Bob Rayner reports from Airedale Park

Rangers made the short journey to Holmer Green for the first of two local derbies over the New Year holiday period on Thursday evening and produced a dominant performance in very windy conditions. A hat-trick from Marcus Mealing and further goals from Josh Urquhart, Lewis Patrick and Marcus Wyllie saw Rangers to a comfortable win. In truth both sides performed as would befit their respective league positions with Holmer Green unable to produce a single save of note from the Rangers goalkeeper, Jack Brooker.

The opening minutes saw both sides struggling to cope with the strong wind and driving rain with Holmer facing the worst of the conditions in the first half. The home side struggled to get the ball out of their own half for long periods as the visitors piled on the pressure. Rangers too had their problems, with the wind carrying the ball away from the front runners. Soon though the league leaders began to play through the midfield and enjoyed plenty of possession as the chances began to come. Eight minutes in and Patrick rifled a free kick which was well saved low down. Urquhart headed the resultant corner wide. Shortly after, Patrick's cross was parried by the home keeper, Sean Coles reacting first but he couldn't keep his shot down. Liam Enver-Marum's cross was then met by the head of Coles, his chance cleared, before Coles was again put through, this time by Asher Yearwood, only to be flagged for offside. Two minutes later and Enver-Marum produced a great run and low cross that was spilled by the keeper with no one close enough to add the finishing touch. Rangers finally broke the deadlock on 23 minutes after Mealing was clumsily fouled in the penalty area. The in form striker dusted himself off before smashing home the penalty kick. A minute later Mealing should have grabbed his second when Brooker picked him out with a great pass. His first touch was excellent before committing the keeper and with the keeper on the floor the tall striker somehow fired into the side netting with the goal at his mercy. He more than made up for this miss a minute later at the other end of the pitch when a free kick from Holmer Green flashed across the face of the Rangers goalmouth, Mealing toe-poking the ball over his own crossbar to save the visitors blushes. Rangers hit back with Coles breaking from the corner to cross. Mealing tried the overhead kick with the ball falling to Keiron Schmidt who fizzed a shot that was deflected away. A rare shot from the edge of the Rangers area by the home side flew well wide before Risborough doubled their lead after 36 minutes. Adam Morris fired in a corner and Urquhart rose at the far post to head powerfully home. Two more minutes and Rangers had a third when Yearwood's low cross was mis- controlled and the ball fell nicely to Mealing who made no mistake in grabbing his second. Another good move by Rangers saw Coles' effort deflected for a corner as Holmer struggled to contain their visitors. A minute from the break and the overworked home keeper brilliantly tipped over Morris' long range effort. From the corner Urquhart misdirects his header which falls to Alex Kedzierski, whose fine strike was deflected for another corner which found Mealing, his shot hooked over the bar. Mealing completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half time when he was fouled on the edge of the box before sending his superb free kick whistling past the wall and the outstretched arm of the keeper to make it four-nil at the break.

It was soon evident that any chance of Holmer Green making a wind assisted come back in the second half was not going to materialise with the visitors playing some neat possession football on the ground despite the pitch starting to cut up from the rain. Make shift centre-back Kedzierski and skipper Urquhart were put under little pressure as they patiently kept the ball along with midfielders Ben Sturgess and Morris, dropping in to receive. This allowed the Rangers full backs Yearwood and Patrick to stay high and wide for long periods, both offering a threat when attacking. Enver-Marum created the first chance of the half when his low near post shot was saved, with the keeper grabbing the ball at the second attempt. Another good move down the Rangers left saw Enver-Marum cross to Schmidt who volleyed straight at the keeper from 15 yards. There followed a spell of nearly 20 minutes where neither side created a chance, as the visitors continued to soak up any threat from their hosts whilst playing some excellent possession football. In the 75th minute the game came back to life as manager Mark Eaton introduced some fresh legs. With the industrious Evans Lambou busying himself in the middle, Rangers quickened the pace again. Soon after, Coles burst through with the keeper saving at his feet. With Rangers looking livelier several half chances came and went with one brilliant move ending with a very dubious off-side flag. A little later and Patrick's shot was diverted with an excellent defensive block. With 10 minutes remaining some clever play and a neat pass from Laurence Clark sent left back Patrick away down the flank and his first time strike fizzed low past the keeper and in off the far post to make it five. The divisions top scorer, Marcus Wyllie, stepped off the bench to join the fray and at 85 minutes cut in from the right, gliding past several challenges, before lashing home for Rangers' sixth.

I wish I could have been kinder in my report to the home side but in all honesty they were never in the game. Having said that, Rangers can only beat what is in front of them and this was as professional a performance as one could possibly ask for in difficult conditions. Even with their top goal-scorer, Wyllie, rested on the bench and midfielder, Kedzierski playing centre back (excellently I might add) the visitors dominated from start to finish and played some great football in the process. As for Holmer Green FC, a club that I have a special and personal respect for, I hope they can turn things around soon. Rangers are back in action in the second of the New Year derbies when they entertain Tring Athletic at the BEP Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday. Kick Off 3pm.

Rangers Man of the Match: Marcus Mealing. A good team performance all round but goals win matches and the Marlow man won his penalty and scored it, nicely tucked away his second and won the free kick to score his third. Held the ball up superbly and linked well with his runners.