Injuries weaken Rangers

Press, 23 September 1983, Page 32

Injuries weaken Rangers

Rangers could be without three key players for their opening Rothmans Soccer League play-off series match against Stop Out in Wellington tomorrow. Their first choice goalkeeper, Peter Hawker, broke a finger in Rangers match against RoslynWakari at the start of this month, and has not caught a ball since.

The explosive lan Cowan, who has been playing at left back or in the midfield, aggravated a knee injury during Rangers 2-1 win over Christchurch Mogal United earlier in the week; and he, like Hawker, is very unlikely to travel to Wellington.

The best bet of the three to take the field is Robbie Campfens. The experienced midfielder has not played since damaging his ankle against Roslyn-Wakari. However he should be in the squad, providing he has proved his fitness. Hawker’s replacement will be Alastair McCosh, Rangers’ 16-year-old reserve goal-keeper. He could hardly get a tougher debut. Rangers’ coach, lan Marshall, conceded that very little was known about Stop Out, other than that it was a convincing winner of the central league. However, he is well aware that should Rangers lose, their chances of winning the series would be remote.

“We’ll be looking for a positive result,” he said. “We have got to give away as little as possible, and make sure we put some pressure on them as well.” Mr Marshall believed the match against United was an ideal final build-up. Both their goals were scored by Mark Gatenby, Rangers English striker. He has an important role to play if Rangers are to return to the national competition next winter.

Next week-end, Rangers will play the winner of the northern league, at Rangers Park, with Stop Out facing the same team in Auckland in a fortnight.