Rangers were just a whisker away from delivering a ‘watch out’ message to the Blue Square North promotion pack.

Steve Bull’s side slugged it out with second-placed Harrogate at Marston Road ,in a game that could be re-run as a promotion play-off come the end of the season.

Bully must have been aching to be out there, to put away at least one of the chances Rangers created in this ding-dong battle between sides in the top six.

Nick Wellecomme must shoulder the blame for missing the best one of the lot.

At the start of added time caused by an injury to referee Mark Sutton, Wellecomme robbed Harrogate’s Denny Ingram, then did the hard part by giving keeper Jim Provett the slip, only to give Shane Killock the easiest of goal-line clearances.

The striker had also earlier fired wide – in the first half – having again done the spade work to get the opportunity.

Rangers are finding it harder to score at Marston Road these days than getting a mortgage on it from a bank – the fans have seen only TWO this season.

At least their defence remained pretty rock solid, even with skipper Wayne Daniel and partner Nick Amos missing.

It was a close run-thing, though – deep into added time Darren Dunning chipped on to Tim Sandercombe’s bar.

Also, at the start of the second half, Sandercombe made a great reflex save from substitute Richard Marshall.

Both teams should be congratulated, for showing that a gale-force wind blowing end to end need not ruin an afternoon’s entertainment for the customers.

Rangers played some of their best football in the first half with the wind in their faces.

A 12-minute interruption when referee Sutton limped off in the 71st minute didn’t put them off their stride.

After a loudspeaker appeal found a qualified official from the crowd to run the line, the sides were back at it hammer and tongue.

Full-back James Cullingworth also had an impressive debut – enough for Bull to make him a permanent addition to the squad.

Rangers: Sandercombe, Cullingworth, Loukes, Francis, Pierpoint, Wilson, Palmer, MacPherson, Wellecomme, Thorley, Phillips.

Subs not used: McNiven, McMahon, T Ingram, Spalding, Allen.

Referee: M Sutton (Belper), replaced 71 by D Henfrey.

Attendance: 576.