Macleay Valley Rangers defeat Kempsey Saints in Wednesday night derby

The stewards may not have been present at Optus Park but that would've been the classification on Wednesday night as Rangers and Saints played their round two Coastal Premier League fixture.

After trouncing Taree Wildcats 7-0 last Saturday, Rangers went into this derby full of confidence.

That confidence oozed onto the field in the early stages as Sean Brucesmith slotted the first goal, finishing off a cross from the left.

In the next ten minutes Saints fired off a shot and a header that were both saved as a call from the sideline asked for more width in attack.

Rangers momentum continued though as Chad Applegate hit a long shot with pin point accuracy, skimming across the wet surface and past the hands of Jacob Lyttle into the goal.

Saints' Evan Clarke then started to cause trouble with dangerous runs and a missed shot.

Unfortunately Saints couldn't capitalise as Rangers made them pay for a mix up at the back with Chris Walker slotting his first goal of the evening.

Around five minutes later Rangers were in again with Applegate brought down in the box and converting his own spot kick.

Not long after Saints had a moderate chance with a free kick well outside the box.

Corey Crotty stepped up with a looping, long attempt that was parried by the goalkeeper.

A Saints yellow card, injury to Crotty and a few shots followed before the half-time whistle sounded at 4-0.

Saints came out with fire in their belly and got themselves on the scoreboard thanks to a deserved goal for Josh Hughes.

Unfortunately for Clarke, a silence went across the ground as his words were in ear shot of most.

An attempt to fire up the troops saw him yellow carded for a profanity.

To add insult to injury, Applegate added a third to his tally with a deft touch, chipping over Lyttle to make it 5-1.

Saints fought back for the next ten minutes with Hughes firing off a shot before the men in green went in again to make it 5-2 with 20 minutes to play.

Rangers went on the attack though as the wet conditions played havoc.

A dropped ball from the back led to another goal for Brucesmith with 10 minutes left.

To round off the display, a brilliant Thomas Johnson run down the sideline brought the ball into the middle as Chris Walker ended the game with a brace and 7-2 victory.

"We started out fast, which is where we need to be," Rangers coach Simon Tamblyn told the Argus.

"If we score early goals, especially in local derbies, it helps a lot."

Rangers will now come up against second placed Port United in Port this Saturday.

"Yeah you do [take confidence from that game], we have one of our defenders coming back but will probably be missing Tristan Smith after he was injured tonight."

Meanwhile, Saints will play Coffs City United at Eden Street - determined to bounce back.

Their reserves were a successful side on the night, defeating Rangers 2-1.

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