Bramhall Rangers 3 Northern Canaries 8
Rangers made to sing like a Canary!
Rangers run of good form came to a shuddering halt last night, in the penultimate game of the season against rivals Northern Canaries. Confidence was high after recent results, and a well balanced team made the short trip to Powerleague. Belly was a willing cheerleader (nice pom-poms!), so Pie was in goal. Shiz returned with Nev and Mr T in defence. Piggy and Mini provided the attacking options with Lifey making his 3rd appearance of the season in the attacking midfield role. His last run out came in a 6-4 win over Puss in Boots. The omens seemed good at the start of the game, Nev also highlighting the fact that it was against this opposition that he scored his last goal for the Rangers, in September 2005.
And Rangers started very well indeed, quickly nipping into a 2-0 lead. Piggy got the first goal after excellent work by Nev and a great pass, soon followed by Mini getting his 28th of the season (Golden Boot here we come…wooooooooooooooo!), with a goal from an acute angle through the legs of the goalkeeper after a clever Lifey free kick.
Taking their foot of the gas, the Canaries clawed the game back level in quite quick time. Some shoddy defending and slightly suspect goal keeping left the back door open, which they duly took advantage of.
Games against the yellows are always a feisty affair (the BRFC warm up saw Shiz and Piggy kicking seven shades of pooh out of each other, which was amusing to watch!), and this game proved to be no different. Both teams were fired up with led to some strong tackles, strong running and niggling challenges. Both teams were lucky not to have a man sin-binned, Lifey for the Rangers struggling to keep his cool on a number of occasions. The game was played in with tension, the battling under pinning a respect for the opposition by both teams.
The Canaries did cope with the style of play better, and did manage to get into a comfortable lead just before half time. Rangers had a chance to get back into the game, a penalty awarded as the keeper left his area to make a save after Shiz had latched onto a Mini chest down. Lifey took responsibility for the penalty. Think Chris Waddle, think Gareth Southgate, think David Batty, think Paul Ince, think Roberto Baggio. I think you get the picture.
Heads were down at half time, as the Rangers were trailing by a couple of goals. Still in with a shout, but the aggression and passion needed to be channelled more effectively. There was no sign of a Nev goal; however, the defence as a whole were standing up tall, mopping up the loose balls which it is often said are worth a goal in themselves. Shiz was feeling the cold in his long pants (the big girls blouse!), but this was nothing compared to Lifey who it seemed had turned up in his pyjamas!
I neglect to mention Pie in the first half, however, during the second will get his fair share of coverage. Even in goals, Pie managed to suffer more injuries and falls than most. Taking a ball in the face (I think!) led to no small amount of writhing around, and a ball in the “Yvonne Goolagongs” was comical, as he let the ball trickle to the goal, ignoring cries of “Get Up! J! Get Up!”. Luckily the ball trickled wide, much to the relief of the Rangers. Later we were to learn that Pie had, in fact, not been hit in the Johnson, but the stomach, the theatrics to glean sympathy from the ref as Pie thought he had left his area. And he wonders why he gets the reputation as a diver!
This was not to be the end of the action for Pie either. Mini slotting home a rebound was followed by the second penalty of the game, this time for the Canaries. Lifey had encroached into the box and the spot kick was awarded. Protest ensued but it looked like a clear penalty. Dan, Dan the bespectacled-man, stepped up to take the kick which was superbly saved and held by Pie, diving to his right.
The main incidents throughout the rest of the half, involved Mr T being dumped on his coccyx, and Shiz being sent head over heels in a heavy challenge. Piggy was also sent sprawling by a late tackle from behind. However, Mini and Lifey had their fair share of scuffles in what was a very tough game for the ref to keep a hold on. Personally I think he did very well.
As the game came to a conclusion, both teams were flagging and as the whistle went, all players shook hands and knew they had been in a hard game. Learning to channel the aggression into effective football will be the lesson learnt from this week’s game.
