FOLLOWING the euphoria of reaching the Worcester Nursing Junior Cup final on the first Saturday in 2004, two consecutive league defeats have mellowed things for Rangers.

TENBURY UNITED 3, MALVERN RANGERS 2

Irrespective of the number of players unavailable, the performance was probably one of, if not the, worst this season against what can only be described as a mediocre Tenbury United side.

It is difficult to comprehend that Rangers have drawn both games against second-placed Bilston Town and yet have managed just one point against Tenbury.

Rangers should have opened the scoring as early as the second minute but Simon Brookes dwelt too long on a good through ball from Mark Taylor and failed to get a shot in when originally he only had keeper Byron Davies to beat.

After a quarter of an hour, an attempted Tenbury clearance diverted to the head of Russell Bowen but his attempt from close range went tamely to Davies. Tenbury came more in the game midway through the half with Rangers' play deteriorating and on 25 minutes Ian George struck the inside of the post and the ball came back into the hands of keeper Ross Sanders.

Chris Davis had a fairly good chance after 34 minutes having been played in by Mark Tipton but failed to hit the target.

Three minutes before the interval an inexplicable challenge by Mark Taylor in the penalty area resulted in Graham Coldicott scoring from the resultant penalty.

Just two minutes later and it was 2-0. Rangers failed to retain possession on the right in the Tenbury half and when they attacked down the left, the ball evaded everyone in the area except for Brett McIntosh at the back post who scored with ease.

Three minutes in to the second half and it was 3-0. The ball somehow managed to reach Karl Pearson and he coolly lobbed it over the advancing Ross Sanders.

The only positive aspect that came out of the game was that Rangers didn't crumble anymore and the introduction of Sean Clarke and more notably Dean Drinkwater started a revival, so much so that Tenbury were glad to hear the final whistle.

After 25 minutes two successive right sided Mark Taylor corners enabled Dean Drinkwater to reduce the arrears in a goal mouth scramble and five minutes later, another corner resulted in Owain Rowat getting the final touch to reduce the scoreline still further.

With 15 minutes still remaining Rangers were unable to get the elusive third but in reality the performance that went before barely deserved any reward.

Man of the match was Mark Owen.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Rangers, sponsored by Strikes, are due to entertain Bustleholme Reserves in a West Midlands League Division One (South) fixture, kick off 1.45pm, players to meet at Victoria Park playing fields 12.45pm.