Mere Green Rangers U17s
Matches
Sun 07 Jan 2018
Heath Hayes FC
1
6
Mere Green FC
Mere Green Rangers U17s
S Kelland (2'), L Fitzsimmons (16'), (39'), (53'), G LeFort (21'), R Delport (68')
Muddy Waters Run Deep

Muddy Waters Run Deep

Dean Kelland7 Jan 2018 - 19:19
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Rangers through 1st Round of the cup after tricky away tie in the mud at Gorsemoor

HEATH HAYES FC 1-6 MERE GREEN RANGERS
(G) KELLAND
(G) WHITE (A) DELPORT
(G) LEFORT (A) DELPORT
(G) WHITE (A) HOPE
(G) WHITE (A) HOPE
(G) DELPORT (A) KELLAND

(MOMs HOPE/JOERES)

“Two men look out the same prison bars; one sees mud and the other stars.” ― Beck, Musician.

I’d like to start by saying Happy New Year to everyone; we all hope that the festive break was enjoyed by all. Christmas and the New Year period can serve dual purposes when preparing the players for the next sequence of fixtures. On the one hand it provides a well-earned rest for all concerned and a real chance to recharge the batteries, on the other it can let the fitness slip and make players a little rusty. We did a light training session yesterday to get the boys back into the swing of things and in horrible conditions they worked hard and we started to see the glimmer of sharpness returning to them. Today we travelled to a team we have met a couple of times already this year, Heath Hayes FC. Chris is a genuinely good guy who is always welcoming and manages his sides with enthusiasm and a belief in strong footballing principles. We’ve had two positive results from previous games but went into this fixture with some trepidation, as we knew that Chris would have his side well prepared and fired up for the cup-tie. We also knew it would be tough as we had a number of doubts for the game with Christmas viruses and injuries in the squad having an effect on numbers. In the pre-game team talk we stressed that there may be a need to ask players to perform in unfamiliar roles and do jobs that may not be accustomed to. Full credit to all the Rangers who dug in and played for the badge with pride, passion and purpose…

