23 September 2011
As I sit writing this latest epistle to all you Rangers fans out there, there is troubling news from the world of science. An out of comission space sattelite, the size of a double decker bus, is hurtling toward earth and will crash we know not where. The boffins tell us there is no reason to worry. The chances of being hit by a piece of space techno' is almost 4,000 to 1. Now considering the planet's huge population runs into billions, I reckon at 4,000 to 1 we should all dig shelters in our gardens and stay there until the all clear is sounded!
Now the only reason I mention all this is because as the New Mills players left the sacred turf here at "The Towers" after our cup tie with them, they must all have thought they had been hit by something from space!. Especially after the second half! To win 5-1 against a team who like us had only lost one game all season, up to that point, was a terrific deed and each and every player did the club proud. I had been talking to a 'Danny Lambert' fan a few days before the big game and his opinion was that New Mills were the best team in the Evo-Stick South Division. Well, with the greatest respect to New Mills, they must have had an off day and caught us at the top of our form, because I thought they were nowhere near as good as Belper who we beat in the previous round. And they've just sacked Tommy Taylor their manager!
It was a great performance by Rangers. By the time the fifth goal went in we were all feeling just a little bit emotional. At last it was our turn for a little bit of glory and this ,surely, is nothing less than Tuncay and the team deserve. This is by far the best squad we have had for some time and to see the lovely flowing football being played, at times, made us breathless on the touchline. As the final whistle sounded, your Ranger is not ashamed to confess that he dabbed at his eye with a tissue! We HE-MEN have feelings to, you know!
So it's Leek Town at home in the next round. Again they are from the Evo-Stick South, and I have no doubt whatsoever that Tuncay will be treating them with all due respect. Anyway, after the cup game it was off to Sleaford Town for a league game on the following Tuesday. Always a difficult ground to go and get three points, it looked, on arrival, that it might be even more difficult on this occasion as there was no electricity to power the floodlights, or perhaps more importantly the pumps in the bar!
However, about twenty minutes before kick-off the lights came on and all was well. But it was a damp ,windy night at Sleaford and their defence, as always, proved difficult to penetrate. "Batts" got us up and running with a penalty early on, but Sleaford refused to lay down and concede defeat that easily. Against the run of play and totally against the grain of recent performances, we were at home to "Mr Cock-up" when "The Cat" lost concentration to allow a back pass to trickle over the line. Don't worry, "Cat", every keeper does something like this during their playing days, especially if they are wearing an England shirt!
But the boys rallied and , once again, we saw a better second half performance which gave us a sweet 3-2 victory, the winning goal coming from the head of "Big Bird", who, for me, just keeps playing better and better. However, it was a team effort and it was great to see everyone battling to win with both spirit and pride.
Me and the boy are off to Ollerton at the weekend for the Vase game - space sattelites permitting! See yer there Rangers fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!