Bramhall Rangers

Thursday, June 30, 2005

Northern Canaries 9 Rangers 6

Wednesday night isn’t Rangers night!

A change of days didn’t lead to a change in fortunes for Bramhall Rangers, facing up to a fellow mid-table team Northern Canaries. The game had to be switched as neither team could get the players together for an early Thursday KO.

Even on the Wednesday numbers were sparse. NC had just 5, and the Rangers were made up to 5 with the return of Mr T and Piggy. The other players included Mini, Dr H and Belly. Shiz and Pie missed their final game, Hedderz was packing for his big move and Rascle was conspicuous in his absence, pulling out at the last.

Thankfully it was cooler at 7.30, and despite the lack of rotation both sides did OK. It was a slow game but yielded the same score as the week previous, 9-6 in the favour of the opposition. NC started the brightest, quickly nipping into a 3-goal lead. Rangers found their feet soon enough though, Piggy slotting home to give the score line some parity after Dr H had found him off the boards.

The bespectacled number 6 was his usual cheating self, with blatant pushes and trips, and shameless handballs. Half time came round and it finished quite even, 5-3 IIRC, Mini and Dr H picking up a couple more for the Rangers. The Rangers had conserved energy quite well it seemed as no one seemed that pooped at HT.

The usual second half collapse set in and NC cemented their lead after taking on 2 more easy goals. It was difficult to keep track of when the goals went in but safe to say Rangers only managed 3 more in the half. Piggy side footed into an open goal after Mini squared it across the box. This came after Piggy missed another open goal (again after Mini squared it across the area!) when it looked harder to miss. Shades of Kanu!! That was the story of the game really, not clinical enough in front of goal.

As ever, it was a great moment when Mr T popped up to knock in a goal. A couple of successive free kicks (probably given away by bespectacled man!) meant the Rangers could edge toward goal. Dr H took a quick one after Mr T had been felled and it was the tenacious fighter who connected well with a right boot to guide it into the bottom corner. It is always a great moment when Mr T gets a goal and you can tell how much it meant to him!

(Also, this one of very few games where every outfield player scored!)

The game finished and although not a crushing defeat, the Rangers were slightly disconsolate as games against NC are ones they need to start winning to make that step up to the next level.

Yes, Rangers only had 5, but so did the opponents. Next week though will see the return of Pie and Shiz who will hopefully be chomping at the bit!

Final score:
Northern Canaries 9 Rangers 6

Goals: Dr H (2), Piggy (2), Mini (1), Mr. T (1).

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

New Blog

Seeing that I will be moving away I thought I would start a blog.

Hedderz Blog!

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Is rice a vegetable?

We are split over here in Scandinavia. Basically Shiz claims having rice fulfills one portion of his daily "5 portions of fruit and veg" requirement.
I claim rice is not a vegatable.

Please discuss, both here and at the pub on Monday, and post back your answers.

Ta ta for now.

Friday, June 24, 2005

East Didsbury 9 Rangers 6

Hot! Hot! Hot!

This week’s game saw depleted Rangers facing the league’s top club East Didsbury in under the sweltering sun of a 6.30 KO. Ranger’s numbers were low, with Pie and Shiz AWOL due to a dispute over contracts, and Piggy with family matters to deal with. The Fist was also absent as he struggles to make the earlier KO’s.

Fortunately, the two injury worries from the previous week Rascle and Hedderz had recovered and made the squad, as did a colleague of Hedderz, Dom who was drafted in.

Rangers had faired quite well previously against ED, pushing them all the way before losing 9-5 and the general consensus was to give them another close game and push them all the way, which was going to be tough in the heat (25c+).

As usual Rangers got off to a flyer, quickly nipping into a 2-0 lead and actually looking quite comfortable. IIRC it was Dr H (making a comeback) side footing home and Mini with an opportunist’s goal. Rangers were coping quite well with the heat and movement of the ED players, and linked up well in the attacking half.

Ed did pick up a couple of goals as the Rangers tired toward the end of the half, but could only manage 2. Rangers also picked up a couple more, with Dom finishing superbly from a tight angle and Mini rifling in his second of the game.

