If Rangers weren't quite sure that they were in a relegation battle following last weeks disappointing defeat away at Berks County, they can be in little doubt now following this thrashing at the hands of Virginia Water which leaves them third from bottom in the Combined Counties Premier Division North. Following promising draws against four of the top teams in the division recently, including leaders Egham, Rangers had a pretty decent defensive record. All of that is academic now, having conceded four goals last Saturday and five here with no reply. Take nothing away from Virginia Water, who took their chances well, but the defending by Rangers was, at best, 'Schoolboy', in fact, that's unfair on schoolboys. The home side had a couple of half chances before taking the lead in the 11th minute. A huge throw-in on the right and McGuinness unmarked in the six yard box heads home. Two minutes later and Rangers hadn't learned; same thrower, same position, same area, same header, same scorer; this time Fitzgerald appeared to have cleared off the line acrobatically, only for the linesman to signal a goal. Rangers were a little unlucky on fifteen minutes when Virginia Water's 'long throw expert' clumsily bundled Christian Johnson over in the home team's penalty area and with the referee putting whistle to mouth the expected penalty looked a certainty, but the referee changed his mind, the whistle never sounded and the danger was cleared. A couple of minutes later and Rangers were forced back and Webb's under-hit back pass was pounced on for Davies to score an easy third. Chamberlain and Johnson both had shots for the visitors, both wide of the target and two minutes from the break, Rangers newly appointed skipper, Joe Fitzgerald, was sent off; initially a yellow and sin binning but then upgraded to a red for continued backchat. It was the end of any chance of mounting a come-back.

Despite being down to ten men and making three substitutions Rangers began the second half in lively fashion and in the 55th minute Louis Fountain did well, his low angled shot cleared off the line. It was Rangers' first shot on target. At the other end the home team should have scored with a header wide from a good position and in the 60th minute they increased their lead with a neat move down the middle, carving Risborough apart for Goodey to score with a tap in. Rangers continued to battle but with little effect, the best chance falling 15 minutes from the end when a series of blocks and tackles by the home side following a corner was eventually hacked clear. A couple of good saves followed late on from Rangers keeper, Saunders, but he could do nothing in the 88th minute as Rangers' defence failed to clear a bouncing ball in the area and McGuinness completed his hat-trick, rifling the loose ball home from close range. In injury time Saunders was forced to push away a long range effort, the resultant corner scuffed clear following a melee in the Rangers box. The final whistle brought a warped relief to the sizable contingent of Rangers supporters who now realise that their team are firmly involved in a relegation fight. Next up is Saturday's home game against Burnham. Hopefully, after conceding seven goals in two games on artificial pitches, our grass pitch will prove a bit more of a leveller. Kick off at the Kamtech Stadium id 3pm.