Final score: Bramhall Rangers 3 Northern Canaries 8
Goals: Piggy (1), Mini (2)
*New feature*
Nev goal watch – 20 games
Rangers run of good form came to a shuddering halt last night, in the penultimate game of the season against rivals Northern Canaries. Confidence was high after recent results, and a well balanced team made the short trip to Powerleague. Belly was a willing cheerleader (nice pom-poms!), so Pie was in goal. Shiz returned with Nev and Mr T in defence. Piggy and Mini provided the attacking options with Lifey making his 3rd appearance of the season in the attacking midfield role. His last run out came in a 6-4 win over Puss in Boots. The omens seemed good at the start of the game, Nev also highlighting the fact that it was against this opposition that he scored his last goal for the Rangers, in September 2005.
And Rangers started very well indeed, quickly nipping into a 2-0 lead. Piggy got the first goal after excellent work by Nev and a great pass, soon followed by Mini getting his 28th of the season (Golden Boot here we come…wooooooooooooooo!), with a goal from an acute angle through the legs of the goalkeeper after a clever Lifey free kick.
Taking their foot of the gas, the Canaries clawed the game back level in quite quick time. Some shoddy defending and slightly suspect goal keeping left the back door open, which they duly took advantage of.
Games against the yellows are always a feisty affair (the BRFC warm up saw Shiz and Piggy kicking seven shades of pooh out of each other, which was amusing to watch!), and this game proved to be no different. Both teams were fired up with led to some strong tackles, strong running and niggling challenges. Both teams were lucky not to have a man sin-binned, Lifey for the Rangers struggling to keep his cool on a number of occasions. The game was played in with tension, the battling under pinning a respect for the opposition by both teams.
The Canaries did cope with the style of play better, and did manage to get into a comfortable lead just before half time. Rangers had a chance to get back into the game, a penalty awarded as the keeper left his area to make a save after Shiz had latched onto a Mini chest down. Lifey took responsibility for the penalty. Think Chris Waddle, think Gareth Southgate, think David Batty, think Paul Ince, think Roberto Baggio. I think you get the picture.
Heads were down at half time, as the Rangers were trailing by a couple of goals. Still in with a shout, but the aggression and passion needed to be channelled more effectively. There was no sign of a Nev goal; however, the defence as a whole were standing up tall, mopping up the loose balls which it is often said are worth a goal in themselves. Shiz was feeling the cold in his long pants (the big girls blouse!), but this was nothing compared to Lifey who it seemed had turned up in his pyjamas!
I neglect to mention Pie in the first half, however, during the second will get his fair share of coverage. Even in goals, Pie managed to suffer more injuries and falls than most. Taking a ball in the face (I think!) led to no small amount of writhing around, and a ball in the “Yvonne Goolagongs” was comical, as he let the ball trickle to the goal, ignoring cries of “Get Up! J! Get Up!”. Luckily the ball trickled wide, much to the relief of the Rangers. Later we were to learn that Pie had, in fact, not been hit in the Johnson, but the stomach, the theatrics to glean sympathy from the ref as Pie thought he had left his area. And he wonders why he gets the reputation as a diver!
This was not to be the end of the action for Pie either. Mini slotting home a rebound was followed by the second penalty of the game, this time for the Canaries. Lifey had encroached into the box and the spot kick was awarded. Protest ensued but it looked like a clear penalty. Dan, Dan the bespectacled-man, stepped up to take the kick which was superbly saved and held by Pie, diving to his right.
The main incidents throughout the rest of the half, involved Mr T being dumped on his coccyx, and Shiz being sent head over heels in a heavy challenge. Piggy was also sent sprawling by a late tackle from behind. However, Mini and Lifey had their fair share of scuffles in what was a very tough game for the ref to keep a hold on. Personally I think he did very well.
As the game came to a conclusion, both teams were flagging and as the whistle went, all players shook hands and knew they had been in a hard game. Learning to channel the aggression into effective football will be the lesson learnt from this week’s game.
Final score: Bramhall Rangers 3 Northern Canaries 8
Goals: Piggy (1), Mini (2)
*New feature*
Nev goal watch – 20 games
posted by Mini at 2:18 pm
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