So easy for Rangers Garland left on bench

Rovers 1, Rangers 3

RANGERS are off the foot of the Priaulx League table. The red-and-blacks overtook Rovers on goal difference with victory over their basement rivals at Port Soif on Saturday, despite being without their coach, captain and regular goalkeeper among others.

They even had the luxury of leaving Dale Garland as an unused substitute although it had already been made clear that stand-in boss Phil Sarl would only use the star athlete in an emergency.

The rest of the Rangers squad ensured that eventuality did not occur and that has not been said very often in the past.

In Junior Island striker Ross Allen, the visitors had plenty of quality up front anyway and combined with a tigerish attitude and honest hard work, Rangers deserved all three points.

The first half was a generally drab affair, especially early on with the only moment of note in the first 25 minutes coming when Dave Merrien's full-blooded drive was blocked by a Rangers defender when it seemed set to burst the net from 20 yards.

Allen then showed glimpses of his ability with fine close control in a crowded penalty area before unleashing a shot that was straight at Darren du Jardin.

The Rovers keeper had to make a much more demanding stop low down to his right to deny Tom Le Page a few minutes later and at the other end, Tom Rihoy should have done better than poke his shot past the post when one-on-one with Tom Le Tissier.

The breakthrough came four minutes before the interval as Shane Billien thundered his close-range shot through du Jardin's legs when Rovers failed to clear a ball in the six-yard box.

Twelve minutes after the turnaround, Rangers doubled their advantage with the best move of the game.

Some neat passing released Allen to the byline and his cut back was gratefully side-footed home by Tim Bichard.

Jake Ellis would have made it a very interesting last quarter-of-an-hour had his effort found the net rather than the post after a full-stretch Le Tissier had dropped Keith Quertier's free-kick, but it was not to be.

With five minutes remaining, Rangers put the game beyond doubt and unsurprisingly it was that man Allen who grabbed the third.

Le Page, who had already demonstrated his ability to apply pressure with long throw-ins, flung another one into the box where it fell to the number nine and he forced the ball home.

Dave Darlington replied moments later with a header that went in off the underside of the bar from Dave Gibson's corner, but it proved a mere consolation.