Mere Green Rangers U17s
Matches
Sun 08 Mar 2020
Mere Green FC
Mere Green Rangers U17s
R Delport (12'), (33'), G LeFort (72')
3
2
Hednesford Harriers FC
Rangers Stand Together

Rangers Stand Together

Dean Kelland8 Mar 2020 - 16:34
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The boys in green progress to the next stage of the league trophy after stunning and fearless performance.

MERE GREEN RANGERS FC 3-2 HEDNESFORD HARRIERS FC
(G) DELPORT (A) CALDICOTT
(G) DELPORT (A) LEFORT
(G) LEFORT (A) ADAMS-MOOR

(MOMs UNDERWOOD/CALDICOTT)

“My aim is to get the team to work hard and stay strong together.” – Frank Rijkaard

The build up to this game had not been ideal. We’ve all felt it over the last week or so. The bottom line is that the boys wanted to play and try and get themselves into the hat for the next round of the cup. We prepared during training with an emphasis on using our width and counselled the boys to let their football be the focus…nothing else. I can’t speak for Justin and Jeff, I’ve been nervous before games in the past but this one seemed to be adding something extra. We have to lead by example though, and it was extremely important that we held our nerve and controlled our emotions, the boys needed to look across and see that we were doing the right things, the right way in order for them to do the same…

First Half

Hednesford kicked off and launched a long ball over the top that Theo Caldicott collected comfortably. Our No.1 then sent a goal kick long into the left channel for Ryan Delport. Delport collected and clipped a pass back fro Tom Smyth in midfield. Smyth moved the ball to Ollie Adams-Moor who turned quickly and drove into the box. The Rangers’ No.21 squeezed a pass through to Delport who whipped a cross in…Sonny Kelland arrived at the back post but couldn’t connect at full stretch to find a finish. Jack McNerlin won a solid header and George LeFort brought the ball down before rolling a pass in to George Graves. Graves found Kelland on the right and our No.10 reversed a pass in for LeFort who had burst forward into space. Our No.6 curled a lovely ball in but Delport’s subsequent shot fell just the wrong side of the post. Max Petty showed great composure to cut out a long ball under pressure before turning his man and travelling into midfield. Our No.17 found Kelland who laid off a pass for LeFort. The Rangers’ skipper smashed a drive in on goal but the keeper was equal to it and smothered it low to end the danger. Darren Gilchrist won a mountainous challenge and got the ball to Luke Joeres. Joeres travelled before finding Smyth. Our No.20 slotted a pass in behind for Delport who whipped an early ball in that a defender did well to deflect away fro the corner. Delport curled the cross in to the near post and the covering defender headed onto his own post…so close to an opener! Hednesford broke in force but Petty recovered quickly and got his body between the ball and the last attacker before marshalling the ball back to Caldicott. The Rangers’ No.1 spotted Delport in space and launched a goal kick deep into the area…the keeper came out but misjudged the bounce…spilling possession the Hednesford No.1 tried to shepherd Delport, now in possession with his back to goal, away from the target…Delport spun neatly, took a touch and then from an acute angle whipped a stunning drive into the far corner of the net. 1-0 The Rangers take the lead after a controlled and confident opening spell. Gilchrist slid in and emerged with the ball from a slew of limbs, our No.15 found Graves who edged possession on to Kelland. Our No.10 found LeFort who curled a lovely ball into the area, this time the keeper did well to come and claim under pressure. McNerlin won another tackle and sent a ball forward for Ben Underwood, Underwood controlled and laid off a pass for Smyth who slotted a neat pass in for Delport who had timed his run to perfection…the flag went up and only the linesman will know who or what that was for. Hednesford sent a long ball deep into the Rangers’ area and the forward did well to control…Caldicott, Petty and Graves all dived in to try and block any effort but somehow the ball squirmed under the bodies and rolled into the Rangers’ goal. 1-1 A body blow for the boys in green after they had controlled the game to this point. It was always going to be real test for the boys should they concede today and they had to rise to the challenge if they were going to get the better of their tough opponents. Gilchrist had to head bravely and Petty joined in to repel renewed pressure from the away side. The striker got free and drove a fierce shot in low for the bottom corner of the net only for Caldicott to get down smartly and make a superb two handed save to deny a second concession. Both teams had been impeccable to this point but as LeFort controlled the ball in the centre of the pitch the big Hednesford midfielder launched a scything high tackle to cut our skipper down. Credit to our No.6 who immediately bounced to his feet and simply smiled at his opponent but also credit to the referee who reached straight for his pocket and signalled with the yellow card that there would be no tolerance of wild tackles. Petty lofted the free kick into the area and initially Hednesford got it away. Joeres won a loose ball and sent a pass in for Smyth who in turn found McNerlin. The Rangers’ No.30 lifted a ball into the area and Delport was quick to respond. Delport curled the ball in across goal and Kelland collected in the corner before rolling the ball back to Graves. Graves found LeFort who returned the ball to Kelland. Kelland drew his man before slipping an inch perfect pass in for LeFort who injected some pace and drove into the area before sending a wonderful curling cross to the back post…Delport arrived and coolly dispatched a low finish into the bottom corner of the net to restore the Rangers’ lead. 2-1 A perfect response as the boys in green seek out, and find, the advantage again. LeFort won possession and drove forward…one challenge…two challenges….a third challenge and still our No.6 stayed on his feet and kept going. Finally Hednesford smuggled the ball out of play to halt the onslaught. Kelland took the throwing and found Underwood who held up the ball for LeFort who drew his marker before lifting a neat pass in for Smyth who was now unmarked in the area. Smyth controlled and then drove a shot for goal that flew agonisingly just over the bar. Joeres won another challenge and Gilchrist followed up to contain possession. Petty picked up the play and found Graves on the right. Our No.18 travelled forward at pace and then found Luca Thornton who stood strong in the challenge to hold possession and find Smyth. Smyth slotted a lovely pass in behind the back line and once again the flag was raised by the linesman for no apparent reason as the Rangers looked to add to their score. Joeres won the ball and found LeFort who laid off a pass to Graves. Graves found Underwood who gave the ball back to Smyth. Smyth found Delport who was clean through until a defender appeared and cut him down…the referee waved away penalty claims and the Rangers were frustrated as another chance had gone by. The whistle sounded and the boys came in for half time having managed the game, their emotions and their opponents with maturity and discipline.

