Purple Pain

STAFFORD FC COLTS 2-1 MERE GREEN RANGERS
(G) Smyth (A) Kelland

MOMs (Smyth/McNerlin)

“Football managers are like a parachutist. At times it doesn't open. Here, it is an umbrella. You understand, Mary Poppins"
― Claudio Ranieri

The start to the season has been a frustrating one so far. We knew that we had a massive re-building job to do over the summer and as coaches we talked and planned shifts in style, formation, training methods and all round outlook. We welcomed plenty of quality into the squad and looked to establish some key principles to add to the foundations that have been built by the Rangers from their very first game together way back in 2011. The boys are looking sharp in training and they have embraced everything we’ve thrown at them, both during matches and session drills, and as a result the performances in the opening two fixtures have been encouragingly positive if not rewarded with victory. Today we travelled to Stafford FC Colts hoping to continue progress and get a win on the board. Thanks to Darren for arranging the game and welcoming us to their (very) new ground (confirmed Thursday I believe!) we have never played a fixture with the Colts so knew very little about their style of play but all Stafford sides have strength and depth so it was always going to be a challenge…

First Half

The boys in purple kicked off and immediately set a tempo that suited the passing football that they are learning to play together. George LeFort rolled a pass in for George Hope who carried inside before finding Tom Smyth. Our No.20 showed quick feet and slotted a pass in for George Graves who hassled and hustled his way into the area before the defender hoofed clear. Max Petty headed bravely and Darren Gilchrist collected the high ball before playing Luke Joeres into space on the left. Our No.5 curled a pass down the line and Smyth showed strength to shield from a strong challenge before sending Ryan Delport away on the left. Delport cut inside and found Sonny Kelland who returned the pass to our No.7. Delport then whipped in a perfect cross that the keeper couldn’t get to but Graves was just held off by the defender and couldn’t connect. Ben Godsell won the first of three bruising challenges in quick succession and our No.3 then found LeFort with a slotted pass. LeFort burst into space and brought Hope into proceedings. The Rangers’ No.8 beat his man with some neat footwork and then cut the ball back for LeFort. Our No.6 thundered in a powerful drive but the ball flew just over the bar. Kelland won the ball and slipped a pass inside for Graves who turned and battled his way into the box, his shot was blocked but it fell to our No.10 who blasted an effort on goal that was bravely blocked by the Stafford centre back. Smyth collected the stray ball and curled a lovely pass in for Delport who ran for the line and won the corner for the Rangers. Kelland flashed a low cross to the near post, Petty arrived and got a connection but the keeper did enough to force the effort wide. Kelland whipped in a high curling ball this time and the keeper palmed it away for another corner from just under the bar. Delport centred a lovely cross at pace from the third corner in succession and Petty connected but the shot was blocked away…Smyth smashed in a low drive but the ball was blocked…Graves moved the ball to LeFort but his effort fell just wide as the pressure was building. Stafford sent long ball over the top and Gilchrist protected the space in front of the area superbly before Joeres shepherded the ball back to Theo Caldicott. Caldicott looked up and quickly found Hope in space and the Rangers were back on the attack. Ollie Adams-Moor received the ball and after neat footwork sent a pass in for Kelland. Kelland turned a pass inside for Delport who cut inside on the right before sending in a thunderbolt of a drive that fell just wide having beat the keeper. Joeres won a strong challenge and Gilchrist picked out Godsell. Godsell bustled his way through the midfield and found Delport. Delport played a lateral pass in for LeFort who thundered a strike for goal. The keeper had to gather at the second attempt but the away side were continuing to dominate. Another long ball sent over the top and as Gilchrist and Joeres converged to head away the ball was looped over the top again…the Stafford striker was in on goal and smashed a looping drive into the net with aplomb. 1-0 After playing their football and dominating the opening spells of play the Rangers are hurt by route one and find themselves behind. We didn’t look in danger, we looked solid and comfortable but somehow the boys had fallen behind. It can happen and character is something that has to kick in…we’ve never been in short supply of that in the Rangers’ ranks. Ben Underwood cushioned a pass and brought Smyth in to play. Smyth scythed the defence with a through ball and our No.9 showed his pace as he ran on to the chance but the keeper did enough to quell the chance before it really developed. An important lesson to learn is that teams can disrupt your way of playing and without realising you start to play their game. In the remainder of the half we became a little ragged and lost shape as we resorted to long ball in a mirroring of our opponents. Caldicott gathered everything that came into his area and showed excellent handling and distribution but having inadvertently slipped into a 4-1-4-1 formation options were closed down and a panicky period of play ensued. We were pleased to get them in for half time so that we could settle them back into a rhythm

Half Time 1-0

We have to remind ourselves that they are still young players learning the game and every fixture will provide new challenges and different scenarios. We reminded them that they had controlled the game but even so were still able to go another 10% on their levels. The goal was disappointing but they had to put it behind them, play their football and impose themselves again on the opposition. “Snap back into shape, use the width of the pitch and get the ball on the ground”…

