Bels end their goal drought with three before half-time

A callow Rangers side made it fairly easy for the blue-and-whites, who always had that bit of class in this 3-0 success courtesy of their many trophy-winning 30-somethings.

The home side had some key personnel returning, notably central defender Damian Le Tocq, skipper Marc McGrath and fellow stalwart Joby Bourgaize.

Leroi Riley was back in goal yet, somewhat surprisingly, player-assistant coach Dave Merris left himself on the bench.

Rangers were able to recall Brad Foss, who had hit a spectacular goal against Bels at St Andrew’s, the last time Stu Simon’s team had won, and apart from their two veterans in Matt Solway and Shane Billien, again named a young and inexperienced side, who began brightly with a busy Jack Le Tissier starting like a little Dennis the Menace and firing an early effort wide.

At the eastern end Ryan-Zico Black sent a snatched shot high and on the way towards the Jehovah’s Hall.

Then Bels got lucky.

On 10min. a soft handball at a near post corner was met with a penalty and McGrath ended the drought from the spot.

From that point Belgraves dominated.

Le Brun saved well to his right to deny defender Jack Domaille, who was up for a corner, one of several the home side won in the first quarter-of-an-hour.

Just short of the half-hour mark Black dipped a long-range free-kick onto the bar and over and, a minute later, only a good Le Brun save to his right denied the former Northern Ireland U21 international. The keeper also tipped over a Bourgaize header.

Rangers were in danger of caving under strong pressure and, to make matters worse, young Foss was struggling with an injury that, on 32min., finally did for him.

For all their effort Rangers seemed incapable of holding onto good possession and Bels forward CJ Robilliard will have been disappointed not to convert his own chance.

It was more bad distribution that cost the visitors a second three minutes before the break, not that scorer Black will have cared one bit how it arrived.

Black was revelling in his more advanced role, the one-time winger lashing an effort high over when well placed and on the brink of half-time Robilliard planted a firm header past Le Brun for a third.

Early in the second half young sub Jacques Cauvin side-footed a very good chance wide and Rangers had certainly perked up, the introduction of Fin Belnavis as a defensive midfielder offering the visitors greater protection.

Black was denied his second by a superb Le Brun stop and, to his self-disgust, fired another chance wide.

With the game won Bels made good use of their bench and with Rangers a more solid unit, the second half was a good contest, although Riley could have come in his pyjamas such was the visitors’ attacking threat.