Rangers gun down defenceless Bucks

Kamlesh Gosai

Manning Rangers overcame a defenceless Umtata Bucks to post a 2-1 Castle Premiership victory at a chilly Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday night. Coach Gordon Igesund started with Mozambican Antonio Trigo and Sipho Ndzuzo in midfield for the first time this season, and both kept the engine-room running to perfection.

In the 31st minute Rangers left-wing Japhet Zwane beat a defender on the left, ran down the touchline and crossed into the penalty area. But the ball was headed out by the Bucks defence directly to midfielder-cum-striker Bruce Ramokadi on the edge of the box. With one touch he controlled the ball and struck a cracker with his left boot for the opening goal.

Two minutes later, Zimbabwean striker Gilbert Mushangazhike and Zwane interchanged passes down the left before Zwane sent in a low cross along the ground which striker Keryn Jordan just missed. Bucks came close to scoring in the 40th minute, when striker Siza Dlamini made ground down the left flank, beat defender Bradley Muir, and sent in a low hard cross which keeper Grant Johnson dived forward to parry.

Three minutes later, Rangers defender Mark Davies sent an up-and-under ball down the left which Zwane neatly controlled. He beat his marker Clement Mazibuko and crossed into the box where Jordan headed in the second goal. In the second half Bucks made a double substitution - Vincent Skhosana and Dennis Masina came on for Dlamini and Rabi Nkoane respectively. In the 67th minute the experienced Skhosana provided the cross for unmarked Bucks captain Patrick Mayo, who headed in the consolation goal.