Another Cup tie, another miserable day but another 3-2 win for Rangers to brighten the spirits.

Rangers made 2 changes from Wednesday night's County Cup tie as the ineligible Toby Hilliard returned to the starting eleven in place of skipper Ben Seymour-Shove who was nursing a sore knee and began on the bench.

In the opening skirmishes, Oadby had gone close as Lamar Parkes crossed for Suleiman Nassor to head goalwards, but the effort fell straight into the gloves of Dan George. However, Rangers were undeterred and for the third game in a row, we took an early lead as Will Bird glanced home a Matt Sparrow corner for his 5th goal in as many games. Unfortunately for Rangers, going behind only spurred the visitors, resplendent in full Brazil kit, to find a quick fire equaliser. Ryan Robbins found some space on the edge of the box, cut inside and fired a low shot across Dan George just inside the post to make it 1-1 in the 15th minute. The following passages of the game were fairly uninspiring with only a yellow card shown to Dan George for a foul outside of his area to get the pulses slightly raised. As half time approached, though, Rangers produced the best move of the half with Bird expertly cotrolling the ball and feeding Sparrow down the right flank. His first time cross was met by a diving header from Toby Hilliard which flashed wide of the Oadby goal. 1-1 at half time with neither side being able to claim any superiority in the game.

An unchanged Rangers started the second 45 minutes in strong fashion as Josh Sennett turned smartly inside the box, but his shot lacked power and was easily saved by Charlie Andrews. Dan Flack was the next to see yellow for Rangers as the game began to open up. Oadby scorer Robbins produced a strong run from midfield but his shot also lacked any power to trouble George. At the other end, Bird forced Andrews into a routine save from a header in the 55th minute. Five minutes later, Ross Watson put Rangers 2-1 up from close range following a bit of pinball in the Oadby box. As with the first half, another period of quiet football played out, save for a yellow card each for Watson and Rangers co-manager Luke Hipwell. In the 74th minute, the best moment of the game arrived. Whether it was a mixture of the Brazil kit and the number 10 on his back that inspired Lamar Parkes, we'll never know, but his run across the pitch from the left and the unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner was well worth any samba comparisons. A great individual goal. To be fair to Rangers, the equaliser served as gee-up rather than having a deflating effect. Two minutes after the Oadby goal, Rangers sub Lewis Baughan ran from the halfway line and into the box, his short pass set up Aaron Eyett who blazed his shot well over the bar. Minutes later, Rangers scored what turned out to be the match winner, and what a goal it was too. Will Bird controlled a ball dropping from the sky and passed to Ross Watson. The Rangers midfielder, in a Man of the Match performance, travelled into the last third of the pitch, picked out a precise pass to Sparrow who never had ro break his stride to despatch his shot past the advancing Andrews and into the far corner of the Oadby net. Eleven minutes plus stoppages to play and Rangers were hoping to manage the game to its conclusion. Sparrow had another shot but dragged his shot wide. Oadby had one more chance to equalise, and they won't come any closer than the shot which crashed off of Dan George's post and away to safety. That ended up being the last action of the game and upon the full time whistle, Rangers are through to their third Cup quarter final of the season.

An entertaining game for the majority of the 90 minutes with 2 great goals - one individual and one team effort, kept the 90 supporters happy.

Many thanks to today's match sponsor - Cottage Homes Interiors, represented by Vanessa Walker.

Rangers, looking to extend our unbeaten run to 9 games, are at home next Saturday as we entertain Eastwood CFC in a United Counties League North game kicking off at 3.00pm.