Ireland Rangers 3

Dandy Town 2

Ireland Rangers shrugged off their mid-week FA Cup loss at the hands of Young Men's Social Club to put on an inspiring display in front of their home fans as they notched their first victory of the season against Dandy Town.

The match had all the ingredients for a highly entertaining afternoon as Rangers are attempting to pull a Houdini act and escape the clutches of the dreaded relegation.

In the opening half, which was dominated possession-wise by Dandy Town, it was a Jonathan Bean's cross to Yusaff Pitt that put the home side up 1-0. With Bean's pace causing problems for the Dandy Town backline, he swung a ball to the near post where Pitt's well-angled header landed neatly at the back post to the despair of the sprawling keeper.

However, with all their hard work and determination, Rangers were undone just before the half by an own goal from defender Sheroy Fubler which rendered the Ireland Rangers keeper helpless.

The free flowing football continued in the second half, with Dandy Town earning a penalty when an Ireland Rangers defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. With the pressure on, Michael Parsons' spot kick was saved only for the rebound to fall graciously back at his feet. He made no mistake with his second bite of the cherry.

But with the game still in the balance and Ireland Rangers Premier League status in jeopardy, they made substitutions and enjoyed immediate dividends.

A Lloyd Telford cross to substitute Nathan Darrell at the back post had the striker control the ball and lay it off to the top of the box for Andre Outerbridge to slam home the equaliser in the 77th minute.

And with home fans calling for a late winner, it was the substitute who came through in the clutch to claim all the points. Telford, again the instigator of the move, sent a lobbed through ball into the Dandy Town half which Darrell latched onto it.

Darrell, still with work to do, gained his composure and slammed home the winner over the advancing keeper to make it 3-2 Rangers in the 86th minute.

"We knew it (win) would eventually come!" exclaimed an ecstatic Rangers coach Duane (Box) DeRosa after the match. "Not to be biased, but we totally dominated the game."

Yesterday's result went some way towards easing Rangers' relegation worries with DeRosa cautiously optimistic his charges can prove the pundits wrong by surviving in the top flight.

"We just have to dig deep like we did today and be consistent here on in," he added.

"This victory has certainly lifted our morale and it is something we definitely needed."

Ireland Rangers: R. Tucker, J. Rogers, J. Martin, S. Fubler, J. Saltus, R.Gomes, A.Outerbridge, Y.Pitt, L. Weeks, J. Bean

Dandy Town: M.Crockwell, G.Butterfield, T. Daniels, K. Simmons, E.Signor, O.Steede, S. Furbert, S. Darrell, M.Parsons, L.Holder, L.Dill

Referee: R.Knight.

Man of the Match: A.Outerbridge (Rangers)