SPORTSCO FC RANGERS 0-5 MERE GREEN RANGERS
(G) DELPORT (A) LEFORT
(G) GRAVES (A) HOPE
(G) LEFORT
(G) PETTY (A) HOPE
(G) THORNTON (A) HOPE
"For me it was very spiritual to be honest." – Tony Adams
What a difference a week makes…immediately after the defeat to Chase Colts last week we all were left dejected by the tone and manner in which we lost. Defeats are part of the game and you have to know how to lose, we can take defeat but we all just felt that everyone fell short and that’s what hurt. We took a risk in training and after continuing to drill passing and possession we mixed things up and had a couple of fun competitions to get the boys smiling and laughing with each other. It was good to see everyone enjoying themselves and the thought that this would banish any leftover negativity was foremost in our thinking. Thanks to Dean and Rob at Sportsco FC Rangers for organising the fixture today. They are both gentlemen and coach their boys in the same manner as us. Our injury list steadily grew through the week and after we lost Tom Smyth we were further rocked by the news that Ben Underwood would be out for some time with a fractured wrist and Max Petty had a re-occurrence of a tendon injury and was a major doubt. We had played a pre-season friendly against today’s opponents and had recorded a confident and steady result, but with our injuries we had to be cautious and make sure that the players didn’t take to the pitch with any lack of concentration…
First Half
The boys in green kicked off and immediately settled into a positive rhythm of passing. Luke Joeres collected a pass from Ollie Adams-Moor and the Rangers’ No.5 slotted a lovely ball in behind for Ryan Delport to latch onto. Delport raced away from his marker and drove an early shot low across goal. The keeper was beaten but the ball flashed just wide of the far upright. George LeFort busied himself in midfield and slipped a lovely ball out to George Hope on the right. Hope cut inside and whipped a cross in low. Sonny Kelland collected and drove a low shot for the bottom corner but the keeper was down low smartly to save the goal-bound effort. Jack McNerlin won a bruising aerial battle and calmly rolled the second ball out to Hope who set off again in the right channel. Our No.8 clipped a pass inside for George Graves who controlled well and then drove a fierce shot on target, again the keeper acted quickly but it had been a positive start to the game for the boys in peppermint green. A long ball over the top threatened but Darren Gilchrist showed excellent composure to get his body in the way and then calmly dispatch a pass back to Theo Caldicott in goal. Caldicott spotted Delport in space and sprayed an inch perfect ball in behind the full back for Delport to sprint on to. Delport sent a low ball in and the recovering defender blocked in concession of a corner. Kelland curled a lovely ball into the box…challenges flew in all directions…Delport arrived at the back post and volleyed a lovely controlled ball to the back post but somehow no Ranger could get a connection and the ball spun away and out of danger. Joeres won a defensive challenge and played a neat pass in for Ben Godsell who used his strength to see off a challenge before finding Adams-Moor, our No.21 returned the pass to and advancing Joeres who was now closing in on the edge of the box. He twisted and turned before clipping a pass in for LeFort. Our skipper smashed a bullet of a drive on goal, the keeper was beaten but the ball rose at the last and flew just over the bar. Dominance had been the key word but the Rangers were struggling to convert their chances and there is always a concern in this type of situation that something unfortunate could happen at the other end and your left wondering what happened. Sportsco pressed and tried to get the ball down the channels. After good work on their left a dangerous looking ball was swung in and Joeres had to act quickly to divert the ball away for a corner. A whipped cross flew into the Rangers’ area and McNerlin rose highest to head clear…the ball was pumped back in and Gilchrist leapt to head away…the ball came back in and Adams-Moor blocked…a shot from the edge of the box and Caldicott got down low to smother and end the momentary danger. Caldicott sent the ball out wide and Graves chased it down before sending a ball in to LeFort, LeFort slotted Kelland in…our No.10 battled with all he had to ease his way ahead of the big centre back and onto the ball…with defenders converging he snatched a half volley