Offwell Rangers went down 4-2 on their Macron League Division Six visit to Central FC.

Ranger had difficulty fielding a side for the game – the night before manager Scott Phillips only had nine players!

However, thanks to a new signing and the manager’s efforts to get a couple of players out of retirement to help out, Rangers were able to play the fixture with a full 11 and one substitute.

Rangers began well and dominated the first 20 minutes, but the home side realised where they were failing and changed their tactics to eventually take control.

After falling two goals behind, Rangers halved the deficit by the break thanks to a Dan Williams header.

Chances were fashioned at both ends throughout an entertaining second half and, shortly after a Rangers attack saw the ball fly across the Central goal line without anyone able to apply a finish, the home side took a 3-1 lead with a well-crafted set-piece. Steve Curry soon had Rangers once again back to within a goal before the Exeter side sealed the points with a late fourth.

Rangers boss Phillips said: “It was tough just getting a side out for the game, but our re-jigged formation worked well for the first quarter.

“They [Central] were surprisingly well versed in tactics for a team at this level and quickly read what we were trying to do by changing their system.

“At 3-2 to them they clearly were getting frustrated – not to say over physical – we pressed for a third of our own before they sealed the points.

“The whole team worked really hard. Ben Kayes, who made a superb penalty save, was again superb. Tom Cligg was outstanding and fully deserving of the Man of the Match award.”

Phillips concluded: “We still sit joint third, but we have little margin for error now in our remaining games.”

Next up for Rangers is a home meeting with third bottom Stoke Hill this Saturday (February 18).