Lessons Still To Learn

STAFFORD RANGERS FC 3-2 MERE GREEN RANGERS
(G) UNDERWOOD (A) GRAVES
(G) LEFORT (A) McNERLIN

(MOMs UNDERWOOD/JOERES)

“The imprint you make in the spirit of the people is more important than the result.” - Arsene Wenger

The boys had been incredible last week against a side that are on course for the premier league. We knew that if the boys reached the same levels today we would stand a reasonable chance of getting a result, that’s with no disrespect to today’s opponents who themselves have only lost once this season, it’s just that the sheer determination and refusal to be beaten that the Rangers’ displayed last week would make them a match for anyone. Thanks to Andy for welcoming us to Coopers Park today, I’ll say now what a pleasure it was to finish a game without touchline incident and this is credit to Andy and his team who play and coach the game in the right way. We had absences today but trust in the squad we have, the boys are gelling and starting to look like a team but every game offers a new lesson and today’s would be no different as the boys took to the pitch…

First Half

The boys began well and stroked the ball around neatly with some excellent interplay between Luke Joeres and Tom Smyth on the left. It was a good tempo and the Rangers looked comfortable for the opening five minutes or so. George Graves collected a pass from Joeres and our No.18 slotted a pass to Sonny Kelland who immediately returned the ball to Graves who smashed a fierce drive on goal. The keeper got down well to smother the chance well and kicked out of his hands to try and get his side away on the break. Jack McNerlin headed the goal kick back towards the Stafford area and George LeFort collected the ball before switching a pass out to George Hope out wide, Hope raced to the by-line and clipped a cross in but the defender cleared well. As the ball moved into the midfield a Stafford player launched a huge clearance that came down somewhere near the Rangers’ penalty spot, despite the best efforts of Max Petty and Darren Gilchrist the big forward controlled and slotted a low powerful drive into the Rangers’ net. 1-0 A setback for the boys after they had started well in possession. Smyth won the ball and slotted Joeres away on the left, Our No.5 lashed a lovely cross in early and Kelland was millimetres away from heading in…Hope arrived at the back post but his athletic lunge desperately failed to connect with the cross. The keeper played the kick short to the centre back who launched another long ball towards the Rangers’ area, a carbon copy of the chance that created their goal but this time Theo Caldicott raced off his line and got down superbly to repel the effort and keep the score down. From the corner Gilchrist headed clear and Ben Godsell emerged with the ball. Our No.3 slotted a ball in for Joeres who showed his marker a clean pair of heels as he burst towards the by-line, the Rangers’ No.5 cut the ball back and Kelland arrived but his shot was blocked…the ball squeezed out to LeFort who drove for goal but couldn’t beat the keeper who got down well to hold on and end the Rangers’ threat. Kelland curled in the corner and Graves arrived but couldn’t get the ball out of his feet for a clear shot, our No.18 did well to shield possession and get the ball to LeFort. LeFort crossed to the back post but the ball agonisingly danced away in front of an empty net and in to touch. The keeper took a short goal kick and the centre back sent another long ball over the back line…Petty challenged and prevented the big striker from getting a shot away but somehow the ball bobbled through to the wide man who struck a nice finish into the net 2-0 The Rangers look shell shocked as Stafford double their lead. The response from the boys was, unfortunately, uncharacteristic and despite the quality in their ranks the heads dropped, the usual cohesive shape took on a flocculent feel and rather than fluid we had a spell of disjointed play. They just couldn’t knit anything together and were incoherent in possession, the home side sensed the drop in the Rangers’ levels and pushed higher up the field. Godsell tackled and tackled as too did LeFort and Smyth but Stafford had committed extra men in the midfield and suddenly it was an uphill battle. Caldicott had to make two superb saves low to his right and then to his left as he stood up bravely to some thunderous strikes. Godsell smuggled the ball away from the corner and found Luca Thornton who showed great feet to hold play up before sending a pass in to Kelland. Our No.10 laid off a lovely ball to Joeres on the left. Joeres crossed early but the defenders cleared well. Thornton won the ball again and found Godsell who nicked a pass in to Smyth. Smyth travelled confidently into the opposition but his through pass to Hope was cut out. Another long ball sent over the top…McNerlin headed bravely away but it fell to a Stafford midfielder who sent a speculative looping ball towards goal…somehow it fell just under the bar and hit the net. 3-0 A bitter pill to swallow as the boys just seemed resigned to conceding. Thornton won the ball and found LeFort who travelled forward at pace before finding Smyth. Our No.20 slipped a pass through to Joeres who returned the ball neatly and then Smyth curled a ball across in front of goal, both Kelland and Hope tried to get something on to it but the ball flashed in front of goal and away again. The whistle sounded and the boys looked deflated as they headed in for the break.