First Half

Heath Hayes kicked off and Ryan Delport flew out of the blocks and robbed possession instantly. Delport fed a pass through to Jack White who returned the ball to Delport as they advanced into the area. White got the ball back and slotted a fierce shot toward goal, the home keeper saved well but parried, Delport reacted and drove in the rebound but the keeper made another superb save to divert the goal bound effort out for the corner. Sonny Kelland swung in the cross from the corner and the Heath Hayes defender did really well at the near post to get the ball away as Ben Underwood looked to poach a finish. The ball fell back at Kelland’s feet and our No.10 looked up, spotted the keeper to left of the goal and then curled an accurate shot from way outside the area high into the top corner of the net. 0-1 The perfect start for the Rangers after a lightning opening. The home side were stunned by the break-neck speed of the attacking play by the boys in purple but were resolute and determined to get back on level terms as they attacked from the restart. Luca Thornton intercepted an intended pass in behind the Rangers’ back line after home pressure and our No.2 neatly slipped the ball inside to Ben Lea. Lea controlled well and drove a pass in to George LeFort who turned neatly and sent a ball into the right channel for Underwood to chase. Our No.9 showed great skill to deceive his marker before taking flight out wide, Underwood crossed the ball and Delport got on the end only for his side footed effort to be well saved by the Heath Hayes’ No.1. Luke Joeres showed incredible strength with a battling series of challenges against a physically strong opponent. Our No.5 was cool in coming away with the ball that he then slotted into space for Kelland. Kelland chipped a ball through for Delport who controlled well under pressure before deftly finding White in the box, White looked to finish but the keeper did exceptionally well to hold his low goal bound effort. George Hope covered the ground with lightning pace to prevent a looping pass from causing danger, the Rangers’ No.8 carried the ball forward and then fed the ball to Ben Godsell, Godsell rode two solid challenges and then sent an accurate pass in for Underwood, Underwood travelled quickly into the box before cutting the ball back for Delport, Delport shot low for the corner, the keeper made another great save but seemed trapped in the mud as the ball spilled from his grasp. White was onto the loose ball with great vision and under a heavy challenge squeezed his shot into the net. 0-2 The Rangers battle hard to increase their advantage despite the boggy conditions. Heath Hayes kept going and kept the boys under pressure as they tried to get their passing game going. Thornton and Godsell were brave as they battled on the right, LeFort, Lea and Joeres dug deep to challenge and repel the pressure. Hope blocked and tackled superbly as the home side pressed. The muddy conditions meant that every ball had to be hit hard and true, deflections, bobbles and bounces were unpredictable and Theo Caldicott had to come and collect a dangerous through ball as Heath Hayes looked clean through, our No.1 was off his line quickly and smothered the chance with fine handling. The home side attacked again and Lea blocked bravely, Joeres flew in to divert an intended pass but the ball squirmed in the mud before holding up for the Heath Hayes striker who touched the ball into space and found himself clean through on goal. Caldicott was out with feverish pace and as the ball blazed towards the bottom corner the Rangers’ keeper shot out his foot to block, a great reaction save from Caldicott keeps the score line in tact. The home side were buoyed by the effort and continued to press, every Ranger dug in and their purple shirts were marked by the trench warfare they were now ensconced in. Joeres and Lea forced a corner away but the ball found its way back into the box after it deflected into the path off a Ranger challenge the striker put the ball into the net. The home side celebrated with their fans but the referee called play back as the original forward pass had caught the striker off side. The disallowed goal served to motivate the Rangers into action, LeFort helped Caldicott’s goal kick on and White collected the ball confidently. The Rangers’ No.14 burst away from his marker and crossed for Underwood, Underwood looked to finish but the ball was deflected away for another Rangers’ corner. Delport delivered a curling cross from the corner; Underwood went up with the defender who edged the ball out, but only as far as LeFort who skilfully poked a volley under the bar and into the net for the third Rangers goal. 0-3 After withstanding concerted pressure the Rangers break and increase their score. White released Reo Grant-Parnell after great work from Thornton to win the ball from the kick off. Our No.11 accepted the accurate pass and skinned his marker before delivering the cross for Underwood, Underwood shot, keeper saves, Delport picks up the rebound and shoots, keeper saves, Underwood drives in another from the stray ball and somehow it flashes just wide of the post, agonisingly close to another for the boys in purple. Lea won the ball and burst into the middle of the pitch, our No.4 skipped by two challenges and then found Hope, Hope sent a great ball in for Grant-Parnell who played a slick ball in for our No.8 to carry on his run, Hope crossed White arrived and shot for goal but again the keeper got down and parried the effort, the ball spilled out and Underwood tried to find a way through but had to carry the ball back out as defenders gathered around him, having made space our No.9 slid a pass in for Godsell who sent a straight pass in for Delport. Delport controlled well and then shot only to be confounded again by the excellent home keeper. The whistle blew and the Rangers came in looking battle-weary and dishevelled after a full-bloodied battle in the mud.

Half Time 0-3

It had been an excellent half and the Rangers fully deserved their lead. We were coping with enforced changes and players at less than 100% fitness by pulling together and working hard for each other. Most impressive was the way in which the boys were continuing to try and play a passing, expansive game even though the conditions were less than conducive for it.

Never get ahead of yourselves though…Justin and I were quick to warn against complacency. Heath Hayes will come at you again, let’s make sure that we win the second half and see this cup-tie through.

