PORTHLEVEN RANGERS 3 FALMOUTH TOWN THIRDS 0 Rangers entertained Division 1 outfit Falmouth Town in the Percy Stephens Cup looking to cause an upset.

Rangers maybe a division below their opponents but it gave them an opportunity to test themselves against a side the hope to be playing against next season in the league.

Rangers elected to play into the strong wind in the first half and started brightly. Falmouth certainly realised early on that Rangers had no intention on making this easy for them. With the wind at their backs they tried to push Rangers back but all too often they wasted the ball. It was the home side who had adapted to the conditions best and worked the ball up the park to feet when ever possible. The opening goal went to the home side after about 30 minutes. Some good work down the right side between Dan Thomas and Martin Wortley carved a path into the visitors’ defence. It was Wortley who eventually found space in behind the right back drove to the edge of the box and fired his shot across the keeper and in at the far post.

Falmouth, now one down, really needed to get on terms while they had the wind in their favour. Rangers worked hard to close them down and gave them no time to settle on the ball. With no time or space Falmouth tried to often to fly the ball into the box from to far out. Rangers backline dealt with any balls they needed to and left those they didn’t to run to keeper Andy Wortley.

With the wind at their backs in the second half Rangers knew they had very chance of an upset. All they needed to do was use the conditions and force Falmouth to play from deep.

Rangers started the second half brightly and forced Falmouth back over and over winning a series of corners.

It was from one of these corners that Rangers extended their lead. A well delivered ball into the back post was left by the defence only for Steve Williams to have a clean header. The midfielder made no mistake and headed home from the narrowest of angles to ensure a two-goal cushion.

Falmouth were lucky not to have gone further behind after Martin Worltey was brought down in the box. Up stepped Williams for the spot kick but the keeper pulled of a fine save.

This seemed to give Falmouth a much required lift and they suddenly seemed up for the task again. During a rare period of pressure Rangers keeper Andy Wortley came to collect a ball and clashed with a Falmouth player. The unfortunate keeper took a blow to the head and the game was halted while treatment was received.

Rangers forced into a change in nets took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs in the midfield and pep up the frontline at the same time. When the game restarted Falmouth had there best chance of the game after a high ball was not dealt with and their forward was in on goal. The front man had every chance to pull his side back into the game but couldn’t beat stand in keeper Martin Wortley who saved well with his legs.

Rangers put the game beyond Falmouth on 78 minutes after winning the ball back in the Falmouth half Simon Hubbard tried his luck and lifted a ball over the keeper and into the net.

Now three up it was petty much game over for the visitors who never looked likely to find away back into the game. There was still however time Rangers Gavin Perreton to fire straight at the keeper from well out, Richard Chambers lifted one over the bar and Scot Eastwood thundered one off the bar from long range.