Menston Rangers win versus title rivals..

Rangers collect first league win of the season..

Menston Rangers returned to winning ways with a thoroughly deserved 3-2 home win against a strong & competitive Thackley team.

The players spoke before the game about the challenge that teams are giving them on a weekly basis; via keeping numbers back at every opportunity and how they need to work out ways to counter that and be more patient.

The first 15 minutes, with Rangers on top, saw the team do exactly that as they should've been 3 goals to the good, with one 'goal' not given with the ball a foot over the line! First to most balls; and most second balls , Rangers never really let Thackley settle, who, despite having some talented players, never really got into a consistent rhythm until the final 5 minutes of the half when a speculative effort flew in the top corner from their first real chance.

It was easy to think 'here we go again' after Rangers had been wasteful and up against another decent keeper for the 3rd game running, but the 2nd half was to be much better.

Another fast start saw Rangers equalise through Ethan L; and the sharp closing down being matched by sharper combinations which got Rangers in behind a number of times. 1 became 2 as Ethan L scored again. For the spectator, the difference in styles was again fascinating at times; with Rangers getting in a couple of great areas to add to their score, only for brave defending and a little bad luck going against them.

As in the 1st half; and against the run of play, Thackley scored from a rebound in a fairly rare counter to make it 2-2 with 10 to go.

You always felt there was another goal or big chance to come from this Menston team who have wonderful character and 'belief' (a key phrase they chose themselves to define part of their DNA this season) and that was to be the case; as Marc A latched onto a good ball through from Charlie M, to dart between 2 Thackley defenders and roll in a deserved winner.

There could've been a couple more from 2 dangerous corners and free kicks, but the game ended with a strong win. Next up Rangers start their defence of the League Cup with an away tie at League D team Wilsden Wildcats.