Rangers Run Riot

WHITTINGTON FC MAGPIES 0-16 MERE GREEN RANGERS
(G) WHITE (A) DELPORT
(G) DELPORT (A) WHITE
(G) WHITE (A) DELPORT
(G) DELPORT (A) WHITE
(G) KELLAND
(G) JOERES (A) DELPORT
(G) PETTY (A) DELPORT
(G) WHITE (A) DELPORT
(G) KELLAND (A) LEFORT
(G) JOERES (A) WHITE
(G) WHITE (A) DELPORT
(G) WHITE (A) UNDERWOOD
(G) PETTY (A) DELPORT
(G) WHITE (A) LEFORT
(G) DELPORT (A) KELLAND
(G) KELLAND (A) LEFORT

(MOMs LEA/DELPORT)

“When the goose flies home in winter, the badgers often gather at the back of the tractor.” – Mike Bassett, Manager.

We trained hard yesterday and worked on our offensive game, passing between the lines and springing the offside trap. The boys put in a lot of effort to get back in to shape after the half term break and their application throughout the drills demonstrated that the focus was good. Despite not playing for a couple of weeks the troops looked in great shape for their fixture in the cup today. Whittington FC Magpies are a side that we have not faced for a couple of seasons but we know that Stuart prepares his players to utilise their big pitch and the pace of their quick, strong strikers. Thanks to Stuart and his team for welcoming us and hosting the fixture this afternoon. We have a good record against Whittington but were extremely cautious not to let complacency or over confidence creep in to the players’ thoughts. The boys had to be reminded before kick off that attitude is key to good performances and we had to drill into them the need to focus fully on our game and not let Whittington dictate the pace of the game. The team pulled together and went out to get the job done…

