By Neil Winsor

Photograph supplied by Lee Myers

PHOTO: Bill Gill (near) remains focused on the positives as Rangers season enters its final stages, whilst Danny Norton came through 90 minutes on his return from injury

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AS Hall Road Rangers prepare to enter the final nine games of their season, manager Bill Gill is keen to look at the bigger picture following last night’s 2-2 draw at Clipstone.

Rangers had led 2-0 last night but saw that evaporate on a disappointing night in Nottinghamshire.

Speaking to the club’s website this morning Gill said;

“We have picked up ten points in our previous six games now, which almost equates to the two points a game we aim for.

They are plenty of twists and turns in football when your trying to get results as we know, but with four games in hand it’s still very much in our control.

Although last night felt very much like a defeat, in the grand scheme of things it is another point secured towards our target.”

With Rangers heavily fancied before kick off, Chris Spinks gave Rangers the ideal start as he lifted Rangers in front, and a second half penalty saw the former Westella man, move to within three of registering 50 goals in the blue of Hall Road.

A high paced and intense work rate from Clipstone though, which frustrated Hall Road throughout, saw the ‘Cobras’ bite back through a brace of their own by Chanju Mphande, and a draw was nothing less then they deserved.

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Gill also admitted to a nervousness prior to the game but refused to offer that as any excuse against a side already set to finish at the foot of the NCEL Premier Division, that were well worth their point.

“I haven’t been looking forward to this game as I was of the belief it was a potential banana skin and after seeing them play in the opening stages, they thoroughly deserved a point.

I thought our lads looked nervous, and tired as it’s our third game in six days.

The journey is a long one for lads coming straight from work, so there’s various factors which I knew could effect the result.”

Although the night threw up few positives, skipper Danny Norton (above) came through 90 minutes unscathed after returning from injury, and Alex Stock also injected some fresh legs when he came off the bench and won a second penalty which was saved in added time.

With little time to recover, Hall Road face their penultimate away game of the season tomorrow, as they hit the road once more to travel to South Yorkshire to meet Athersley Recreation (3pm).