that looked like it was heading for the bottom corner until the keeper stretched and got a hand on it to save superbly. Sportsco came again and Godsell did superbly to hold up play, our No.3 courageously battled on the ground and edged the ball out to LeFort. Bodies started to fly in and when a Sportsco player went down the referee signalled for a free kick on the edge of the Rangers’ area. Caldicott lined up his wall and then took up position on his line…the ball was struck fiercely and was heading for the top corner until our No.1 shot out his hands to parry the ball over the bar. From the corner McNerlin headed clear to Adams-Moor who neatly found LeFort. The Rangers’ No.6 in turn found Kelland who spotted Joeres racing through on goal. Our No.10 timed his pass superbly and Joeres was clean through…the keeper came out and our No.5 flashed his shot wide of the upright. Godsell won possession and slotted a lateral ball out to Gilchrist who rode a challenge and then found LeFort. LeFort curled a lovely ball in for Delport who was now one-on-one with the keeper. The Sportsco No.1 was off his line like lightning and as our No.7 looked to chip him he stretched up and plucked the effort out of the air to deny the lead. Hope collected a pass from Caldicott and raced down the line before clipping a lovely curled pass in for Graves. Our No.18 controlled well before finding Kelland…Kelland found LeFort with a through pass and our No.6 was clean through on goal. LeFort drove a shot low but the speedy keeper somehow blocked with an outstretched foot to prevent the lead once more. Caldicott collected a Gilchrist back pass and immediately spotted Adams-Moor in space. Adams-Moor played in Joeres who hit a first time pass in for Delport. Our No.7 beat his man before curling a lovely effort for the far corner but it wouldn’t bend enough and it once again flashed wide. Credit to the boys for continuing to play their football, the cry from the touchline was ‘it’s coming…keep playing your football…it’s coming’. Godsell won the ball and gave it to Hope on the right. Our No.8 found Kelland who eased the ball on to LeFort. LeFort looked up and curled a dangerous ball into the area. The pass evaded all defenders and arrived perfectly for Delport who took a touch before dispatching a low thundering finish into the bottom corner of the goal. 0-1 The Rangers celebrate as their overall dominance finally pays off just before half time. McNerlin headed superbly from the restart and Adams-Moor collected the ball before slotting a lovely pass in for Delport. Delport curled a neat ball in…Kelland and Graves converged but the keeper bravely flew in to collect and end the chance. Gilchrist showed his composure again by deceiving his marker and turning in tight space to find Godsell. Our No.3 turned and played in Adams-Moor. Adams-Moor found Kelland…Kelland rolled a lovely through ball in for Graves who took the ball wide before clipping it back over…the keeper came and caught but then spilled…Delport nearly sneaked the ball under him but the keeper smothered as the half came to a close.
Half Time 0-1
The sun was playing a part and you could see the effort etched across the faces of the Rangers as they came in at half time. The message was simple…’Keep playing on the deck…keep passing and moving and the chances will continue to come.’ There were one or two slight technical things to go over which we addressed before sending the boys out for the second half with the message to try and get an early second goal…
Second Half
Gilchrist won the ball and played a pass in for McNerlin. Our No.30 then slotted a neat pass into the channel for Graves to chase down. Graves cut the ball back to Hope who had arrived in support. Hope drew his man and then rolled the ball in behind the back line for Graves to continue his run. Our No.18 steadied himself before smashing a wonderful drive into the far corner of the net past a prostrate keeper. 