Rangers 'In Ter' The Thick of It

MERE GREEN RANGERS 3-2 WALSALL PHOENIX
(G) KELLAND
(G) JOERES (A) THORNTON
(G) DELPORT (PEN)

(MOMs CALDICOTT/PETTY)

“To be really happy, we must throw our hearts over the bar and hope that our bodies will follow.” – Graham Taylor

Today we got back into action after a week without a match. The fixture break gave us an opportunity to put together a training camp and work on some technical parts of the game that we had highlighted for working on from the first two performances. It was really useful to spend some concerted time working on parts of the game that needed tweaking but we were keen to get the boys back into action. Staffordshire FA has put together a programme initiative to broaden experience for young players and play in a series of “Inter-league” fixtures. Today we welcomed Walsall Phoenix to our home ground as our first opponent in this format. Thanks to Chris and his team for smooth organisation in the build up to the fixture and also for partaking in such a wonderfully contested game. We had illness, absence and injury in the camp today but the boys took to the field looking ready and up for the battle…

First Half

Ben Underwood kicked off and laid the ball back for skipper George LeFort. LeFort then played a lateral ball to George Hope who controlled well and sent a neat curling ball along the line for Reo Grant-Parnell to latch onto, our No.11 did well to win a throw in and the tone was set. Underwood received the ball with his back to goal and held up well before bringing Sonny Kelland into play. Kelland threaded a pass through the Walsall back line for Ryan Delport to run onto, Delport twisted and turned before releasing a powerful drive that the Walsall keeper matched with an excellent save. Luca Thornton won the ball and then brought Ben Godsell into the game with a neat pass, the Rangers’ No.3 beat his man and then sent a lovely ball in for Underwood who burst away from his marker before crashing in a powerful drive on goal that flew just wide of the upright. Max Petty tackled bravely and made a superb sliding challenge that gifted the ball to Luke Joeres. Joeres passed to Godsell, Godsell to Underwood. Underwood to Kelland on the edge of the box, Kelland was fouled once but kept his feet; he was then clattered a second time as he tried to burst through on goal and the referee blew for the first infringement. Delport dummied and Kelland smashed in a vicious drive from the free kick but the Walsall wall was brave and did enough to deflect the ball into the centre of the area, LeFort was quick to spot the opportunity and hit a curling shot that the Walsall No.1 saved athletically. Theo Caldicott had shown great handling and after collecting the ball from a speculative ball into his box, our No.1 kicked for Delport. Delport controlled and beat his first man before cutting back in and giving the ball inside to Godsell. Godsell was unceremoniously dumped to the ground and the referee blew for the foul. Kelland and Delport lined up for the free kick, the two Rangers work on free kicks together whenever they can and Delport opted to take this one. It is credit to our No.7 that after looking at the angle and distance he called Kelland back across as he thought the position would suit his teammate better. Kelland measured his steps back from the ball and then curled a powerful drive over the wall and into the far corner of the net past the despairing hand of the keeper from distance. 1-0 The Rangers take the lead with a thunderous set piece. Underwood was limping badly and had to be replaced, this resulted in a reshuffle for the boys in green with Ben Lea taking his place at the heart of the defence with Delport and Joeres changing roles. Lea was instantly into the battle as the Walsall troops looked to bounce back. Our No.4 made a crucial interception with a sliding challenge and then cleared well to Grant-Parnell on the right. Grant-Parnell found Hope, Hope played a pass into Kelland, Kelland to Delport. Delport went through on goal and struck low for the corner but the keeper made another fine save to keep the Rangers at bay. Walsall pressed and after good work on the right their striker found himself through on goal; Caldicott was out like lightning to clear the danger with his feet. Walsall kept the pressure up though and as the ball was launched into the box, bodies collided and in the ensuing melee Caldicott couldn’t get a hand free to prevent the ball being looped high into the net by the Walsall centre forward. 1-1 All square after concerted pressure from the away side. It was always going to be a stern test today but it was important to see how they would react to conceding after two consecutive clean sheets. Lea crunched into a challenge followed closely by Petty, Hope emerged with the ball and Petty burst forward to aide the attack. Hope fed Petty who beat one then another, our No.17 then gave the ball to Godsell who found time to lay the ball back for Thornton. Our No.2 carried the ball deep into opposition territory before playing a lateral pass to Kelland. Our No.10 held off a challenge before returning the ball to Thornton. Thornton then fed a straight pass in behind the Walsall full back for Joeres who burst into the area at pace. Joeres showed great skill to beat the last defender and as the keeper advanced the Rangers’ No.5 utilised his weaker foot to slam an emphatic shot low into the far corner of the net under the Walsall No.1. 2-1 The Rangers’ army celebrate as the lead is restored from great team play. The next phase of the game was bitty, gritty and niggly as the midfield battle raged and the Rangers’ back line had to be brave and resilient in the face of some fearsome and physical challenges. It looked like the Rangers’ had weathered the storm but a straight ball into space behind the defence resulted in a foot race between the Rangers’ defence, Caldicott and the Walsall striker, despite the bravery of the Rangers’ it is to the credit of the Walsall player that he got to the ball and did enough to divert it into the net. 2-2 Walsall draw level after forcing the Rangers back. Hope received the ball from LeFort and sent a lovely pass into space for Grant-Parnell. The Rangers’ No.11 showed quick feet to beat his marker before travelling into the area, Grant-Parnell side footed the cross in, a Walsall centre-back did well to half clear, the ball dropped to Godsell, Godsell found Kelland, Kelland through pass for Delport, Delport shoots but another good save from the excellent Walsall keeper foils the Rangers once more.

