Rangers edged out by Worcester

Rangers had matched their Blue Square South opponents for long spells and were leading with 20 minutes to go, only for a penalty and an error from goalkeeper Tom Harrison to lead to defeat.

Another mistake from defender Ashley Page had led to City opening the scoring, before penalties either side of half-time from Tom Thorley and Jake Moult put the home side ahead.

But Brindley saw plenty in his team on the whole.

He said: "We were the better side, we don't like losing but it isn't about that at this stage – we have got to look at all the players we have with us.

"But we did very well and played some lovely football at times."

Rangers kicked-off with three trial players in the starting line-up.

Former Stoke youngster Harrison was between the sticks, with his ex-Potters team-mate Ashley Page at centre-half and former Wolves academy player Fabia Kassia at left-back.

And it was confusion between Kassia and Page that saw the latter fluff a pass back to Harrison in the 21st minute, with Aaron Moses-Garvey capitalising to round the goalkeeper and find the net.

But the home side were back in it five minutes before half-time, when referee Terry Holbrook pointed to the spot for Shab Khan's challenge on Jake Moult.

Tom Thorley – back at the club and back in the side – finished the penalty with aplomb.

Page did manage to redeem himself five minutes after the break, with a fine challenge to halt Matt Dinsmore in the box.

And Rangers came back into it even more after the introduction of Dorryl Proffitt on the hour.

Within seconds he had fizzed a shot over the bar, before winning another penalty on 64 minutes.

A launch over the top had Proffitt and goalkeeper Richard Mace racing to the loose ball in the area, with the Rangers men sent tumbling as Mace dived at his feet.

Moult took Rangers' second spot-kick of the evening, and fired it into the bottom right-hand corner.

But it all fell apart in the final 20 minutes.

In the 71st minute, Page clashed with Dinsmore again, with the referee giving his third penalty of the night.

Substitute Jordan Fitzpatrick netted, despite Harrison getting a hand to it.

But the goalkeeper was badly at fault for Worcester's third goal five minutes later.

He spilled Dinsmore's speculative effort into the path of substitute Louis Bridges, who nudged the ball home.

Rangers: Harrison, Francis (Rogers 81), Wilson, Page (Mokke 74), Kassia (Shaw 75), Thorley (Hulme 81), Amos (Patrick 60), Moult, Millar (Hill 60), Wellecomme, Mills (Proffitt 60).

Sub not used: Allen

Attendance: 187