Northern Rangers have claimed their second victory of the season in dramatic style, rallying from 2-1 to claim a 3-2 victory over Clarence thanks to a late long range bomb from their star captain Nick Lanau-Atkinson. The Rangers talisman stepped up in 86th minute to score a superb long range free kick after Rangers keeper Sam Whatman had minutes earlier made a massive penalty save to keep the scores locked at 2-2 and Clarence had a goal ruled out due to offside in a frenetic final 10 minutes of an action packed game.

Rangers started the sharper of the two sides who were both looking to get at each other and play in a positive manner. Darrant drew a sharp save out of Randall on 12 minutes after he had been played in by the excellent Harry Thannhauser with the Reds keeper doing well to keep it level.

He was caught out 10 minutes later however when Pat Lanau-Atkinson sent in a raking cross from the right wing to the middle of the box that Darrant met with a looping header that chipped Randall and gave the Rangers an early lead.

It didn’t last long though. Adam Hedge, who had been on the pitch all of 10 seconds made an immediate impact. He controlled the ball on his chest before he smashed a curler from 25 yards that looped perfectly into the corner of the net.

Rangers responded well to seeing their lead dissipate however and quickly retook the ascendancy, keeping Clarence under pressure for the final 15 minutes of the half with Nick Lanau-Atkinson looking particularly lively, but the Lewis and O’Neill pairing at the back for Clarence was defending well.

The opening exchanges of the second half were very dour, both sides were committed to playing a good passing game but were failing to create any openings, leading to the game being bogged down in midfield. Then with the first hint of a chance for the half, Clarence took the lead.

George Hallard forged the goal with a deft little lobbed through ball to Nick Naden, who ran onto it and fired a shot goalward that Whatman appeared to have covered only for it to slide through his hands and into the back of the net and give Clarence the lead.

The hosts were buoyed by the goal and seized control of the match as they looked to land the knockout blow only to concede when it looked like they were starting get on top.

A long range free kick from Nick Lanau-Atkinson was curled in to around the six yard box, where Dylan Rodriguez was being marked by O’Neill. A flying Malcolm came over the top and the ball took a touch off a Clarence head and into the back of the net to square things up at 2-2.

 

From hero to villain, Rodriguez then gifted Clarence a penalty at the other end when he clumsily brought down Nick Naden in the box presenting Richard Heath with a chance to put Clarence back ahead with 10 minutes to go.Heath stepped up and made good contact, sending it to the bottom right corner but Whatman flung himself full stretch and made a superb stop to keep scores level.

Clarence’s frustration was added to minutes later when Nick Naden thought he had given his side the lead with a fine turn and shot from the top of the box only for the offside flag to deny him.

Having survived those moments unscathed, Rangers then went up the other end and poured salt into the gaping wound.

Nick Lanau-Atkinson curled an effort from the right wing that lobbed all the bodies and a despairing hand from Randall to crash in off the far post and send the Rangers into delirium. It gave them a 3-2 lead with just minutes to play although the drama was not done with yet.

Clarence had one last hurrah as they flung men forwards to try respond but they could not find a way through, with Pat Lanau-Atkinson making a series of big shot blocks before Whatman again stood up tall and made a strong stop on Naden as time expired.

The thrilling victory sees Rangers pick up their eighth point of the season, which has already eclipsed their total from the entire 2016 season and it moves them back into fifth position on the table.

Coach Lino Sciulli was happy with his sides perseverance stating.

“We gave up a lot of ball, we did some silly things that put us behind the eight ball but I’m delighted that the boys kept working and working and didn’t give up the whole time, so that’s a positive.”

“There is a hell of a long way to go, the bottom four sides are starting to look a lot better so the games where we play each other are going to be very good games.” 

Alan Jablonski was disappointed with three points slipping away after the penalty gave them the chance to go 3-2 ahead.

“Extremely, it’s a deeper disappointment than just losing the game but you’ve got to take those chances.”