0-2 Perfect start to the second half as the Rangers impose themselves early. Delport raced onto a pass from Caldicott and travelled forward before whipping in a low cross. The keeper collected but Kelland closed down quickly…the keeper half cleared under the pressure and the ball arrived at LeFort’s feet. The Rangers’ No.6 skilfully beat two defenders before lashing in a superb driven shot that powerfully bulged the net and increased the Rangers’ lead 0-3 Two quick fire goals send the Rangers’ Army into a frenzy as the boys put daylight between themselves and their hosts. It was now a matter of how disciplined the boys could be, losing shape can be the result of over confidence and the boys needed to keep playing their football and sticking to their roles in order to retain their dominance. Sportsco mustered a reaction but the boys stood strong to repel any danger. A neat piece of play saw a through ball travel into space and with two good passes the Sportsco striker was clean through. Gilchrist recovered quickly and Caldicott was off his line like lightning to make himself as big as possible and close the angle…the resulting shot rolled wide and the Rangers escaped a concession. Hope collected the ball from Caldicott before advancing at pace. Hope found Luca Thornton who slotted a ball in for Kelland. Kelland returned the ball to Hope who now danced into the area before shooting for goal…the keeper saved well but the ball came back to our No.8 who looped a second shot in…the keeper stretched and pulled the ball down to safety as the chance fell away. McNerlin won yet another header and found Hope on the right again. Hope raced through again before slotting in to Graves…Graves back to Hope…Hope pull back to Graves…Graves unleashes a thunderbolt…surely a goal…no…off the bar and away…so unlucky for the Rangers! Kelland won the ball and found Thornton, our No.2 played a lovely curled pass in for Graves who in turn found Hope. Our No.8 smashed the ball towards goal but the keeper blocked superbly and the ball was cleared by the last defender. Sportsco pressed again and some neat play on the counter saw them with an overload…Gilchrist and McNerlin threw their bodies in…Joeres and Caldicott did likewise but the Sportsco striker did superbly to send the ball towards the Rangers’ goal…a Sportsco player was waiting to tap in but from nowhere Godsell arrived and with a dramatic dive blocked the ball on the line and prevented the goal…Joeres hacked the loose ball away and the Rangers survived concession once more. Stunning goal-line clearance from our No.3! From the corner Gilchrist headed away and Kelland broke in the middle of the park. Our No.10 curled a ball in behind the defensive line for Delport to latch onto. Delport whipped a cross over but the last defender had done superbly to block…Thornton arrived and drove a shot on goal but the ball was blocked again and the Rangers were thwarted again. Adams-Moor collected a pass from Gilchrist and slotted a pass in for LeFort. LeFort switched a pass out to Hope who beat his man at pace before whipping in a fierce drive. Max Petty arrived at the back post and side-footed powerfully into the roof of net to send the Rangers further ahead. 0-4 The Rangers increase their lead once more after a lightning break and efficient play. Petty raced onto a long ball from Caldicott and then won a throw in off the last defender. McNerlin launched the ball in to Adams-Moor. Our No.21 cut the ball inside for Kelland who fed a pass in for Hope, Hope smashed a shot in again but the keeper sent it away for a corner. Kelland curled the ball over…the ball dropped to Thornton who looked to score but saw his effort spin away. Our No.2 has played over 135 times for the team, I turned to Justin and Jeff on the side-line and uttered the words ‘I would just love Luca to get a goal’. Joeres intercepted an intended through ball and then found Petty on the left. Our No.17 found Kelland who laid off a pass for Godsell, Godsell found LeFort who sent another ball into the channel for Hope. Hope cut inside and sent a low driven cross in that the defender diverted away for another corner. Kelland whipped in another perfect corner…Hope flicked for goal at the near post…the keeper touched it away but Thornton arrived at the back post to coolly slot in a side foot finish into the corner of the net. 0-5 Queue the scenes as every player…keeper, subs…everyone launched the celebrations around their team-mate…there were tears on the side-lines in the Rangers’ Army ranks as a true club man scored his first goal for the team and got to celebrate in style. That was more or less the last kick of the game and the boys had come through in style to defeat a difficult opponent in style.
All our thoughts are with Ben Underwood for a speedy recovery, Ben made the trip to join us today as too did Reo Grant-Parnell. The celebrations for Luca’s goal were testament to the spirit that we have in the Rangers’ set up and the special relationship they all have.
Thanks to the Rangers’ Army again for all the support, very much appreciated. Onwards and upwards.
Up The Rangers!