First Half

George LeFort received the pass from kick off and calmly slotted a pass across to George Hope on the right. Hope carried and then fed a ball in for Ben Underwood who burst away from his marker. Our No.9 crossed low into the box, the ball was deflected away and Luke Joeres had to act quickly to intercept the clearance and after controlling under pressure our No.5 played a neat pass behind the defence for Ryan Delport to run onto. Delport clipped a lovely ball into the path of Jack White who coolly curled the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net 0-1 The Rangers take an early advantage after confident work in possession. Max Petty won a strong challenge and sent a pass into Ben Lea. Lea moved the ball forward and found Sonny Kelland. Kelland laid off a pass to LeFort who drove towards the area. Our No.6 poked a pass in for White who reversed an incisive ball in to wrong foot the defenders and find Delport clean through on goal. Delport smashed a low drive accurately into the bottom corner of the net to double the lead. 0-2 The Rangers double their advantage with a quick one-two. Hope made a crucial tackle to break up a possible Whittington attack and played a pass in for Underwood. Underwood passed the ball in for Ben Godsell who held off his man and neatly switched play out to Delport. Our No.7 twisted and turned before cutting a low cross in for White. The Rangers’ No.14 showed great control to manoeuvre the ball on to his right foot before curling a low finish out of the reach of the keeper and into the bottom of the net. 0-3 The Rangers’ Army celebrate on the sidelines as the boys in green stretch their lead. The Rangers were instantly back on the offensive and Godsell won a key challenge before finding Kelland. Kelland turned the ball in for LeFort who quickly fed White. White looked up and sent a straight pass through the defensive line for Delport who smashed a finish high into the net. 0-4 The score line increases as the boys in green focus on their passing game. The Rangers pressed again and Joeres took a pass from Lea after our No.4 had cut out an intended break by Whittington. Joeres sent a pass in for Delport who then returned the ball to Joeres. Our No.5 was clattered to the ground and the free kick was awarded a couple of yards inside the half. Kelland stepped up and lashed a powerful curling drive toward goal. The keeper was unable to get near the flight of the ball and the Rangers celebrated together as the free kick rippled the top corner of the net. 0-5 Pressure pays off as the Rangers keep their foot on the pedal for the fifth. Whittington refused to give up and their heads didn’t drop despite the score line heightening. A long ball into the space behind our defensive line momentarily looked dangerous. Theo Caldicott now demonstrated what an outstanding young keeper he is. Having vocally orchestrated from the back but without a great deal of action in the opening sequence of play our No.1 raced from his line and slid in to make a brave save at the feet of the advancing Whittington striker. The ball fell loose from the save but it was Caldicott who was straight up to make another outstanding two handed save to preserve the clean sheet. Petty was first to sweep up the danger and found Joeres. The Rangers’ No.5 drove into space and released a pass for LeFort. LeFort played in a pass to Delport who checked back inside his marker before clipping a through ball in for Joeres who was motoring towards the box. Joeres collected the pass in his stride before controlling and dispatching a thunderous drive under the keeper for the sixth. 0-6 A lightning break and the Rangers keep going. Caldicott received a back pass from Hope who turned and got a composed ball back from our keeper. Our No.8 played the ball into the midfield for Kelland. Kelland held the ball up and passed off to LeFort who sent Reo Grant-Parnell away on the right. Grant-Parnell curled in a cross that looked dangerous until the keeper cut it out. The corner was awarded after the ball had been adjudged to have crossed the line. The Rangers lined up for the corner routine and split from the centre as Delport crossed the ball. Delport was looking for the back post to pick out Petty who was arriving on time having wrapped around the back. Our No.17 controlled the ball before smashing a shot into the roof of the net. 0-7 The Rangers prove to be relentless as the push forward again. Caldicott was off his line to cut out a long ball. Caldicott found Luca Thornton with a neat pass and our No.2 rode a challenge with a neat turn and played a pass in for Joeres. Joeres fed Kelland who slotted a pass in for Grant-Parnell. Our No.11 played the ball back to LeFort who travelled forward before finding Delport. Our No.7 beat his marker and sent an accurate ball in for White who held off his marker and drove a firm finish under the keeper and into the net for his hatrick and the Rangers’ eighth. 0-8 A confident forceful display yields another slick goal. Lea executed a perfectly timed tackle and found Petty who looped a pass in for Grant-Parnell who pulled the ball inside for LeFort. Our No.6 drew his marker and after good work he opened up the space in front of him for a shot. The Whittington defenders immediately focussed on LeFort to close the possible shot down and with great vision LeFort slotted the ball across to Kelland who was waiting just outside the area unmarked. Kelland took a touch and then smashed a rocket of a drive over the keeper and high into the net. 0-9 The Rangers refuse to relent as they continue their vibrant attacking display. Hope picked up the ball and found Petty. Petty then travelled before picking out Joeres. Joeres found Kelland who turned and sent a pass in to White. White took on his man and then cut a pass back to the advancing Joeres. Our No.5 hit the area at pace and calmly drove the ball under the advancing keeper. 0-10 The Rangers hit double figures as the first half comes to a close.

Half Time 0-10

The hardest challenge of this half time talk was how to keep the Rangers focussed. They had done everything we had asked and had not taken a thing for granted. They hadn’t dropped their levels and hadn’t let their concentration slip for a second. We discussed attitude and how the second half would only be a disappointment in terms of performance if we didn’t start all over again and begin fresh. “What’s the score fellas?” the response as expected “0-0!”