Half Time 2-1

We talked through a couple of tactical points and praised the boys for their performance. But for one moment, the boys had controlled and dominated large parts of the first half. We counselled them on what to expect of the second half and how the shape of the team needed to be controlled in order to see them through each stage of it…

Second Half

The heavens opened and conditions deteriorated as the second half got underway. Thornton intercepted a through ball and then found Underwood in an advanced position. Underwood raced forward and then found Delport who tricked his way inside before finding LeFort. LeFort switched play and sent Graves away on the right. Graves hit a cross in from distance that the Hednesford defence did well to head clear. In truth the boys sat a little deep in the next exchanges and, in doing so, invited pressure from their opponents. Gilchrist, Graves, Joeres and Petty had to make challenges and clearances time and again as the ball was constantly launched into the Rangers’ area. Caldicott was on hand too to clear when required but the ball kept on coming and credit to Hednesford they didn’t want to go out of the trophy without a fight. Another long ball…McNerlin headed clear…the ball back in and Gilchrist got something on it to edge the ball away…into the right channel from the away side and McNerlin raced across to cover and as he closed the gap stumbled forward taking the Hednesford winger with him. It was unfortunate but ultimately the referee had no choice but to award a penalty kick. The ball was slotted into the corner of the net from the spot and the Rangers had another hurdle to overcome. 2-2 Hednesford level from the spot after forcing the Rangers back. Now, another stern test for the boys in green and Hednesford were determined to continue forcing the play by committing players forward. Thornton intercepted superbly and our No.2 relieved a bit of pressure by sending a ball in for Underwood. Our No.9 held up play but the ball squirmed free and was hoofed long into the area. Petty collected and burst into the midfield, he rode one challenge and then another but the ball had got away from him and our No.17 desperately tried to retain possession by sliding in to a challenge. The muddy conditions carried him swiftly into the opposition play…it was late…it was a yellow card…that’s what the referee issued. Credit to our boys who were shouted at and called ‘disgusting’ amongst other things by Hednesford’s raging coach as he screamed for a red card. Our players didn’t react; they kept their cool and dealt with the situation superbly. Hednesford used what they felt had been an injustice to drive themselves on and the next few minutes were sticky. They pushed players forward and loaded the Rangers’ area, Underwood reacted smartly whilst covering at wing-back to win the ball and then get it away. The ball came back and Caldicott had to dive low to smother a curled ball that looked like it would find the striker unmarked. Another ball into the Rangers’ area and this time the ball bounced perfectly for their striker who snatched at the shot and sent it wide from close range. I spoke to Justin and Jeff on the side-line and noted that the game was getting stretched with more and more numbers committed forward by the Hednesford there was room for a decisive counter if we could get the ball forward quickly enough. Hednesford launched another ball and Gilchrist headed clear before McNerlin got possession to Kelland. Kelland cut the ball inside to Adams-Moor who instantly released Delport…our No.7 was away and shaped to shoot but the last defender slid in and took him down…no penalty again! Joeres won the ball and moved it on to Smyth, Smyth found Underwood who raced down the line and pulled the ball back to Kelland. Kelland found Adams-Moor who slotted a pass in for LeFort. LeFort crossed to Kelland who had arrived unmarked and lashed a drive for goal…the keeper beaten but somehow it rose at the last and cleared the bar. The Rangers were turning the tide again now and had started to press themselves. Underwood latched onto a ball from Smyth and won the corner under pressure. Delport curled the corner in…Kelland rose and headed powerfully for goal…the defender blocked and the ball fell to Reo Grant-Parnell whose intended shot squirmed up off a defender to Adams-Moor who acrobatically sent an over head kick in on goal…the shot cleared the bar again but the game had swung the Rangers’ way and they looked like they were ready to hunt down a third goal. McNerlin won the ball and squeezed a pass through to Grant-Parnell who neatly found LeFort. LeFort found Delport who raced away down the left…Delport to Adams-Moor inside the area…Adams-Moor looped the ball up…LeFort arrived but it was behind him, with his back to goal our No.6 swivelled smartly and volleyed a fierce drive into the top corner of the net. The keeper got a touch but couldn’t prevent the goal. 3-2 Having ridden the storm the boys in green get a late goal to send the Rangers’ Army into raptures. As you would expect Hednesford threw numbers forward and crafted a last gasp chance to equalise in the process. A long cross into the area and the ball ricocheted uncomfortably around the area like a pinball infused melee…suddenly the striker had space and the goal in front of him…he took aim but Gilchrist and Caldicott both slid in, putting their bodies on the line they conspired to get a decisive interception and send the ball away for a corner. After players received treatment, the Rangers faced the corner…everyone was loaded into the box but Caldicott, and then Petty got the crucial touches to steer the ball away and out of danger. The referee blew the whistle and the boys had overcome a massive test to progress into the next round of the League Trophy.

That win was for Ben Godsell and the rest of the Godsells.

Up The Rangers!

Match details

Match date

Sun 08 Mar 2020

Kickoff

14:00

Meet time

13:00
Team overview
Further reading

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