Windsor were more than a match for Rangers
Windsor FC: Excellence scores twice to seal impressive win for Royalists
Having matched them for determination as well as physicality, Windsor boss Mark Cooper felt his side were well worthy of their 2-1 win over third placed Abbey Rangers.
For only the second time in seven matches, Cooper was able to reflect on a satisfactory win for his hard-working side, and this one was right up there with their best results this season.
Having blown out the cobwebs with an impressive 5-0 win over Anguilla in last week’s mid-week friendly, the Royalists were fresh and ready to take on a Rangers team who’ve been the model of consistency this season.
Mentally they also showed character to respond to falling behind in the fourth minute to Luke Robertson’s free-kick.
Excellence Muhemba restored parity when he bundled the ball home after George Gould’s header was parried before the forward scored a superb winner at the end of the first half.
“On a day where there wasn’t as much football as we would’ve liked to have played, we matched them physically and in terms of determination,” said Cooper after the match.
“The game was affected by the weather conditions, and they got off to the perfect start with a wind-assisted free kick. After that, it was very backand-forth and pretty much route one football.
“Following a good period, we got parity from another set piece. We’ve been looking quite dangerous from them lately, and a lot of our goals have been scored from them.
“Ex was able to finish after a really good header from George Gould header was saved. Then, before the break, he scored an absolute fantastic strike. It put us 2-1 up at the break.
“With the conditions in our favour in the second half, we put in a very battling, determined, and disciplined performance. We have kept going in games all season but this time we didn’t give them anything.
“I have said in the past how we have been guilty of giving soft goals away. Against Hanworth Villa, we played well but made a few poor decisions and conceded some cheap goals. This week, however, we didn’t make any mistakes and we were well worth the win.”
The result leaves Windsor ninth in the Combined
Counties Premier Division North ahead of another lengthy break from competitive action with the side next in action at home to Wokingham & Emmbrook on Saturday, February 19. Cooper and chairman, Kevin Stott, are keen to arrange some more friendlies during this time to keep the side ticking over.
“We have got two lined up. We’ve got a friendly on Saturday against Virginia Water and then we are hoping to have a game against the British Army first team,” said Cooper.
“It’s not a confirmed fixture yet, and I’ve only been put on the radar about that today (Monday), but hopefully it will be. The chairman phoned me this morning to ask if we wanted to play them. I said ‘absolutely’ and they will obviously be a fit and strong side.
“We were due to play
Southall on the February 12 but as they are still in the FA Vase, the game got postponed.”