Benjamin’s staying positive

SOHAM Town Rangers manager Ian Benjamin has backed his players and expects them to correct the mistakes that led to Rangers' first league defeat of the season.

Two unbeaten records were put on the line when Rangers visited Needham Market on Saturday and it was the home side who maintained their run with a 3-2 win. Benjamin recognised that his team had made mistakes and he also admitted that the defeat had annoyed him and some Soham supporters.

He said: "I was angry after the game because we made silly mistakes that could have been easily avoided.

"The lads didn't do enough to act on specific threats that I had identified before the game.

"And having battled our way back into a winning position we then made simple errors that cost us points."

"We were all disappointed with the result. As far as I am concerned Saturday is now water under the bridge and we must all get behind the players and encourage them."

Following a poor first-half display at Needham Market, Soham were somewhat fortunate to go into the break at 1-1. Paul Jones' goal in the final minute of the half had cancelled out James Evans' eighth-minute opener for Market.

The game was turned on its head in the second half and Benjamin's tactical changes seemed to have paid off when Jones' second put Soham 2-1 ahead.

But the home side hit back with goals from Tommy Smith and Nathan ­Szyszlyk in the final 10 minutes.

Rangers travel to UCL Premier side Yaxley in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday. Martin Bromwich is not available for the game and so Simon Flanz will come in as a replacement.

Charles Libam will also miss the game through suspension.

n Striker Jamie Langley has left the club. Benjamin said: "Jamie was finding it difficult getting from Northampton to training and matches and so he has decided to leave.