On a hot afternoon at Lyme Valley, Rangers’ evolving squad were put through a decent test by a plucky Newcastle Town. With 6 trialists in the opening line up, it was Rangers who showed more purpose and had better possession early on. However, not for the want of trying, the front two trialist pairing could not make the most of the early pressure. It took half an hour for the hosts to launch a serious amount of pressure, forcing a corner and then an attack forcing King into a good save. While Rangers started stronger, Town finished the half on top and with a couple more close calls the half drew to an end and chance for a reshuffle.

The second half saw both teams ring changes, but Rangers made the most with just King remaining from the first 45. Rangers were quickly into their stride as Josh Green whipped in a cross and Jamie Sleigh headed the opener. Joe Cuff then attacked down the left and his cross-cum-shot evaded the keeper, but nobody followed up. Sleigh was also denied another by the post, having shot across the keeper and seeing the shot hit the woodwork and roll across the face of goal. After a period of the new 11 settling and looking the better team, Town raised their game and asserted more pressure. Closing down and dispossessing in the middle of the park they broke and Ryan Baxter equalised. Not long after, with more pressure down the left, Town won a corner and this was swung to the back where James Askey rise to head the hosts into a lead. Rangers responded and started to win more balls and it was midfield possession that saw the equaliser as a ball was excellently threaded through and Sleigh beat his marker drew the keeper and lobbed home an excellent late leveller. With many getting a run out under testing conditions, both Jody Banim and Robin Van der Laan will have learned a lot more, moving forward.

Rangers first half: King, Wynter, Trialist 1, Trialist 2, Moran, Welsh, Thorley, Sebbeh-Njie, Trialist 3, Trialist 4, Trialist 5.

Rangers second half: King, J.Burns, Coulson, D.Burns, Kenton, Ray-Harvey, Reid(replaced by Turner), Carr(replaced by Trialist 4), Cuff, Sleigh, Green.

No attendance figure – restricted by Covid measures.