Rangers battled to an excellent 2-0 victory at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night. In the face of a quite disgraceful performance from the referee, which was compounded by Kevin McLeod's farcical red card the significance of this win, cannot be underestimated.

Both the starting eleven and the bench were the same as Saturday and was only the second time Olly had been afforded this luxury all season. Day was in goal behind the usual back four of Rowlands, Shittu, Gnohere and Padula. Ainsworth was on the right of midfield despite looking less than fit. Palmer and Bean lined up in the middle with McLeod on the left. But then there was a difference. Kevin Gallen took up a withdrawn role just in front of Palmer and Bean allowing Paul Furlong to plough a loan furrow up front.

The game started at a frenetic pace and Rangers forced their first corner after barely two minutes. It came to nothing at almost within the blink of an eye Wrexham were breaking down their left. A ball was swung to the far post and Jim Whitley who headed over when it seemed far easier to hit the target. This miss was made all the more costly when Rangers took the lead. 

A freekick was awarded thirty yards from goal and Martin Rowlands stood over it. Much to everybody's surprise he rolled it into the path of Shittu who had a blast but made poor contact. The ball bobbled into the path of Furlong whose effort was blocked and fell to Marcus Bean. The youngster, much criticised after Saturday's game, riffled the ball past Andy Dibble into the top corner. It was a great moment for the youngster whose finishing can often be described as wild.

The referee soon began to "impose" himself on the game and the yellow card started appearing with alarming frequency. Furlong and Carey found their way into the book for an off the ball incident that most people missed. Kevin McLeod also picked up a yellow card for the most heinous of crimes, challenging for a header! From this freekick Dennis Lawrence should have equalised but lifted the ball over the bar after being inexplicably left unmarked only six yards out. I am assuming he was Gnohere's responsibility by the way he was smacking himself on the head in admonishment.

Ainsworth had a header saved at the far post by Dibble and after Martin Rowlands had powered into the box Brian Carey sent a Gallen effort away for a corner. Kevin McLeod should also have done better when presented with a chance to shoot from the edge of the box but he couldn't get his shot away before the chance was snuffed out.

At the break Holloway was forced into a change as it would seem that referee Laws had already decided he would send Paul Furlong off for persistent fouling if he re-appeared. I have never heard such a load of crap in my life and it is a wonder that we still had ten men on the field if he were going to apply this logic to a typical Div2 game. Not dirty, just committed with players on both sides wanting to play hard. Richard Edghill came on at right back with martin Rowlands moving into midfield. Kevin Gallen took the lone strikers role.

Gallen could have doubled the lead early in the half when he robbed the ponderous Carey and headed goalward. His shot from a tight angle was blocked by Dibble with Ainsworth screaming for the cut back on the edge of the six-yard box. The game was being played at a hell of a pace now and Wrexham always looked a threat on the break. The wide players, Carlos and Paul Edwards, looked full of tricks and Padula and Edghill had to be at their very best.

Rangers should have had a penalty midway through the half when Carey was caught out once again by Gallen. Surging onto Palmer's pass he hustled the centre back off the ball and headed for goal. Carey was all over him and only Gallen's honesty allowed him to stay on his feet and try to shoot. Carey had pulled and tugged at him sufficiently to get a foot in to block the ball and send it out for a corner. The resulting corner was headed wide by Gnohere and Gallen soon found himself in the book for continuing his protests.

Edwards was now causing major problems down our left and he created two excellent chances. Initially he blasted a ball inches over Day's bar from distance before feeding a fine ball into one time Rangers target Chris Llewellyn only to see the former Norwich man smash it high over the bar.

After 72 minutes referee Laws incredibly dismissed McLeod for a second yellow card. The play that lead to the card sums up the sort of evening this cretin had as he allowed fouls on Padula and McLeod himself to go unpunished before McLeod got to his feet and ran down the ever sedate Carey. The blonde centre half lined up to clear the ball and McLeod dived across his path to try and block the ball. He didn't make contact with it, nor did he make contact with Carey. If anything the advertising hoarding was in more danger yet that was enough for Laws. He was clearly looking for it and given the revelation of his earlier comments about Furlong I guess we should not be surprised. Of course there is no appeal and I will be stunned if this jumped up idiot overturns either card.

It was a real battle now with nearly every player giving their all for the cause. I say nearly every player as once again Sabin was being carried by his teammates. Having replaced Ainsworth just minutes before the red card he should have been full of running and to be fair, when he had the ball, he was. When he didn't he looked as though he couldn't be arsed quite frankly and you had to wonder whether if the change had been delayed for a few minutes if Pacquette would have been the better option.

Chances were now raining in but Chris Day seemed to be acting like some sort of ball magnet. Gaps were appearing all the time as the defensive line seemed as thin as Bruce Forsyth's hair but the big keeper was in sparkling form. He produced a save to rival the one against Oldham to keep the advantage intact. Once again Carlos Edwards got a cross in and it found Hector Sam at the far post. His shot was hard and true and seemed goal bound before Day flung up a hand to deflect it over the bar. It was absolutely stunning and received much acclaim from the 500 Rangers fans behind the goal.

Spurred on by this Rangers grabbed their second deep into the six minutes of I jury time Laws had given for Wrexham to get back into things. A Wrexham attack was snuffed out and with men committed up field the ball was worked to Martin Rowlands wide on the right. He rampaged toward goal using every last bit of energy he could summon from his battle-wearied legs. He jinked past two men on the edge of the box before slotting under Dibble to send the R's fans wild. It was clear what the goal meant to the team as Shittu and Padula ran fully 80 yards to join in the celebrations. The only surprise was that Laws didn't show a card to anybody for enjoying themselves too much!

Almost as soon as Wrexham kicked off the final whistle sounded and players and fans celebrated a superb victory. Olly could be seen berating the hapless Laws as he left the field and I will dread the day that he ever gets the chance to try and ruin another one of our games. Luckily we are bigger and better than him and he knows it.

This was a real battle and showed the mettle that Holloway had called for away from home. Shittu was as solid as ever at the back and when he came on Richard Edghill was absolutely magnificent. It can only be fitness holding him back now and I would love to see him start at rat-infested Luton on Saturday.

Bean had a terrific game in midfield, tackling anything that moved and trying to play when he could. He needs to learn how to pass and move better as he is sometimes a little static but that will only come with games. His finish for the goal was terrific and that will only boost his confidence. McLeod had played well before his joke of a dismissal and both Furlong and Gallen worked manfully on their own up front.

My Man of the Match was a close run thing between Chris Day and Martin Rowlands. Day was supreme in goal and the save, which will surely become known as That Save, was different class. Rowlands' though just edges it for me. He played at right back, centre midfield and right midfield and looked at home in all of them. He passed well, looked great in the air and his run and shot from the goal was pure quality.

It will be a far more difficult proposition on Saturday at Luton and no doubt they will try to make it as intimidating as possible. The players must keep their heads and let their superior ability do the talking.

simon@qprnet.com