Skea, minus several first team regulars lacked penetration throughout the match. Rangers should have taken the lead after two minutes when player-manager Joe Keenan headed over from six yards an Andy Reilly corner. The let off failed to waken Skea. Rangers dominated the play from here on. Dean Farry shot over with the goal at his mercy after Mark Murphy spilled another Reilly cross. The visitors just couldn’t get out of their own half. Their lightweight midfield were no match for Cutler and Paul Crane, while at the back, Rangers’ Niall Roche was outstanding.

    James Deery was unlucky as his effort just trickled wide after the tricky winger nipped in front of John Armitage.

    A change in the Rangers’ team meant Bob Hope was playing up front, but he too was guilty of missing the target after Deery had sent him clear.

    In a rare Skea attack, striker Darren Graham seemed to be blatantly hauled down in the box, referee Pat Chesters waved play on, much to the annoyance of the young Skea striker, who received a stern warning from Chesters.

    Skea came out for the second half in a much more positive mood. Stephen Phair fired in a low shot which Stephen Conway failed to gather. Roche cleared the danger with Curran lurking with intent.

    Phair had another excellent effort which grazed the crossbar as Skea looked a much better side. Kevin Swift and Mark Little were finding time and space in the midfield. Their intricate passing and movement wasted by a poor final ball into the Rangers box.

    Christopher Keenan opened up the Skea defence after 53 minutes with a neat pass to Deery. His shot was deflected wide of goal by Armitage.

    Rangers looked the more hungry for the points, the long ball was skidding off the wet surface and causing problems for the visitors’ defence.

    Dean Farry raced onto a Conway kick-out but he shot too early, high and wide. Two minutes later the same player found himself in an identical position – the same result occurred, Farry slicing his shot well wide with Murphy to beat.

    Both sides became guilty of terrible passing. Short ten-yard passes were being overhit and misplaced, while the distribution out of defence was a clear at all costs syndrome.

    Skea through Little and Swift tried gamely to move the ball on the surface but they lacked support. Kevin Curran was not at his best.

    Roche and Colin Monteith cleared any danger comfortably. Joe Keenan moved forward to clinch a winner; he was denied by Murphy who produced a good save when Keenan placed his effort through a ruck of players.