Bob Rayner reports from the B.E.P. Stadium

This FA Cup extra preliminary round match versus Gloucestershire side Lydney Town never really reached the heights of the excellent display of football at Leighton Town the previous Tuesday. It was not until the final 15 minutes that the game really came to life with Rangers, who played for nearly 70 minutes with ten men, following the sending off of midfielder Alex Kedzierski, earning a place in the next round thanks to a brilliant overhead finish from Sean Coles, thus negating the ominous thoughts of a replay in the Forest of Dean on Tuesday night. The first chance of the match fell to Rangers as Marcus Wyllie beat his man and squared across goal, only to see his chance scuffed clear. Moments later a long range effort from the visitors was easily dealt with by Rangers keeper, Jack Brooker. The first real excitement came on 23 minutes following a heavy challenge on Kedzierski in the Lydney area. The Rangers man of the match from Tuesday night was shown red for kicking out. Forced to rearrange, the home side prepared for an expected onslaught that never came. With the visitors showing little intent to capitalise on their extra man, the rest of the half was a slow affair with no real chances for either side as both teams appeared content to reach half time without conceding.

Lydney started the second half with an early effort after Joel Read was robbed of the ball but the shot was well wide. Seven minutes in and former Cheltenham Town striker Lewis Thompson turned Rangers defender Josh Urquart on the edge of the box before firing over. Two minutes later the same player sent another shot high and wide from distance. This is where the visitors threat pretty much ended and it was ten man Rangers that gradually gained control. 20 minutes in and Coles fed Wyllie whose shot fizzed just wide. A few minutes later some good goalkeeping denied Wyllie after some good wing play from the marauding Lewis Patrick. Patrick again burst forward only to be cynically brought down by the already booked right back. Bizarrely, a second yellow did not follow and the Lydney bench wisely substituted him moments later. Rangers continued to press and consecutive corners saw firstly Read's effort diverted wide and the same player head wide from the resultant kick. The introduction of the ebullient Sam Pekun caused problems for the Lydney defence as the speedy winger tormented his marker. Pekun's snap shot was well saved after more good work from Patrick as Lydney tired. The decisive goal came in the 77th minute following a long throw into the box from the Rangers' right. The ball was flicked on by Wyllie and despite the attentions of two markers Coles produced a superb bicycle kick to send the ball rocketing into the net via the underside of the bar. It was a quite brilliant goal, well received by the delighted Rangers support. Rangers kept up the momentum and finished the game in comfortable fashion as their superior fitness showed through. They should have added a second in the final minutes after more clever wing-play from Pekun, his cross finding Lawrence Clarke at the back post with the easiest of headers, yet somehow the normally cool midfielder headed wide of the gaping goal.

Rangers thoroughly deserved their win and it was all the sweeter to do it with ten men. In truth, they will face tougher opponents in the coming season not least in the next round where they are again at home against Ascot United in two weeks time. In the meantime there is an important league fixture at the BEP Stadium next Saturday when the visitors are Broadfields United, who have got of to a flying start this season.

Rangers Man of the Match: Lewis Patrick. The teenage left back just gets better and better. Time and again Lewis was the attacking threat down the left hand side. His pace and skill caused problems for the opposing full back all afternoon and he should have seen red for two cynical challenges with Lewis in full flight. Mature for his age, Lewis has been a revelation since his promotion from the Development side.