Bob Rayner reports on another hard thought win.

With several key players missing, Rangers claimed the three points despite a second half siege by an experienced Ardley United. It was a final 20 minute 'backs to the wall' effort from Rangers that saw them over the line. With the influential Haule brothers and attacker, Sam Pekun missing, plus midfield talisman, Asher Yearwood out with a broken wrist from Saturday's FA Vase match, the home side still managed to find a way with a gutsy display in a classic game of two halves.

Ardley took a third minute lead when a corner was poorly cleared to the edge of the box straight to Osbourne-Ricketts, who smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Rangers came back with a good move down the right with Sean Coles' dangerous cross cleared by a desperate challenge. Ten minutes after Ardley's goal Rangers were level. Marcus Wyllie was picked out by a good pass and the winger drove into the United area, brushing off two challenges before squaring to Adam Morris who made no mistake from 12 yards. Two minutes later and Rangers went ahead. Morris fired in a corner and Josh Urquhart met it with his forehead to score with a bullet header. Shortly after some neat build up play saw Wyllie tee up Liam Enver-Marum whose snap shot flew just over. It was United's turn next and a shot flashed across the face of the Rangers goal after a mistake by full back Bertie Squires-Adams. Rangers finished the half strongly with a Wyllie's free kick headed over the bar for a corner. The same player then curled another free kick around the wall into the side netting. The final moment of the half saw Morris chase down a loose ball and fire a fierce strike on the angle, forcing the Ardley keeper to parry away.

The second period began well for the home side with Kieron Schmidt forcing a good save from the visiting goalkeeper after two minutes. Soon after Wyllie picked out skipper Joel Read who should have scored from close range but somehow fired over. At the other end Ardley had a good call for a penalty for handball. It was definitely a maybe! Ardley continued to press and a brilliant tackle by Read kept the home side in it, followed by a good block by Urquhart. A rare break for Rangers followed as Alex Kedzierski sent Coles away with a through ball, the Ardley keeper just beating him to the ball. It was all United after this as Rangers were forced back. Jack Brooker saved well from a clever angled free kick, with Urquhart clearing the loose ball. When the equaliser arrived in the 69th minute it had a certain inevitability about it. Ardley attacked down the Rangers left and despite opportunities to clear the danger the ball finally arrived at the feet of the much travelled striker, Anaclet Odhiambo, who made no mistake from close range. This Rangers team however, have a habit of coming back from the dead and they did just that six minutes later thanks to a horrendous mistake by the Ardley keeper. As Wyllie chased down a through ball, the hapless gloves-man missed his clearance and as Wyllie prepared to score in an open net, the keeper barged him over to concede the most blatant of penalty's, despite what you may have read on the Ardley United Twitter feed! Wyllie rifled home the spot-kick to re-establish Rangers' lead. The goal took some of the sting from the Ardley pressure and despite having much of the possession, Brooker in the Rangers goal was rarely troubled as the home side's midfield and defence held firm, with Enver-Marum a willing runner to chase any clearances. The only real chance of note was at the United end after Schmidt's over the top pass found Coles who fired well wide of the advancing keeper.

A hard earned three points with Risborough showing they can tough it out when needed. In my view Ardley will be right up there come the end of the season and Rangers will be grateful to get this one out of the way with a threadbare squad. With no game Saturday it will be a chance to recover some tired legs.

Rangers Man of the March: Alex Kedzierski. There were plenty of good performances tonight, not least the two centre backs and the midfield trio, but it was AK in the final twenty minutes, with his never say die attitude, his energy to chase and harry and tackle, right up to the end when lesser mortals may give in to fatigue.