Menston Rangers suffer an unlikely number of 'Firsts'

Rangers u12s bow out of the Leeds District Cup

Menston Rangers u12s bowed out of the Leeds District Cup at the first hurdle on Sunday. There were to be a number of other 'firsts' that occurred also. It was their 'first' venture in the Leeds District Cup; their 'first' cup loss in 15 months and the 'first' time they'd ever played Pool AFC from the GJL.

The game followed a similar pattern to the previous weekend's league fixture with Burley; with Menston dominating possession and Pool relying on the odd breakaway; the attacks came frequently.

Despite some patient play; and a number of lovely combinations starting from the goalkeeper; a combination of rushed finishing, last ditch defending and some great goalkeeping kept Menston out until a lovely cross from Oscar W, found Marc A unmarked to plant a header past the keeper for a deserved half time lead.

The players were tasked at half time with playing a shorter game and drawing an opponent out who often had 4 defenders kept back. The second half started in a similar manner with Rangers keeping the ball well and probing away at the Pool goal.

To their credit, Pool at times broke well and had a strong, hard working team that seemed content in some ways to let Menston play. An encouraging aspect of the whole game was the attitude of both teams; who were a credit to their clubs.

The missed chances and not capitalising on great positions came back to bite the team as Pool scrambled an equaliser in the last 5 minutes which was harsh on the Rangers team who were frequently on the front foot.

The penalty shootout wasn't to be as Pool won 1-3 to progress. Good luck to them.

Performances are simply more important than results; and both Rangers coaches have been pleased with the football to date; hopefully that level will bring the boys better results in the coming weeks.

We thank the parents of Pool for their kind words on the way Menston played.