Playing in wet, slippery conditions in front of a good-sized crowd, United were on the back foot from the first whistle as Rangers took command of the game and put the home side under pressure, controlling the midfield through influential Patrick Fleming and asking questions of the United back four. The pace and skill of Rangers wide men Henry F'arado and Michael Fifi made life uncomfortable for the United back line. Centre back Waisake Sabatu and full backs Carl Shailer and Josh Margetts all came under scrutiny in terms of their technique, reading of the game and pace and only experienced skipper Adam Cowan looked relatively in control.
It came as little surprise that Rangers took an early 1-0 lead when Sabatu failed to control a lobbed pass which resulted in Rangers surging forward and Michael Fifi scoring with relative ease past exposed keeper Matt Borren.
United, for all their endeavour, were largely living off scraps as Rangers were quicker in both thought and deed. The home team were left reacting to situations rather than anticipating them, were making little headway down the flanks and were failing to put Rangers' two centre backs, Jamie Farrington and former United player Tim Shaeffers, under pressure.
They did show glimpses of the goal-scoring form that had reaped a record seven goals in the previous outing, managing to carve out a couple of scoring chances with rasping drives from Cowan and Tvaroh, both efforts fizzing just over the cross bar. Furthermore Thomas Hemi, a first-half substitute for Seule Soromon who had pulled up with a hamstring injury chasing a through ball played behind the Ranger's defence, was centimetres away from converting Brian Kaltack's centre.
However, it was United who remained under pressure for the remainder of the first half as Rangers continued to carve out scoring opportunities and except for some woeful finishing, with former United striker Paul Ryder together with F'arado guilty of missing gilt edged chances, United would have faced the second half with a far greater deficit than the single goal.
United's uphill task in the second spell was made to look even more difficult early on when Brian Kaltack was red-carded for a challenge deemed dangerous by referee Jim Murphy, resulting in United having to see out the remaining 35 minutes with 10 men. The resulting reshuffle saw Higham remaining the sole striker and Thomas Hemi brought back to reinforce the depleted midfield.
The dismissal of Kaltack seemed to act as a catalyst to United who increasingly came to terms with the game as Rangers faded as an attacking force. Cooksley, Spierling and Tvaroh were running their socks off in midfield, closing down opponents quickly.
This pressure and added possession allowed United to equalise on the hour somewhat against the general run of play when the pacy Higham was put through behind the Rangers back four.
He unselfishly squared the ball for Spierling who slotted home past former United keeper Phil Imray from close range, cancelling out an earlier similar effort he had squandered after clever play from fullback Josh Margetts.
With half an hour left, the introduction of Arnon Tapp for Thomas Hemi added further impetus to United's play as Tapp's deft touches and measured passes from midfield looked to make the most of Higham's ability to beat the offside trap and outpace the Ranger's back four. The two combined in reverse on one occasion with Higham squaring the ball to Tapp who had followed up his own attack, the ball just eluding the youngster's foot in front of goal.
Rangers continued throughout the second half to create numerous chances but equally continued to fluff their finishing.