THEY SAY when it rains it pours, and that’s exactly what happened for the Mitchell Rangers as both its senior teams got on the winners list for the first time this season.
The winning ways kicked off in the State League 7 Men’s fixture against Footscray on Saturday with a gritty 2-1 victory for the Rangers’ seniors.
The bottom of the table clash looked to be all in favour of the travelling Rangers early, putting two past Footscray’s goalkeeper in the first half hour through Cameron Leffley (3’) and last week’s goal scorer Stuart Clothier (24’).
The home team pegged one back 10 minutes into the second half to bring it back to a 2-1 lead in favour of the Rangers, and it was a tense finish with five yellow cards and a red handed out in the dying stages.
However the visitors were able to hold their opponents off to notch a rousing first win of the year, albeit seven rounds in.
On Sunday, it was the women’s XI hosting Diamond Valley in their home opener at Broadford Secondary College.
Much like the men’s side, the Rangers got on the board early through Sarah Warren in the seventh minute and they held their 1-0 lead into half time.
The second half was played largely in the midfield as neither team could break through. Charlette Edmonds did her best to provide an option up forward while Louisa Jones and Mikayla Gibbons thwarted any attacking efforts from the visitors.
The dogged efforts of the home side were rewarded when the ref blew the final whistle with no further score added in the second half.
The men’s reserves couldn’t quite make it three from three for the Rangers at the weekend, fighting out a 1-1 draw after Leffley netted one in the ninth minute to kick off his brilliant day.
The men’s seniors will host La Trobe University in another winnable matchup this Saturday, while the women’s side will head to North Balwyn to take on the winless Boroondara.
