Rangers' title hopes take a significant hit

SO CLOSE . . . Daisyfield's Craig Taylor (orange shirt) takes a shot. PICTURES by PAUL STERRITT

Daisyfield Rangers 1, Star Inn 4

DAISYFIELD Rangers' title hopes have all but disappeared in Division Three of the Sports Tours International Tameside Sunday League after defeat at the hands of Star Inn at the Oasis Academy.

It was Rangers' third straight loss, with boss David Mason pinpointing two factors in the latest reverse.

Mason said: "In some ways we beat ourselves, but I thought that some of the referee's decisions were poor and ultimately it cost us. We were hoping that this match would act as a pick-me-up for us, but it wasn't to be."

This is the club's first season under their current name, having played in the past as Vibes Athletic.

LIVELY

And against a lively Star Inn outfit, it looked as though Rangers would halt their losing streak, going ahead on 21 minutes thanks to a tidy finish from Connor Quinn seven yards from goal.

But it was all downhill from there for Bardsley-based Rangers, with a hotly-disputed penalty and a contentious offside decision contributing to a 3-1 deficit by half-time.

Ryan Quinn gave a positive performance in midfield as Rangers sought to fight their way back into the game, but an unfortunate own-goal from the otherwise impressive James Taylor, ten minutes from time, finally sealed their fate.

Rangers have two important cup dates on the horizon, both of them against Royton Park from the same division.

The first meeting of the two clubs is in the Fred Davies Challenge Cup quarter-finals, with a Divisional Cup first round tie to be played later.

Both finals will be played at Ashton United's Hurst Cross ground.

Mason added: "We are at home in both ties and it would be great to get to the final of at least one of them."

DAISYFIELD: Wilkinson, Doodson, J Taylor, Breen, Arnfield, Owen, R Quinn, C Quinn, Brown, C Taylor, Hampson. Subs: Lever, Jones, Morris, Edwards.

STAR MAN: Robert Doodson (Daisyfield Rangers) - Steady at the back.