Evo-Stik League Premier Division

Tuesday 22 August 2017

Dan Westwood made it five goals in four games as Rangers bounced back from Saturday’s defeat at home to Buxton to go top of the league with victory at Mickleover.

Rangers made three changes with  Richard Batchelor returning and first starts for Jack Sherratt and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson.

Mickleover shaded a frenetic start and were the first to threaten when Clinton Morrison and Ben Turner linked to set up Jimmy Phillips whose low drive was turned away for a corner by Adam Whitehouse.

Rangers were struggling to retain possession or make any real advance into the Mickleover half and when they did, the final ball was lacking.

Dan Westwood nearly worked an opening, forcing Pablo Mills to hack the ball clear from the 6 yard box.

With chances at both ends at a premium, Bradley Grayson should have done better when given time and space on the edge of the Rangers area. Instead, the Mickleover forward sent the ball high over the bar.

Grayson was in again a couple of minutes later when he beat the offside trap but Jordaan Brown defended well to clear the immediate danger.

The game badly needed a goal and it came in the 50th minute to that man Westwood.

Mat Bailey got his head to a Louis Briscoe corner and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson nipped in to square for Westwood who tapped in from close range.

Morrison fired just wide and a Mills header was just off target as Mickleover looked for an instant response

Adam Whitehouse saved from Andy Dales and then kept out a close range effort from Mills before Grayson sent a free kick over the Rangers bar as Mickleover kept up their search for an equaliser.

Jack Sherratt blazed over with better options at his disposal while Westwood went over from distance and Mat Bailey headed wide as Rangers aimed to put some daylight between the two sides.

Mickleover sub Ben Morris forced a good save from Whitehouse just moments after coming on while Tom Burgin missed out twice going wide each time.

Rangers made certain of the points four minutes into added time with a breakaway goal. Izak Reid’s crossfield ball picked out brother Levi on the right and his cross was met by Westwood who headed in his second of the night.

Mickleover Sports: 1 Nick Draper, 2 Kevin Grocott, 3 Ben Turner, 4 Jimmy Phillips (16 Jermaine Palmer 83m), 5 Pablo Mills, 6 Tom Burgin, 7 Andy Dales, 8 Clinton Morrison (15 Ben Morris 75m), 9 Bradley Grayson, 10 Evan Garnett (17 Zeph Thomas 75m), 11 Danny Gordon. Unused Subs: 12 Morgan Williams, 14 Will Norcross

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Kai Davis, 3 Jordaan Brown, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Jack Langston (15 Levi Reid 75m), 7 Jack Sherratt, 8 Louis Briscoe (14 Kyle Perry 90+5m), 9 Dan Westwood, 10 Bradley Fortnam -Tomlinson (16 Izak Reid 85m), 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused subs: 12 Exodus Geohagon, 17 Joe Thomas

Cautions: Burgin (Mickleover) Brown, Briscoe (Rangers)

Ref: Craig Rollason

Att: 303