Following Saturday's important win at home to Virginia Water, Rangers travelled to play Milton United at their temporary home in Wallingford hoping to continue to climb away from the basement. Milton were just below halfway and had lost the same amount of games as Rangers this season, so the optimist may have fancied Rangers to come away with at least a point. But it was not to be as Milton played with a desire and energy unmatched by Risborough. In truth, despite three sending's off and four goals, all in favour of United, it was not a game for the purist, with both sides happy to get the ball forward by the shortest route. It was Milton that capitalized best however, Rangers' Connor Coulson forced into an early save. Rangers replied with a long range effort by Mohamed Ihid that sailed wide. 15 minutes in and a good free kick from Jay Welch was headed over Milton's crossbar by a United defender. Five minutes later United took the lead from a corner, Elkins afforded too much room to head home. Soon after a good break by the home side finished with a dangerous cross across the Rangers goalmouth. 25 minutes in and Rangers' Welch was sin binned for 10 minutes for backchat but despite this, Toib Adeyemi saw his shot deflected for a corner as Rangers pushed for an equaliser. The resultant corner was laid back to Ihid whose superb strike hit the United post with the keeper well beaten. The loose ball came back to Ihid who this time fired wide. A mix up in the Rangers defence allowed United in, Ihid coming to the rescue with a great tackle. Five minutes before the break a neat move from Milton produced a good save from Coulson. On the stroke of half time United's keeper was all at sea under a high ball, the ball falling to Alie Bangura. Bangura's shot was blocked, the ball looping up
into the grateful arms of the stranded keeper.

Rangers started the second half in determined mood, Joe Fitzgerald's early shot blocked. Lewis Horn-Hayes then had the ball in the Milton net but the referee rightly called it back for a foul in the build up. In the 51st minute, against the run of play, Milton doubled their lead with a touch of good fortune about it. A mishit volley from Smith outside the box looked to be going harmlessly wide when Humphries lunged his forehead at it to send it rocketing into Coulson's net. Rangers countered with Bangura's cross headed wide by Horn-Hayes. A couple of minutes later and Bangura again set up Horn-Hayes who fired wide from a great position. A couple of Milton efforts were well blocked in the visitors box before Rangers were again denied by the woodwork, Welch setting up James Kosky on the edge of the Milton box, the latter's shot crashing against the crossbar. A minute later United rubbed salt in the wound, Ranger's defence parting like the Red Sea to allow Smith to dribble through and toe poke past Coulson, the ball going in via the post to make it three-nil. This goal was soon followed by another chance for United, a poor miss with Coulson committed. With 10 minutes remaining Welch received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving Rangers with ten men. Five minutes later and a Rangers corner was scrambled clear by United and in the 88th minute all hell broke loose when I was reminded why I hate football at times, in particular, footballers; Rangers substitute, Marcus Mealing went down as though he'd just met Tyson Fury and the next minute everyone was on the pitch joining in the melee; management, physio's, substitutes, assistant referee's, the tea lady, the groundsman and Uncle Tom Cobley and all! It was all rather pathetic and makes me question why I keep doing this (I'll probably go and watch the Rugby on Saturday). The upshot was that two Milton players, Thomas and Bloomfield, were given straight red cards for violent conduct. The referee should have abandoned it in my view but hey-ho! The game resumed with 10 versus nine with Adeyemi heading straight at the keeper after a poor punch. In injury time United added a fourth when Castle cut inside, beat his marker and fired into the far corner for a fine individual goal. A couple of half chances came and went for Rangers, the best falling to substitute, Sam Hamerton, his angled shot blazed over from 12 yards. A disappointing night for Rangers, who had little luck in front of goal. United were well worth their win, giving Rangers a lesson in how to finish. Rangers are in cup action this Saturday when they face Cobham at the Kamtech Stadium in the Premier Challenge Cup with a place in the Quarter-Final up for grabs. Kick off is 3pm.