formerly unbeaten Rangers City. Reserves led 2-0 at halftime following a double strike by Ollie Hunter, and although City had drawn level in the 73rd minute, two late goals handed Reserves the points.

In other matches Call Care Spartans beat Central Privateers 2-1, Call Care Red beat Trojans Marl Men 5-2 and Picton Crow Tavern downed Rangers Masters 2-1.

Division two points: Rangers City 18, Rangers Reserves 16, Call Care Spartans 15, Privateers 13, Call Care Red 9, Picton Crow Tavern 7, Rangers Masters 3, Trojans Marlb Men 0.