After an even start to the match Comrades began to look the more dangerous side with good attacking moves. In the 12th minute Ryan McMenemy got on the end of a ball over the top of the visitors’ defence, cut inside the box and shot just over the bar.

Two minutes later another well delivered long pass found Liam Toman on the right. He raced clear and pulled the ball back to Lewis Mearns in the area. The striker hit a firm shot which keeper Orbinson did very well to save.

Rangers then started to threaten. On 21 minutes a ball played into the box was hit first-time by Newberry, but Oisin McAllister was well placed to save. Then, four minutes later the visitors came close when Evans got in a downward header from a corner and was only denied by a good save from McAllister.

The visitors took the lead on the half hour mark. A long throw was launched into the box which saw Woods flick a header into the net from close range.

Within a minute Rangers threatened again. The ball was given away sloppily at the back by the hosts, allowing it to be played through to Newberry who fired in a shot which looked on target, but was denied by a great block from Bobby Higgins.

The hosts kept plugging away for an equaliser. A chance was created a minute into added time when Jack Johnston played the ball into the box and it fell to Lewis Mearns, but on the turn, he sent his effort well wide of the goal.

Two minutes later Comrades got a merited leveller. A corner was played in low to the near post and the ball made into the  six-yard box where it was turned into his own net by Roy with Lewis Mearns about to pounce.

The home supporters were optimistic for the second half, but they were to be disappointed. Their team just didn’t click after the restart. Rangers were on top. In the 50th minute, Comrades ‘keeper Oisin McAllister had to be alert to keep out a shot from hit from inside the box by Lindsay.

Comrades struggled to create anything going forward and were being outfought all over the pitch. The only time they were able to test the opposition keeper was on 66 minutes when a Liam Toman free kick from 25 yards was turned away from the top corner of the net by Orbinson.

The visitors looked the more threatening side and took a deserved lead in the 70th minute. The hosts lost the ball too easily deep in their own half and from there it was driven across the goal where Woods was there to apply the finish.

Rangers cemented their advantage on 80 minutes with a third goal. The ball was played into the box, and Woods was sharp to get onto it and slide a finish inside the far post for his hat-trick.

Comrades couldn’t mount any sort of comeback and succumbed to a disappointing defeat.

Many thanks to match sponsor, Trevor Clarke MLA and ball sponsor Ian Maud’s Cafe.