Second Half

I suggested to Justin that the next goal would define what type of game it would ultimately be. If the home side score early, as they would no doubt be attempting to do, then it could be game on. If the Rangers could get it then it would probably edge them too far ahead to be caught. Caldicott had to respond quickly to a through ball and showed great handling to collect ahead of the onrushing attacker. Our No.1 sent a long goal kick into space and Delport was onto it before feeding the ball back to White, White was blocked on the edge of the area and the ball fell to Godsell in the midfield, our No.3 was impeded and the free kick awarded. Kelland stepped up and drove a fierce shot that was bravely blocked by a Heath Hayes’ defender, Kelland picked up the rebound and sent a chipped ball back in to the box, a defender got a header but LeFort collected the ball and drove the ball back in. Another deflection from a defender and Hope collected the ball, our No.8 steadied himself and sent a cross in that the keeper got a touch to but only into the path of White who was arriving in perfect time to dispatch a low finish into the net. 0-4 A mature start to the second half yields a key goal for the Rangers. Grant-Parnell was sent clear by LeFort straight from the restart and the Rangers’ No.11 drove a blistering shot on goal, the keeper was superb to block the effort and then recover to divert the follow up from Grant-Parnell out for the corner. Kelland curled the ball over and the keeper got a hand to it, Godsell jumped on the stray ball and fed Grant-Parnell who crossed the ball in at pace for Underwood who diverted an effort on goal only for the defender to block the ball away. Heath Hayes now attacked again and Thornton had to react quickly with Joeres in support to see a dangerous break away to safety. Joeres again intercepted and got the ball away to Lea who travelled before sending a lovely pass in to Delport. Delport turned and fed a through ball in for Underwood but once again the excellent keeper was off his line to deny our No.9. White picked up a pass from Kelland and turned neatly before springing the offside trap with a perfectly timed ball for Delport, the Rangers’ No.7 shot for goal and once again the Heath Hayes keeper was on hand to palm the ball away for a corner. Kelland crossed the ball, Underwood got a touch, a defender half cleared to the edge of the box where Hope was waiting to pounce. The Rangers’ No.8 burst into the box and shot for goal, the keeper got a hand to push the effort away from his net but White was again in the right place at the right time to execute an exemplary poacher’s goal and slot a low drive into the net. 0-5 The Rangers continue to press and play their football and increase the lead once more. Credit has to go to Heath Hayes who despite being aware that the tie was slipping from their grasp continued to pressurise the Rangers. After good work on their right a fierce drive struck the crossbar and shortly after a goalmouth scramble was only halted by the brave intervention of Joeres and Lea with Caldicott coming to collect bravely amongst a forest of legs. The pressure was mounting and the home side would be rewarded for their undoubted effort when they ventured down their left. After neat interplay the left midfielder advanced into the box and sent a looping strike into the net. 1-5 Heath Hayes get a consolation goal after pressing hard. It was important that the Rangers now saw out the remainder of the game without too many risks, Godsell shielded the back line superbly with a series of brave and physical challenges whilst Hope and Thornton continued to play the simple passes down the line. Caldicott commanded the troops from the back; Lea and Joeres were colossal in their refusal to let anyone get through. Kelland and Underwood battled away to keep possession while White and Grant-Parnell provided the threat of a break with great movement up top. It was Delport, now playing in an unfamiliar defensive midfield role, who would generate the next significant impact on the game. Joeres picked up the ball from a Lea challenge and found Godsell; Godsell held off his marker and gave the ball to Hope. Our No.8 looked long for Grant-Parnell but the ball was cleared into the middle of the pitch. Kelland went up for a challenge and managed to edge the ball back to Delport who suddenly charged forward with real power, our No.7 beat one opponent…then another…from way outside the box he looked up and dispatched a thundering curled drive that travelled over the surprised keeper and into the net for the sixth. 1-6 The Rangers’ Army celebrate noisily as the game is put to bed in style. The final seconds went without incident and the boys celebrated the start of a new year with a return to winning ways.

Before the game we asked the boys to put in a performance for our No.17 Max Petty who was unfortunately injured and unable to take part today. Max was with us to see the boys do just that and we wish him a speedy and full recovery. Every player put an incredible shift in today, some of them carrying injuries and suffering illness but all of them united to see themselves through to the next round.

Up The Rangers!

Match details

Match date

Sun 07 Jan 2018

Kickoff

14:00

Meet time

13:30
Team overview
Further reading

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