Half Time 2-2

We used half time to talk through some technical issues concerning shape and role. A number of the Rangers were in unfamiliar territory and we had to get them to relax and play their football. It is no coincidence that when they got the ball down and looked for the passes they looked dangerous. We asked them not to get drawn into a battle that would pull the system out of shape…stick to playing the Rangers way, concentrate and hold your positions…

Second Half

Both teams got stuck in to the battle from the onset. The midfield dogfight that ensued saw tackle after tackle from the midfield triumvirate of LeFort, Godsell and Kelland. The back line was brave as Thornton, Petty, Lea and Hope were consistently controlled under pressure. Grant-Parnell and Joeres tracked and offered options as an outlet in the channels, Delport worked his socks off up front and Caldicott was on the spot with excellent handling and timing. Chances were few and far between as both sides tightened up from the first half but as the game entered its final phase gaps started to appear. Kelland won the ball and found Godsell, Godsell bought Thornton in to play. Thornton dispatched a pass to Joeres who skipped inside his marker before squaring a pass for Delport, Delport beat his defender for pace and slotted a shot that just curled away from the far post. Grant-Parnell arrived on the spot and smashed a side footed drive from the stray ball that rebounded agonisingly off the post and back into play. Hope collected and sent a cross in, the Walsall centre back headed well and suddenly the break was on. Walsall had players over and Petty made an outstanding covering run to tackle and see the ball out of play. Lea made a superb challenge and got the ball out to LeFort, LeFort switched the pass out wide to Grant-Parnell. The Rangers’ No.11 beat one player, then another before arriving at the by-line. As Grant-Parnell looked up to pick out the cross the defender dived across and snaffled the ball out for the corner. Unbelievably this was our first corner of the game, at the training camp last week we had worked tirelessly on a set routine that is designed to offer options on the cross as well as confuse the opposition. The Rangers lined up and executed the routine to perfection, as the Walsall defenders scrambled to cover their goal the cross came in and was met by a stray hand…the referee blew immediately to signal a penalty for the Rangers. Delport stepped up and slammed the ball into the absolute bottom corner of the net. 3-2 Rangers back on top from the spot after a well-worked corner routine. The Walsall players had more than demonstrated their capabilities for recovery and refusing to stay behind so the message from the touchline was simple…”Remember your shape, remember your role, relax and enjoy your football”. Walsall threw numbers forward as they searched for an equaliser. Lea demonstrated incredible temperament as he was being repetitively fouled; refusing to react our No.4 kept his head and used his strength to stay in charge of at the back. A long ball over the top saw the Walsall winger clean through and one-on-one, from nowhere Petty arrived to challenge and send the ball away before a shot could be taken. Walsall threw more players forward, LeFort crunched into a challenge, Godsell crunched into another, Thornton blocked, Hope blocked. Walsall was awarded a free kick and they threw everyone forward in pursuit of the goal. Caldicott organised his wall, the Walsall player stepped up and hammered a drive toward goal, Petty, Kelland and Delport stood their ground and repelled the drive. Thornton got the clearance in and suddenly there was a break on for the Rangers. Joeres clipped the ball away from his marker only to be tripped as he looked to run through on goal. Petty took the free kick and Delport collected the lofted ball on the by-line before stabbing the ball back to LeFort. Our No.6 turned inside and looked to shoot only for the ball to strike the defender’s hands…this time the referee waved away the appeal and the ball was back in Walsall possession. From a lovely through ball the Walsall striker was now clean through, Caldicott was off his line and as the attacker reached the ball, our No.1 spread himself and made a superb last ditch save to prevent the score line changing. We were now deep into added time but the referee, having checked his watch three times seemed ready to allow one more attack. As Hope and Lea desperately combined to prevent a chance developing the Walsall winger went down on the edge of the area and a final free kick was awarded. Caldicott organised his wall and as every Walsall player except the keeper converged on the Rangers’ area…hearts were in mouths…The Walsall player dispatched a thunderbolt on target that cleared the wall and ominously shot toward the net. Caldicott watched it all the way and not only saved the shot but held on to smother the danger. The whistle finally sounded as Caldicott cleared with a long goal kick and the Rangers’ run continues. It was a great game today between two teams who worked hard for each other all over the park and played the game in great spirit.

Happy Birthday to our first teenage Ranger Ben Lea who was excellent today. Ben showed maturity in his handling of a physical opponent and demonstrated what a great Ranger he has become.

Thanks to Sophia Caldicott, Erin LeFort and Mia Delport for looking after refreshment duties, as you know all the money you give for the drinks we provide goes to our chosen charity Cystic Fibrosis and thanks to the girls for helping out in support.

Onwards and upwards.

Up The Rangers!