Grange look to new season with confidence

After having avoided relegation the previous week, Rangers had nothing to play for when they travelled to Ford FC, who coasted to a 4-1 win.

The return of Sean Doherty to the heart of the defence following suspension was a plus for Rangers, but the back four were caught out by a long ball over the top that allowed a home striker to lob Joel Loughridge to open the scoring.

Rangers’ response was sporadic attacks in which Derek McComb and Phil McAteer were prominent, but in truth the Ballyclare lads were glad to turn round only one goal down.

Early in the second session Ford doubled the lead, but were soon pegged back when a quickly-taken free by Doherty put Chris Bell in behind the defence, from where his cross found McComb at the back post, and he did well to net from an acute angle.

This was merely a temporary respite with Ford soon regaining their two goals' advantage before adding a fourth near the end.

Manager Pat Lutton said that overall it was a disappointing season: “We were rarely outclassed, but sometimes we didn’t get the rub of the green in close finishes. However, with the Second XI re-established, we look forward to another more successful season in the highly competitive Division 2A.”