IT wasn’t the win they were after, but the Mitchell Rangers continued their run of improved results across their senior soccer teams at the weekend.
The senior men’s side headed down to Wyndham Vale to take on Wyndham FC and were looking to build on a gutsy two-all draw with Dynamo Melbourne last Saturday.
The Rangers found themselves trailing early after conceding the first of the game in the 15th minute but have shown in recent weeks that they are never out of it.
Bryce Lee ensured that trend continued, netting his first of the season as the clock ticked towards half time to tie things up at one-apiece.
With the second half taking place well and truly after the sun had set, some late changes from coach Lewis Munro tried to inspire a winning goal, but it wasn’t to be as the game finished 1-1.
That makes it two draws in a row for the Rangers who have enjoyed a solid month of football, competing hard to secure five points in their last four matchups.
The men’s reserves side have had even more success in May but weren’t able to continue that on Saturday, falling to Wyndham 2-1.
On Sunday, it was the women’s turn to try to add to their win over Diamond Valley earlier this month and things looked promising early against FC Birrarung.
The dangerous duo of Sarah Warren and Charlette Edmonds both got a ball past the Birrarung goalkeeper in the first half, giving the Rangers a 2-nil lead at the midway point of the match.
A 68th minute goal brought it back to a one-goal game, but the Rangers continued to hold on as full time approached.
But it wasn’t to be as FC Birrarung’s Eva Harper scored in the 90th minute to snatch a point for the visitors and break the hearts of Rangers’ players and fans.
The draw does move them up the ladder though, jumping Diamond Valley into eighth place.
The long weekend will see no action in the State League 7 Men’s – North-West league, meaning the seniors and reserves for the Mitchell Rangers have a week off.
Meanwhile the senior women hit the road to take on Bendigo City FC this Sunday.