TITLE contenders have to pick up points even when they don't play well and it's a habit that Rutland Rangers demonstrated on Saturday.
Rangers who were third in the Peterborough & District Premier Division last season are aiming to go at least one better this time round and their 1-0 win at home to Wimblington lifts them to third with games in hand of the two teams above them.
Ra
ngers' goal came courtesy of the league's third highest scorer Robbie Pearce.
But despite feeling his side was denied a second goal by a refereeing mistake, boss Andy Saddington said his side under-performed.
"It should have been two," said Saddington after a bizarre incident saw the ball ricochet off the back of Rangers striker Rob Montgomery from inside the goalmouth and off the post.
Montgomery, whose initial shot had been saved, had been carried into the goal by his own momentum and Saddington claims that for the ball to have struck his player it must have crossed the line. The referee wasn't convinced and the goal didn't stand.
But other missed opportunities were down to Ranger's own wastefulness in front of goal.
Saddington said: "We squandered chances and should have won by more.
"We were always going to win and it should have been clearer but it is three points and it keeps us in touch.
"Duggie in goal only had a couple of corners to deal with."
Pearce curled the decisive goal home after picking up the goal on the edge of the area.
Rangers' game was one of the surviors of a frost that put paid to several Rutland fixtures.
Saddington said: "A couple of our guys went up at nine and the ground was frozen.
"I went at 11 and it was beginning to thaw but it was still touch and go, whether the game would go ahead. Luckily it did. We wanted to play."
The late decision pleased Saddington who says his team has what it takes to win the league this year.
"Last year we were third and won the cup and we have to aim to do better this season, which would mean second or first in the league but we can't afford to lose games at this point if we are going to achieve that.
"The lads are capable but we do have a very young squad with a lot of learning to do - both our central midfielders on Saturdat are 18."
Rangers face fellow cup semi-finalists Ramsey Town at Greetham on Saturday. Kick off is at 2pm.
Rangers: Duggan, Lambie, Bain, R Nelson, Betts, Pearce, Forbes, Caldecott, Bates, M Nelson, Montgomery. Subs: Cranwell, Hollingworth.
