Purple Haze

HEATH HAYES FC 0-3 MERE GREEN RANGERS
(G) DELPORT (A) KELLAND
(G) WHITE (A) DELPORT
(G) OWN GOAL (A) LEFORT

(MOMs HOPE/DELPORT)

“Behind every kick of the ball there has to be a thought.” – Dennis Bergkamp

We got off to a great start last weekend at home to Sportsco Rangers and, as one member of the Rangers’ Army said to me yesterday, there is a feel good factor about the camp as a result of getting off on the front foot. It was crucial today that we pulled together and made sure that we built on that feeling and the performance from last week rather than go into today’s fixture with any complacency. Today we travelled to the home of Heath Hayes, a very respectable and hardworking team who try to play passing football at a decent pace. Chris is a genuine manager who works hard to get the best out of his players and I’d like to thank him for his warm welcome this afternoon. We knew it would be a tough game but trusted the boys who looked focussed and ready for the game as they walked out on to the Gorsemoor Road pitch…

First Half

The Rangers flew out of the blocks and were quick to apply pressure to the home side. Max Petty laid off a neat pass into the feet of Luca Thornton after our No.17 stood strong in the tackle to win possession for the boys in purple. Thornton side footed the ball inside accurately for Ben Godsell who turned neatly and fed a pass in behind the Heath Hayes full back for Ryan Delport to latch onto. Our No.7 tied his defender up in knots before unleashing a curling cross that Jack White flew at with a header only for the home keeper to make an excellent save. Sonny Kelland controlled the resulting goal kick and released a slide rule pass into space for Ben Underwood to chase down, our No.9 controlled well but saw his shot smothered by the advancing keeper. George Hope received a pass from Luke Joeres after our No.5 won an aerial battle in the centre of defence. Hope found George LeFort who in turn found Kelland. Our No.10 helped the ball on to Underwood who out-paced his defender before lashing a fierce drive just wide of the post. From a long goal kick Joeres headed the ball back to Theo Caldicott in the Rangers’ goal. Caldicott collected smartly under pressure and then launched a long goal kick of his own into the space behind the Heath Hayes back line. White and Underwood converged on the ball with only the bravery of the home keeper preventing one of then Rangers’ attackers from scoring. Delport was put through again by Kelland and after neat footwork the Rangers’ No.7 forced a corner. Kelland whipped in a low cross to the near post, White ran across the keeper to the near post and got a flick but somehow the ball fell wide after another intervention from the Heath Hayes No.1. Kelland curled a higher ball in for the second corner and the defenders headed well but only back to our No.10. Kelland lofted a ball to the back post where Joeres had found a pocket of space, our No.5 drove in the shot only for the ball to rebound back off the post, Underwood smuggled the ball away from the melee and out to LeFort on the edge of the box, our No.6 chipped a shot for goal only for the same post to repel the ball again. This time Heath Hayes got the ball away and the chance had gone. It seemed that something had to come soon and Thornton worked the ball to Petty, Petty in to Kelland, Kelland out to Hope on the right. Our No.8 drove a pass into Underwood who played a lovely flick to White, White looked to trick his way through but was upended on the edge of the box and the Rangers were awarded the free kick. Delport and Kelland discussed their options as the wall formed, Kelland ran at the ball and dummied for Delport who crashed a curling drive on goal, the ball deflected off an outstretched limb on the goal line and deceived the keeper but Delport had done enough to claim the goal. 0-1 The Rangers celebrate as their pressure finally pays off for the opener. Reo Grant-Parnell entered proceedings on the right and was soon in the thick of the action. Hope marshalled the back line with Petty and the Rangers demonstrated excellent discipline as the back four looked solid and impenetrable. Joeres and Petty were outstanding in the centre and Thornton and Hope kept shape and control as they dealt with the inevitable response from the home side. On the one occasion the back line was breached Caldicott was bravely out like a flash to smother any opportunity of a leveller for the home team. Our No.1 handled the ball impeccably and distributed confidently. Caldicott received a back pass from Hope and then recycled the ball back to our No.8 who clipped a lovely ball down the line for Grant-Parnell. The Rangers’ No.11 blurred his marker’s vision with his fleet footed skills and then delivered a stunning cross for White in the middle, White connected with a sure footed drive only for the keeper to foil the Rangers’ man again with a stunning save low to his right. Kelland found himself hemmed in on the left but had enough vision to switch the ball long out to Hope in space on the right. Hope found Grant-Parnell, Grant-Parnell beat his first defender then fed the ball back across for Godsell, Godsell then carried the ball across before slotting a pass through for Delport. The Rangers’ No.7 danced away from his marker before looking up and placing a perfect cross in for White to volley in beautifully from close range. 0-2 The Rangers’ travelling army celebrate a really well worked goal. The Rangers did not relent and their pressure did not abate. Thornton intercepted well and found Kelland, Kelland turned and curled a great pass in for White who controlled sublimely before he was felled inside the area. The referee awarded the penalty and Delport collected the ball for the spotkick. When you coach players on penalty taking you always say things like don’t change your mind, hit it hard and low into the corner…Delport hit the ball like a rocket for the bottom corner, it was on target, it was hard and low…the Heath Hayes keeper made a world class save at full stretch to turn the ball around the post. These things happen and Delport did everything we asked, it was just an outstanding save and you have to give credit to the home keeper for that. Petty rose to block another long ball and found Joeres, Joeres found Hope and our No.8 carried forward before playing in Grant-Parnell, our No.11 skinned his man again before dispatching a neat cross, Delport arrived and shot for goal, the keeper again made a great save to deny the Rangers. As half time was signalled the boys walked in with the heads held high…

