A James Ting header and an Evan Clarke volley – both in the first half – left the sides sharing the spoils in a rain-affected match in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

The sides remain in fourth and fifth spots on the Football Mid North Coast Premier League ladder, with Saints ahead on goal difference by a margin of three.

The hosts’ coach Jason Fisher reckoned his side had been unlucky not to win.

“We didn’t take our chances,” he said.

“We should have put three or four chances away in the second half, but missed a couple of one-on-ones and had a couple saved.

“We lacked a bit of composure in front of goal - there was a bit of nerves – but the boys played outstandingly.”

His Rangers counterpart Dean Riordan had a different view.

“The first game, they dominated, but this one was more even-stevens,” he said.

“It was a shame there was such terrible weather.

“It was real end-to-end stuff.

“We had key regulars out, like Paul Thurlow, Steve Morn, Josh Williamss, Liam Applegate and Andrew Potter, but we still played entertaining football.”

Saints had the first clear chance, with Rangers keeper Shaun Glover getting his hand to a Jarrod Witheridge strike with a world-class save.

Rangers took the lead after about 10 minutes, after being awarded a free-kick outside the box.

Daniel Saul curled the ball low around the wall, and when it rebounded 15-year-old Ting – making his debut start in first grade – headed past keeper Jacob Lyttle.

It took Saints a quarter of an hour to level.

Jeremy Masters failed to clear a ricocheting ball in the Rangers area and Evan Clarke stole in, hitting the top corner of the net.

The ever-improving Jarrah Wyatt caused the hosts problems with his runs at defenders and had two or three chances.

Fisher urged his players to maintain their counter-attacking game plan, during his half-time talk.

Rangers started brightly in the second period, with Saints weathering the onslaught and seeking to exploit their superior pace against the visitors’ defence.

In the end, the result did little damage to either side’s semi-finals hopes – with sixth-placed Taree Wildcats and seventh-placed Port FC losing heavily.

Blake Webster was 

Kempsey Saints will hope to compound Port FC’s misery on Saturday when they travel to the Hastings.