This was as bad a defeat as I have ever witnessed in my years of connection with Risborough Rangers. It wasn't just a bad defeat, it was a bad performance too as Rangers struggled to find any coherence in a mish-mash of a game that was thrown away in the final five minutes. As the game neared its end and a penalty shoot-out looked likely, Risborough contrived to commit suicide, conceding three goals in a mad finish to a poor game. I apologies in advance to the hosts, Long Buckby, who deserved to win with a plan they executed well, but they are an average Step 6 side that made Rangers look like a poor Step 7 side, not the Step 5 side they purport to be! Long Buckby sat deep, worked their socks off and battled with passion throughout, hitting Rangers on the break when possible. A couple of early efforts from Rangers, with Lewis Toomey shooting from 20 yards straight at the keeper and the same player producing an acrobatic overhead kick that was tipped over. The home side took the lead though, in the 11th minute when Joe Fitzgerald conceded a penalty, duly put away by Smith. Five minutes later and Rangers levelled when Curtis Chapple headed home Lochlan Colquhoun's cross. Rangers should have gone ahead a minute later when Toomey raced clear with the keeper to beat. With Gerald Muchechetere alongside it looked easy to draw the keeper and slip the ball to his fellow striker but Toomey chose to go alone, with the keeper saving well. It was a bad miss! On 25 minutes a good turn and shot from the home side was tipped over by Dave Saunders in the Rangers goal. A long high shot over the bar by Muchechetere ended an uninspiring first 45 minutes.

Eight minutes into the second period and Toomey jumped on a Long Buckby mistake and put Muchechetere through on the Long Buckby goal, again the home keeper making a good save. On 65 minutes and a Rangers corner was nearly turned home by a Long Buckby defender for an own goal, another defender on hand to clear off the line. Rangers substitute, Jamie Robinson, bought a bit more pace into the side and he set up Toomey who's shot was easy for the home keeper. A long shot from the home team fizzled wide before, with 20 minutes to go, Rangers' George Callie raced away for Rangers only to be denied by a superb tackle by the home team's skipper just inside the box. More half chances came and went as gaps appeared all over the pitch. Dave Saunders did well to tip over a header from a good cross and the home side should have scored on 78 minutes, the chance skied over from close range. A good run and shot from Chapple followed, missing at the far post and a poor miss from Austin Edwards from a Rangers corner, a free header over from six yards. With five minutes of normal time remaining Rangers pressed, leaving themselves vulnerable to the break, and so it was, as a quick break and neat one-two saw Shaw show the Rangers forwards how to score with just the keeper to beat. Moments later and Toomey had the chance to level after good work by Robinson, the Rangers striker somehow swinging and missing the ball completely! With two minutes left on the clock Long Buckby sealed the win as Rangers gave the ball away again, Shaw again showing how to finish a one versus one. Four minutes into time added on and Long Buckby scored a fourth to rub it in and four minutes later Rangers got one back courtesy of an own goal by Long Buckby's Finlay. It was probably the only way Rangers were going to score in a dismal second half for the visitors. This was a heavy defeat in which there was little sign of grit, determination and fight from many of the Rangers players. The midfield looked far too lightweight without Ben Sturgess, the defence is in desperate need of a couple of centre-backs and up front Toomey needs some help. Who knows what Rangers can expect at Sheerwater on Tuesday in the League Cup but some guts would help! More importantly, they have a very big home game this Saturday when bottom team, Broadfields United, visit the Kamtech Stadium. Defeat would be unthinkable! Kick off on Saturday is 3pm.

Rangers Man of the Match: None.