Half time was time to regroup, take on board the weather and get the air in as typically it was the start of the 2nd half in which the Rangers are most vulnerable, and par for the course this was no different. 3-4 early goals pegged back Rangers and Ed quickly got a cushion, running away to a 7-4 lead without much response. Legs were lagging and the heat wasn’t relenting.

Rangers found heart late in the game and actually finished strong though, scoring the last two goals of the game. Mini slotted home another after good battling all round, and Dr H scrambled home his second of the game.

All in all Rangers could be proud of their performance. In the circumstances they did well, pushing ED all the way. They congratulated us on our performance and said they enjoyed playing us because they always get a good hard game. Dom was a welcome addition to the team, his stamina and drive second to none and a good finish to boot. Rascle did himself proud, playing through the pain and probably losing half his body weight in sweat. Hedderz failed to find the net but also, contributed with power and drive. Mini found his scoring touch and pulled further away in the golden boot. Dr H provided another outlet with his quick feet and tidy finishing and finally Belly coped well with the sun and pulled off some great saves.

All in all a good, hard game from which the Rangers can take many positives.

Final score: Rangers 6 East Didsbury 9

Goals: Mini (3), Dr H (2), Dom (1)

Friday, June 17, 2005

Slim Jims 10 Rangers 5

Old Rivals Clash!!

A hard fought game, with two passionate teams ended in defeat for the Rangers against their old enemies. Rangers had a depleted squad, with injury victims Hedderz and Rascle not making the journey to Powerleague. There was however, encouraging news, with Mr T making a long awaited comeback, and we could all see he was eager!!

A strong ref was needed for this and we were fortunate to get a decent one, who let the game flow and was quick to warn players about their strong arm tactics.

Rangers, as usual started the game brightly, rushing into a 2-0 lead with goals from Shiz and Mini. Then as usual the Rangers started to get overconfident and weary, especially with only the one sub.

Slim Jims fought back, and finished for half time at 4-3 to the Jims. Rangers had reason to be happy though as they had caused the leagues second team many problems. The second half saw the Slim Jims extend their lead in a mad few minutes for Rangers with poor defending and failing to keep the ball. Belly just couldn’t withstand the onslaught and Rangers conceded several sloppy goals. Shiz was unfortunate to conceded a pen after momentum carried him into the area, and Belly’s Dudek legs failed him!!

A 10 minute spell saw J dumped on his ass 3-4 times and which was the only sore point of a hotly but fairly contested game. For the most the Rangers gave as good as they got. Piggy can now enter the injury hall of fame, with the broken wrist, rib, toe and calf as he was caught by a flying head butt (his words) which led to a ferocious nosebleed! This forced the Rangers to finish the last 10 mins with no subs. Rangers did gain a couple more consolation goals, Shiz climbing the scoring charts with his second of the game and Mini evening out the pen count, slotting in the corner after a SJ player had encroached.

All in all, a much more enjoyable game than previous encounters with the Jims, and one that under the circumstances the Rangers can be proud of.

Final score - Slim Jims 10 Rangers 5.

Goals: Shiz - 2, Mini – 3(1pen)

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Look-A-Likes 4

Now this one may be controversial, but until I get a complaint it shall remain...

Did Anton survive the Final Solution?

Concentration camp victim? Anton?

Look-A-Likes 3

Belly, thats poor.

Here's another that has been discussed in the past.

Is Belly really Mateja Kezman?

Kezman? Belly?

Look-a-likes Part 2

Daniel Stern (actor from Home Alone) or Rascle McPherson?


Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Look-a-likes

Whilst at the U2 concert, we were confronted by a strange Asian man who kept blabbering on, very strange.

However one thing he did say that was very amusing was that Mini-Man looks like Jerzy Dudek.

Does he? You decide...

Jerzy? Mini?

Friday, June 10, 2005

Bramhall Rangers 11 Cheadle Utd 3

Good game yesterday lads. Very pleasing. Much better all over the pitch.

Goals from me (2), Justin (2), Piggy (1 or 2?), Mini (4 or 5?) and own goal (1).

I think one goal of Cheadle's was me fault, one was defo Piggy's. Can't remember the other one though.

Any comments?