Rangers unlucky to lose

Press, 31 March 1980, Page 34

Rangers unlucky to lose

Special Correspondent, - Gisborne Two goals in the first 20 minutes gave Gisborne 'City a hard-fought 2-1 win over Rangers in Gisborne in a Rothmans Soccer League match yesterday. Gisborne went ahead in the eleventh minute when Jim Doherty headed in a left wing cross froth. the former Petone striker, Grant Turner.Before Rangers had , recovered Gisborne’s imported striker, Colin Walker, split the defence with a through pass and Turner raced in to score. It was particularly tough on Rangers which had dominated the first 10 minutes and looked much the livelier side. However these two goals hit them hard and Gisborne’s hard-working midfield of Martin Ryan, Keith Mackay, Turner and John Slotemaker dictated much of the first-half play. - . Rangers came into the game strongly in the second half with the mid-fielders, Gordon Faichnie, Scott Dewar and lan Cowan winning a lot of ball and getting up quickly iri -support of their strikers. ' Neih Francis had an outstanding- gafne on the left wing, where ■ he roasted the Gisborne right back. John Whitley. ..‘i 1

Rangers could nave been more successful.’ if they had played more to Francis instead of hitting so many balls through the middle where Gisborne’s young centre back, John Gillies,. won the “nian i.of the match” .award for 'his outstanding play.

Alan South notched a consolation goal for Rangers in the closing minutes but by then it was too late to make any real impact.