RANGERS entertained last season's champions, Bewdley Town, on Saturday and earned themselves a very, very hard point.

MALVERN RANGERS 1, BEWDLEY TOWN 1

Bewdley registered comprehensive 5-1 and 6-1 victories last season and also were 3-1 victors on their way to the Worcester FA Junior Cup final.

However, after the visitors opened strongly they were rocked back on their heels when Rangers opened the scoring after 16 minutes with a good goal. A free kick just inside their own half was taken by Tim Clarke to Owain Rowat on the right. He interchanged passes with Simon Clarke before crossing a very good ball into the box for Simon Rea to head in.

Ross Sanders made two good saves in the 34th and 35th minutes before shortly afterwards Keith Elliott shot wide of the far post.

One minute before the interval Bewdley missed their best opportunity of the half when Chris Hough, a recent Stourport Swifts signing, screwed the ball across the face of the goal and somehow Scott Mullen failed to score.

The opening stages of the second half was fairly even with Rangers' best opportunity falling to Simon Rea who was put into possession following an interchange of passes between Mark Tipton and Mark Taylor but he shot wide of the far post when under pressure.

Bewdley then enjoyed the majority of possession for the remainder of the game and on 27 minutes Ross Sanders made a good save from Andy Ford. Bewdley laid siege to the Rangers goal but the home side withstood this and looked to be heading for three very hard earned points when in the last minute of normal time Rangers failed to clear the ball any distance and when the ball came back into the box Scott Mullen scrambled it home in a crowded goal mouth. Before the final whistle Bewdley almost forced a winner but Ross Sanders saved at the near post.

Man of the match was Ross Sanders.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Rangers, sponsored by Strikes, make the short journey to local rival Malvern Town Reserves for a West Midlands League Division One South fixture, kick off 2.45pm, players to meet at Langlands Stadium, 1.45pm prompt.