Harpenden Town increased their unbeaten run to five matches with a workmanlike performance at 'Windsors' as Rangers poor home form continued in an up and down season. Despite this defeat Rangers still sit in sixth place in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division but with games against two of the top three next up they will need to find some consistency. As with the previous home defeat against Cockfosters, Rangers were again undone as much by a hard working young side as their own mistakes, certainly gifting Harpenden with two goals and not doing enough to prevent a third. Risborough were out quickly and good work by Miller and Makowski set up Scott in the first minute, his touch failing him in front of goal. Miller then fired over from the corner of the Town penalty area. Four minutes in however and Town should score, somehow firing wide with the goal gaping. On the 10 minute mark Rangers keeper, Hunt, did well to hold a long range effort. Another chance for Harpenden followed, a free kick headed wide from a good position. 17 minutes in and a difficult back pass saw Hunt caught on the ball, forcing him to tug his tackler's arm to concede a penalty, duly dispatched by Anthony to give the visitors the lead. A few minutes later and Harpenden doubled their lead after Miller lost the ball on the edge of the Rangers' area. With the unlucky Hunt caught off his line the ball was lofted over his head, hitting a post before being slammed into the empty net by a grateful Younger. Rangers pulled one back five minutes later when, after some neat footwork, Harding found Miller who tucked the ball home from 12 yards out. As half time approached Town produced the miss of the season following a good move down their left, the cross finding Younger with an open goal only to see him somehow scoop it over the bar from six yards. At the other end Rangers' Yearwood headed just wide under pressure. The visitors weren't done yet though and they added a third on the stroke of half-time after another move down their left, the cross-shot turned into his own net by the unfortunate Greco.

Town may have got their goals in the first half but they earned the win in the second half with some resilient defending. Straight from the start Miller shot across goal from the angle. Shortly after Town hit back, a good cross, a free header, a bad miss. Ten minutes into the half and three close range Rangers shots in succession were blocked by some desperate tackles before the ball broke to Harding who reduced the deficit, side footing home. A minute later and Scott had his powerful strike blocked, as did Makowski, there being no way through the packed defence. The home sides frustration mounted and Harding was sin binned for backchat, forcing Rangers to play for ten minutes with ten men. A superb ball in by Rangers substitute, Dobson, found Miller who was denied at point blank range by a brilliant save from the 'outspoken' visiting keeper. Scott then set up Dobson, his shot into the side netting, before Miller with a nice turn, shot over from the angle. A good dribble and strike from Scott was gathered at the near post before Dobson set up Yearwood to shoot, but as was Rangers' luck his goal-bound effort hit his own player and rebounded to safety. In the last minute Harding could have levelled things up when through with just the keeper to beat, but the Town keeper did well to save at close range. It was a good second half effort by Rangers after being three-one down at half time but credit to the Harpenden defence who worked tirelessly, and to the keeper, who won few friends with his mouth, but did well to deny Rangers with some excellent saves.

Watching Rangers this season is very frustrating. It seems that we are forced to work so hard for our goals and yet so often our opponents are gifted chances by poor decision making and costly mistakes. That certainly seemed the case again today, although that is not to take anything away from Harpenden, who worked their socks off. Rangers are a good side and have some very capable players, as Tuesday's victory at Aylesbury showed, but these mistakes are the fine line between success and middle of the table mediocrity. Tuesday night we travel to title hopefuls, Stotfold, before returning home on Saturday to face third placed Crawley Green (KO 3pm). It would be a good time for the best Risborough Rangers to show up!