Half Time 0-2

“You have been outstanding – all over the pitch every one of you… but an outstanding half is nothing unless we can deliver the same again. It’s 0-0 you have to go out and be brilliant again…keep organised, keep talking and finish the job!”

We went through a couple of technical pointers but to be honest it was more to ask them all to carry on as each player had done exactly what was being asked of them.

Second Half

Heath Hayes were up for the fight and after good work on their left the home side found players over on the edge of the box. As the ball was slotted through for their striker to apply the finish Caldicott came out and dived courageously in front of the ball to make the save and send the shot away to safety. Thornton then found LeFort who carried the ball forward before releasing Delport, Delport beat his man again and crossed, White couldn’t get there to make contact but our No.14 had pulled the keeper across and left space for Grant-Parnell to shoot for, our No.11 connected with surety but was left holding his head as the ball flashed just the wrong side of the post. Grant-Parnell burst down the line again and cut the ball back for LeFort, LeFort shot but the keeper was equal to it and gathered well. Underwood returned to the field and held the ball up well after Kelland had nicked the ball through to him from a tackle. Our No.9 laid the ball back to LeFort who escaped his marker and burst into the box at pace. Our skipper reached the by-line and wrapped his foot around the ball to cross low in front of goal. White arrived menacingly to look for a finish and panicked the Heath Hayes centre back into side footing the ball into his own net. 0-3 Industrious play yields a third goal as the boys in purple look unstoppable. From the kick off the Rangers pressed again. Kelland won the ball and found Delport, Delport beat his first marker then a second and whipped a perfect ball in for White, who had arrived from behind his defender to finish with aplomb…but somehow the flag was raised in the air and the goal ruled offside…great play despite the goal being chalked off. Petty burst into the midfield with a gutsy run that ended with a pass off to Godsell, Godsell found White who switched the ball across the area for Delport but the defender intercepted and conceded the corner. Kelland crossed, the keeper made a good fist to clear, Joeres found Kelland who crossed to the back post again, White tried to scramble the ball over the line but somehow it stayed out and the keeper emerged with the ball. Grant-Parnell received a neat lay off from Underwood and then flew into space before crossing into the centre, Underwood struck for goal but the keeper held on well. Petty and Joeres came under aerial pressure towards the closing stages but both Rangers saw out any danger, ably assisted in the back line by Thornton and Hope, the communication was just superb. Godsell, Kelland and LeFort made up a solid triumvirate in the middle that broke up all attempted play by the home side. Going forward Grant-Parnell, White, Underwood and Delport were just relentless in their quest to pressure their opponents. In goal Caldicott looked, sounded and performed like the outstanding custodian of the Rangers’ goal that we know he is. When the final whistle went the only thing that troubled us was who would get the man of the match awards…every single player deserved it.

Special mention to Ben Underwood today who has been suffering with a terrible cold and was a major doubt for us today. Our No.9 put in a superb performance to lead the line.

Today’s victory is dedicated to Jeff Caldicott who as we all know has been recovering from recent surgery, it’s also Jeff’s birthday today so that one was for him!

Thanks as always for the support, onwards and upwards.

Up The Rangers!