Second Half

Jack McNerlin headed clear and then bravely followed the header to move the ball on to Underwood. Underwood laid the ball back to LeFort who looked up and curled a pass in for Adams-Moor on the left. Our No.21 controlled and then carried the ball to the by-line before winning the throw in. Petty arrived in the box and smuggled the ball through to Underwood who smashed a drive for goal that wouldn’t sit down and flew over. McNerlin headed clear as another long hoof bounced in dangerous territory and Hope collected before driving in on the right, our No.8 slotted a pass in for Smyth who held on to possession before finding Godsell. Godsell cut the ball in for Adams-Moor but the home side were defending deep and clearing every loose ball into the stands at every opportunity. Caldicott caught another long ball and showed neat feet to outsmart an attacker before sending Joeres away, our No.5 helped the ball on to Delport who now travelled with purpose into opposition territory, our No.7 flashed a drive on goal but the keeper smothered with a confident save. The ball was sent long by the home side again and this time they got numbers over, Caldicott raced from his line and made a superb save as the striker looked to finish…the ball bounced into the path of a supporting Stafford midfielder and the home side had doubled their lead. 2-0 Smash and grab football leaves the Rangers with a two goal deficit to retrieve. The next period of play was difficult to watch as the boys retreated into their shell and lost focus in the face of a tough score-line. Stafford pressed and after some good work on their right they’d worked their striker in again. Clean through and with momentum the player struck a fierce shot for the far corner to finish the game off but Caldicott was equal as he dived at full stretch and turned the ball around the post. Great save! From the corner Gilchrist rose highest and nodded the ball away but the ball was smashed back in and McNerlin had to block bravely in concession of another corner. The ball was whipped in and Caldicott reached to palm away before the striker could finish. Luca Thornton edged the ball from danger to Petty who then picked up possession and burst away on the counter. The Rangers’ No.17 slotted a pass in for LeFort who moved possession on to Kelland. Our No.10 guided the ball through for Graves who sprinted into space on the right. Our No.18 smashed an effort for goal but the ball was blocked away. Smyth picked up possession from Thornton, who had battled hard to retain possession for the Rangers in midfield, and then found Petty with a beautiful pass through, Petty through on goal to finish…the referee blew and signalled a hand ball…no-one had claimed a handball…no-one had seen a handball…nobody had handballed…such was the confusion that the Stafford manager thought they had conceded a penalty…we were all unaware of what the ref had seen or called for. When the free kick was awarded to the home side it was clear that everything was going against us and that even when the boys did get through the banks of defenders they would be frustrated. After a period of scrappy and uncharacteristic hoof ball the boys were starting to recognise themselves again and were determined to get something on the board. Thornton blocked an attempted clearance bravely and Smyth collected the ball. Our No.20 side footed a beautiful ball in for Petty who raced away from the defender to find himself through on goal. Our No.17 lashed a thunderbolt on goal but wheeled away in desperation as the ball flew over the bar from close range. Hope collected a pass from McNerlin and sent the ball in for LeFort, our No.6 shielded well and gave a pass in for Smyth. Smyth slotted an accurate ball in for Petty who controlled well before squaring across the box for Kelland. Kelland received the bouncing pass and controlled well with defender on his back before picking out a lovely weighted pass for Smyth who had manoeuvred space just outside the area. The Rangers’ No.20 looked up before launching a howitzer into the top corner of the net for his first goal in a Rangers’ shirt. 2-1 The Rangers are back in it and have the momentum. With ten minutes still to play the message for the Stafford players was take the ball into the corners and run the clock down. Hope and Gilchrist neatly outsmarted this ploy and got the ball to LeFort, our No.6 rode a challenge and then the referee blew the whistle to signal a high boot against the Rangers…deep breaths all round…Caldicott collected and McNerlin took possession, our No.30 drove through a challenge and then another…into the midfield…still McNerlin drove forward and now on the edge of the box dispatched a neat pass in for Adams-Moor. Adams-Moor cut the ball inside and crossed for Petty…the ball ran through for Underwood who sent a cross back into the box…cleared but only as far as LeFort. The Rangers’ No.6 smashed a drive for goal but it was blocked away. Delport collected and crossed, once again the ball was smashed away for a throw in. Petty launched a throw into the box, Adams-Moor tried to get something on goal…Underwood drove in but the ball was repelled and then as the referee blew the whistle the boys in purple were left without reward again.

We’ve had runs without winning before but this time it feels different, the boys are doing everything we have asked and with a bit more in terms of consistency during the game with a touch of fortune added we will get the points that the boys deserve. No excuses…we keep working!

Thanks to the Rangers’ Army who travelled today – we will get there!

Up The Rangers!