Half Time 3-0

The message was simple really…they owed themselves more than they’d shown in that first half. The boys had been caught by a combination of three long balls and a slippage in their confidence. The first half had gone…we asked the boys to walk off the pitch having won the second half no matter what. Play your football and compete harder, faster and with more intent. We made some technical changes and sent them out to put it right!

Second Half

It’s hard to know if your words will have an effect but the boys settled into a rhythm with a higher press and a steelier intent about them from the off. Gilchrist won possession and sent a pass down the line to Graves who cut a ball inside for Ben Underwood. Our No.9 raced through into space and side footed the ball across to Kelland. Kelland held off his marker and found LeFort on the edge of the box, LeFort fired in a curling effort that was blocked away bravely. Petty collected the ball and played a neat pass out to Hope who turned and travelled into the midfield before finding Kelland. Kelland moved possession on to Graves who showed great strength to hold off two players, our No.18 then teed up Underwood who ran onto Graves’s pass and smashed a controlled curling drive from 25 yards out into the net and away from the diving keeper. 3-1 The Rangers are rewarded for a positive start to the second half and give themselves a glimmer of hope. Petty collected superbly and turned the ball out to Hope, our No.8 burst forward and played in Kelland who immediately reversed a pass into space for Hope to latch onto. Hope cut the ball back to Smyth who then moved the ball on to Gilchrist. The Rangers’ No.15 rode two solid tackles and emerged with the ball before slotting a pass in for Graves. Graves broke through the back line and cut the ball back to Underwood. Underwood whipped the ball in…Kelland connected but the ball was blocked…LeFort flew in and tried to get the ball through to goal but the Stafford defender cleared at the last. McNerlin blocked a through ball and moved the ball on to Gilchrist, Gilchrist found Graves who was pushed from behind and the free kick was awarded. Kelland curled the ball in…the keeper dropped the fizzing cross-shot and LeFort dived in to finish but the keeper had bravely retained possession. Caldicott came out to collect a dangerous high ball and our No.1 then sent a lovely pass out to Joeres, the Rangers’ No.5 sent a lovely through ball into space for Underwood who cut the ball back to Graves, Graves found Smyth who was dumped to the ground as Stafford conceded another free kick. Kelland curled a cross in that beat the keeper…Petty attacked it but his header rebounded off the back of a defender. The ball was cleared but McNerlin was alive to it and wrestled past his opposite number before heading a perfect ball to LeFort. LeFort controlled, manoeuvred his way superbly away from the attentions of the backline before curling a stunning drive around the keeper and into the corner of the net. 3-2 The comeback is on! Credit to Stafford, they dug in and tried to get the ball into the attacking part of the field, Joeres had to make a last ditch challenge to prevent a cross. From the corner Caldicott was superb to leap and catch amongst a forest of bodies. Caldicott sent the ball out to Kelland who held the ball up and brought Hope into play. Hope raced into the wide area before crossing…a Stafford defender got the ball away but Gilchrist collected and found Underwood who got himself into space before smashing a drive on goal, the keeper was beaten but the ball flashed over the bar. The remaining period saw the Rangers pressing but after two long stoppages for the goalkeeper’s cramp that had broken up any rhythm the premature sound of the referee’s whistle signalled the end of any hopes of a stunning comeback from the boys in purple.

We are all determined to get the boys into winning ways, they are more than capable and sometimes you have to learn harsh lessons. The first half display was below their normal standards and they sought to redress that in the second half, all fine margins but if you give a team a three goal lead it’s a long way back whoever you are. Back to training and working hard for all of us!

Up The Rangers!