Our Day Will Come

SPORTSCO FC HARRIERS 4-2 MERE GREEN RANGERS
(G) GRANT-PARNELL (A) WHITE
(G) LEFORT (A) WHITE

(MOMs PETTY/GRANT-PARNELL)

“Promotion to the premier league is our reward.” – Chris Hughton

It has been a punishing period for the Rangers with a run of games in a condensed period of time and we got set to go again in the final game of the season. The boys have given absolutely everything this year, they’ve worn their hearts on their green (and purple) sleeves and entertained everywhere they’ve played. Sportsco have been the runaway leaders with Villa academy players in their ranks and physically strong and hardworking players they have threatened to tear up the division. It is a credit to our boys that they have taken them all the way to the final game. Whatever happened tonight we knew that the boys would give everything for the badge again…

First Half

Max Petty and Ben Lea immediately had to react quickly as the Sportsco players pushed forward early. Petty cut out the danger with a fine interception and then Lea cleared into the midfield. George LeFort picked up possession and sent a pass in to Ben Underwood, our No.9 returned the ball and sent a pass in for Jack White. White drove a shot toward goal but the keeper got down well to stop the effort. A long ball over the top dropped well for the Sportsco striker and he used his strength to gain space before smashing a shot in on goal. Theo Caldicott was brave and made a stunning two handed save from close range, unfortunately the ball spun up and into the path of the home striker and he finished close in to give his team the lead. 1-0 Rangers fall behind after a brutal opening period. Sonny Kelland battled bravely in the middle of the park and after holding off his man distributed the ball through a gap in the defence for Ryan Delport. Delport side footed a shot that beat the keeper but whistled agonisingly wide of the far post. Luke Joeres won the ball and sent a pass in for Ben Godsell, Godsell turned well and slipped a pass in to LeFort who then found Kelland on the edge of the box. Kelland timed a perfect pass in behind the back line for Delport but the linesman’s flag shot up despite the timing of the run suggesting otherwise. George Hope busied himself with great application and after winning a difficult looking ball our No.8 curled a perfect pass in for LeFort. LeFort turned and sent a ball in for Underwood who burst down the line and whipped in a cross, White was millimetres from connecting but the Rangers were starting to force the play. Kelland won possession and passed to Godsell, Godsell flicked a ball in for Delport and our No.7 got the ball to LeFort. LeFort sent White through on goal but the keeper was out like lightning to smother the chance. Petty won a tough challenge and Lea headed clear bravely, the ball was pumped back in and the Sportsco striker turned the defence and was clean through. Caldicott was mountainous as he spread himself bravely and executed a great save to keep the score the same. Lea cleared the corner and Petty then found time to send a long ball over the top that White was on to in a flash. Our No.14 was clean through and slotted the ball under the keeper but it fell just wide of the post. Godsell played a neat one-two with Delport and then our No.7 whipped a ball across goal, the keeper couldn’t get to it and both White and Underwood stretched in pursuit of a finish but somehow the ball flashed away and the chance had gone. After good work in the midfield Sportsco found a straight pass into the danger area and despite the Rangers’ best efforts the Sportsco striker had clear sight of goal and finished the chance just before the break. 2-0 Rangers succumb to a second just before the break. The Rangers looked shell shocked but hadn’t time to react as the whistle blew shortly after the concession.

Half Time 2-0

They looked exhausted…it had been a tough first half. The message we wanted to get across was clear but I could see that we had to rouse them from their despair. “It’s not over, look around at each other and think how far you have come as a team this season. Whatever happens go out there in the second half and enjoy playing your football. Walk off the pitch knowing that you have given absolutely everything. Nobody will ask any more than that.” They walked out onto the pitch looking ready to go again and fired up for the second half…

Second Half

Luca Thornton was under pressure straight away but resolutely stood his ground and battled bravely to get the ball away from danger. Our No.2 forced the ball into the midfield after repelling a physical onslaught. LeFort picked it up and sent a pass in for Reo Grant-Parnell. Our No.11 blazed away from his marker and curled a stunning cross in from the by line. White jumped but couldn’t get a touch but Joeres was arriving and headed for the top corner. The ball looked nailed on for a goal until the keeper shot out his left hand to somehow claw the ball from under the bar and over the bar. Kelland won a header and LeFort seized upon the ball quickly. Our No.6 slotted a pass in for Grant-Parnell who burst into the box before demonstrating a fleet of foot that spun heads. Grant-Parnell cut the ball across to White who raced in on goal before smashing a drive in on goal, the keeper saved low but couldn’t hold the shot and Grant-Parnell arrived perfectly on time to side foot the ball home and get the Rangers back in to the game. 2-1 Rangers force the play and get a deserved goal. The boys in green were in the ascendency now and Lea drove into midfield before releasing a great pass in for Delport. Delport flew into space before being clipped just outside the area for a free kick. Kelland lined up the dead ball and bent a rasping drive over the wall and on target for the top corner. The Rangers’ army leapt to celebrate but incredibly the keeper managed to flick out fingertips to divert the ball just over the bar and away with an incredible save. Grant-Parnell received a pass from Hope and cut inside before finding Joeres, Joeres fed the ball across to White who turned and fired a ball across the face of goal, Delport was arriving but couldn’t get a decisive touch and another chance slipped away. Thornton pressed forward and after cutting out an intended clearance he lopped a ball in for Delport. Delport drove into the area but the keeper got down well to cut out the cross. Petty won a superb challenge and sent a pass in for Underwood who held the ball up and fed Joeres. Our No.5 sent the ball across to Hope who then drove forward and curled a cross in, LeFort arrived but couldn’t get the shot away under pressure from the defence. Lea headed away bravely again but the ball was sent straight back in to the box and once again the big Sportsco striker showed strength and determination to calve out enough space to drive a finish into the corner of the net. 3-1 Sportsco restore their two goal advantage despite being on the back foot. The Rangers dug in again. Joeres clipped a pass in for Underwood who drove into the area and smashed a driven cross in, a defender blocked well in concession of the corner. White took the corner and curled the ball over, the Rangers’ movement caused chaos and LeFort was on hand to leap and direct a perfect header down and into the corner of the net 3-2 The Rangers’ Army jump for joy as the boys get themselves back into the game again. We threw caution to the wind as we went in search of the equaliser and with three at the back we looked to press again. We pushed and pushed but Sportsco batted everything away as the boys tried to get that last decisive chance. Every Ranger stood tall as they pressed, pushed, battled and fought for each opportunity they developed. A series of free kicks against us saw Caldicott make some confident saves, Hope, Petty and Lea were mighty in their work rate and determination. Suddenly and inexplicably the game slipped away as a scuffed shot from the Sportsco winger travelled between a forest of legs and trickled into the corner of the goal. 4-2 Heartbreak for the Rangers who had battled so valiantly to get back into the game. The game had gone and it was hard to see the boys finish the season with their first league defeat of the season.

Therein lies a really important point, we took it right to the wire and at the beginning of the season we were not one of the favourites to go up. However hard it is, we have to keep hold of the fact that we have been one of the most entertaining teams in our division and we have won promotion together as a team. Justin, myself and (I hope you agree) the Rangers' Army have seen something special happen with these players – let’s keep their heads up and celebrate properly on Sunday – we really, really do have something to be proud of.