Second Half

Whittington came out determined to try and win the second half or at least regain some pride and make sure that they got back to their game. For the opening exchanges it is credit to the home side that they really looked to press and force the Rangers back. Caldicott was called into action as he launched himself at the feet of an advancing striker to prevent a concession. Whittington continued to press and make things awkward for the Rangers. Petty and Lea were herculean in repelling danger and Godsell was superb in diving in with a last ditch challenge to halt an attack. LeFort took the ball away from danger after Godsell’s tackle and found Underwood. Our No.9 sent a pass through for White. White burst into the box, beat his man and slotted a shot under the keeper but the ball bounced back off the post. A returning defender scooped the rebound away. Grant-Parnell did well to carry the ball forward and our No.11 slipped a pass inside for Godsell. Our No.3 curled a cross over and White got a touch back to Kelland. The Rangers’ No.10 smashed in a drive that flashed just wide of the post. Thornton had to act quickly to divert an intended through pass away from danger and our No.2 somehow smuggled the ball away as attacking players swarmed around him. LeFort took the ball and found Grant-Parnell. Our No.11 played a straight pass in for Underwood who nicked the ball around the keeper but couldn’t turn it in as the post repelled his stretching side-footed shot out of play. Delport took a pass from Joeres and drove in behind the back line at pace. Our No.7 looked up before sending a perfect pass in for White who took the cross down neatly, drew the keeper and released a powerful drive under the keeper and into the net 0-11 After a period of uncertainty the Rangers increase the lead again. Whittington attacked and their striker suddenly found himself in front of goal with the ball in front of him. His shot was powerful and aimed for the top corner but Caldicott was equal to it with a fine diving two handed save. The ball dropped and before the Whittington man could take another shot LeFort nicked the ball away and broke at pace as the home side had committed players forward. Our No.6 went through three challenges as he relentlessly reached the edge of the box. The Rangers army were willing the skipper on but the last man did enough to unbalance him and the ball was cleared for away. Hope flew in to a solid tackle and Godsell won the ball in the middle under pressure and found Joeres. Joeres looped the ball into the box and Underwood latched onto it. A defender and the keeper converged on our No.9 but he stayed really strong and poked the ball through for White to apply a simple finish into an empty net. 0-12 A determined series of challenges gives the Rangers another goal. Lea won a solid challenge and gave the ball out to Petty. Our No.17 moved forward and then clipped a pass in for Kelland. A defender flew in but Kelland won the challenge and found Delport on the left. Delport beat his marker again and curled in a great ball. Petty had continued his run from centre back and launched himself at the cross to execute a lovely volley that left the keeper stranded and rippled the net for the Rangers thirteenth. 0-13 The Rangers increase the tempo to find a way through. Whittington would not give up entirely and after good work on their right they found numbers over and a clear sight of goal. The powerful striker held off a brave Thornton challenge to drive a fierce shot on the Rangers’ goal. Caldicott adjusted his feet and stretched every sinew of his body to get the slightest fingertip on the ball. The contact was enough to divert the ball onto the post and out for the corner. A world class save keeps the clean sheet in tact! Hope picked up the ball and went on a long meandering run deep into opposition territory and our No.8 laid a ball off to White who held up and brought Grant-Parnell into play. Grant-Parnell passed the ball back to Godsell who slipped a pass inside for LeFort. Our No.6 drove into the box, beat one player then another before looking up and whipping a drive around the keeper for a certain goal…but no...somehow the ball pings back off the post and out of play. Kelland won the ball from the goal kick and found LeFort. LeFort beat a defender and then curled a pass in for White who received the pass confidently before smashing in another Rangers’ goal. 0-14 Keeping their shape and playing at their pace the Rangers increase the lead again. Petty gave the ball back to Caldicott who looked to build out from the back again. Our No.1 picked out Joeres who turned and gave a pass in for Delport. Joeres overlapped and burst through toward goal, our No.5 cut in and looked to shoot but the defender blocked for the corner. Kelland swung in an accurate corner-ball and, after great movement; Delport arrived with perfect timing to direct a bullet header high into the net. 0-15 The Rangers’ Army revel in the execution of the goal as the score increases again. Thornton won a tackle and found Underwood. Underwood smuggled the ball through to Grant-Parnell who travelled quickly to the edge of the area. Grant-Parnell’s cross was blocked but the ball fell to LeFort who twisted and turned before crossing. The cross seemed to go over everyone and looked destined to roll out over the by line until Kelland accelerated in pursuit. Our No.10 recovered the ball before it went out and then cut back into the area before hammering a curling drive into the top corner of the net for the Rangers’ sixteenth. 0-16 The Rangers finish the game in the ascendancy and round things off in style. As the final whistle sounded we knew that the Rangers had learned some important lessons over the course of this match and that they could be proud of their mature attitude in sustaining a disciplined respectful manner throughout the game. Whittington should be credited for not allowing frustration affect their discipline and for going right until the end.

Thanks to the entire Rangers’ Army for supporting the boys again. We should be extra proud of the mature way in which the boys conducted themselves today and for the level of teamwork that they displayed. Discipline and attitude were the buzzwords today and they had both of those positively and in abundance.

Up The Rangers!