Bramhall Rangers 4 Northern Canaries 9
"I'm going to make a prediction - it could go either way." - Ron Atkinson
After two pretty appalling weeks of football from the Rangers, there was determination to improve performances and earn some respectability. Unconcerned about the result too much, the focus this week was on trying to put right the wrongs and work on communication, passing and control and finishing.
Northern Canaries were the opposition, and they had also struggled this season with mixed results. Usually a feisty affair, it was the first time in a long while that BRFC could field a team purely of original Rangers. Mr T, who started for the Rangers many seasons ago in goal, took up that position. Outfield, Mini, Pie, Shiz, Nev and Rascle were present as was Piggy who had a point to prove after sitting out the previous week’s game. Would it have the Van Nistelrooy effect?
The warm up (often a good indication as to the mindset of the Rangers) was a more structured affair with passing and communication the theme. Rangers started the game well too, the determination clear to see with early battling getting the Canaries rattled. Mini opened the scoring, keeping up his remarkable record of finding the net in each of his last 13 outfield games. At the other end Mr T was called in to action on a number of occasions and was equal to the task.
The first half proved to be a topsy turvey game, with the ball pinging around the pitch. Both teams’ struggled to get a stranglehold on the game, and the Rangers were showing much more in defence and attack than previous weeks. Nev, suffering from a list of injuries and ailments was solid at the back doing the simple things. Rascle, fitness improving each week showed Shiz-like determination tracking back and Pie was holding the ball up and moving well down the flanks. Mini tried to create openings for himself and others playing alongside Piggy who was looking to improve on his disappointing tally for the season.
Half time came and the Canaries had edged just ahead. A couple of good finishes after Rangers had lapsed into old habits such as not tracking the one-twos or closing down the men were their undoing. Mini grabbed a second before the whistle, firing into the roof of the net after shrugging off a defender.
Content with the first half display, the Rangers needed more in the final third of the pitch. With this in mind they pushed up at the start of the second half and tried to force the issue. Mini struck the crossbar with a fizzing effort and Piggy fired wide. Mini also, failed to finish after an intelligent free kick from Pie. In attempting to push on, Rangers were exposed at the back and the yellows grabbed a couple of goals to get a comfortable lead. Straight from a restart though, the Rangers were thrown a lifeline by a piece of individual brilliance. The kick-off laid back was hit first time, right footed by Rascle from midway inside his half. It travelled at speed, always curling away from the keeper and rippled the back of the net. An absolute “humdinger”, which Hedderz would have been proud of! It was his first goal of the campaign and was one to savour.
The game didn’t have as much bite as previous encounters and was quite a mild affair. Only a couple of poor tackles were of note but nothing to get the blood boiling. One of these free kicks allowed Shiz to get his third of the season, only two behind Piggy. The ball found its way through to Shiz from a Mini free kick and he scored with ease from a tight angle.
For the Rangers, that was the last play of note, and the game ended without much incident. Mr T had been cat-like and left with his spuds in tact, and compared to last week Rangers could be reasonably satisfied with their performance. There is still much more to be done though, as Rangers look to improve on third bottom. A third new team, Omatha have joined the league and were defeated in their first game against The Griswald’s, so sit below Rangers. CUT were beaten again but seemed to put in an improved performance losing 11-15 to Monkhouse Gladbach. Rangers will be looking over their shoulders going into the second half of the season.
Remember, keep thinking about who you think deserves what awards this season, and pencil Friday 26 May 2006 - BRFC Awards Ceremony Spring Season into your diaries.
Final score: Bramhall Rangers 4 Northern Canaries 9
Goals: Mini (2), Rascle (1), Shiz (1)
Nev goal watch – 20
Pie goal watch – 10
* During the game, if in a challenge/passage of play, the bespectacled chap’s spectacles fall off his bespectacled head, don’t bend down and help him get them. Let him pick up his own freakin’ spectacles!
After two pretty appalling weeks of football from the Rangers, there was determination to improve performances and earn some respectability. Unconcerned about the result too much, the focus this week was on trying to put right the wrongs and work on communication, passing and control and finishing.
Northern Canaries were the opposition, and they had also struggled this season with mixed results. Usually a feisty affair, it was the first time in a long while that BRFC could field a team purely of original Rangers. Mr T, who started for the Rangers many seasons ago in goal, took up that position. Outfield, Mini, Pie, Shiz, Nev and Rascle were present as was Piggy who had a point to prove after sitting out the previous week’s game. Would it have the Van Nistelrooy effect?
The warm up (often a good indication as to the mindset of the Rangers) was a more structured affair with passing and communication the theme. Rangers started the game well too, the determination clear to see with early battling getting the Canaries rattled. Mini opened the scoring, keeping up his remarkable record of finding the net in each of his last 13 outfield games. At the other end Mr T was called in to action on a number of occasions and was equal to the task.
The first half proved to be a topsy turvey game, with the ball pinging around the pitch. Both teams’ struggled to get a stranglehold on the game, and the Rangers were showing much more in defence and attack than previous weeks. Nev, suffering from a list of injuries and ailments was solid at the back doing the simple things. Rascle, fitness improving each week showed Shiz-like determination tracking back and Pie was holding the ball up and moving well down the flanks. Mini tried to create openings for himself and others playing alongside Piggy who was looking to improve on his disappointing tally for the season.
Half time came and the Canaries had edged just ahead. A couple of good finishes after Rangers had lapsed into old habits such as not tracking the one-twos or closing down the men were their undoing. Mini grabbed a second before the whistle, firing into the roof of the net after shrugging off a defender.
Content with the first half display, the Rangers needed more in the final third of the pitch. With this in mind they pushed up at the start of the second half and tried to force the issue. Mini struck the crossbar with a fizzing effort and Piggy fired wide. Mini also, failed to finish after an intelligent free kick from Pie. In attempting to push on, Rangers were exposed at the back and the yellows grabbed a couple of goals to get a comfortable lead. Straight from a restart though, the Rangers were thrown a lifeline by a piece of individual brilliance. The kick-off laid back was hit first time, right footed by Rascle from midway inside his half. It travelled at speed, always curling away from the keeper and rippled the back of the net. An absolute “humdinger”, which Hedderz would have been proud of! It was his first goal of the campaign and was one to savour.
The game didn’t have as much bite as previous encounters and was quite a mild affair. Only a couple of poor tackles were of note but nothing to get the blood boiling. One of these free kicks allowed Shiz to get his third of the season, only two behind Piggy. The ball found its way through to Shiz from a Mini free kick and he scored with ease from a tight angle.
For the Rangers, that was the last play of note, and the game ended without much incident. Mr T had been cat-like and left with his spuds in tact, and compared to last week Rangers could be reasonably satisfied with their performance. There is still much more to be done though, as Rangers look to improve on third bottom. A third new team, Omatha have joined the league and were defeated in their first game against The Griswald’s, so sit below Rangers. CUT were beaten again but seemed to put in an improved performance losing 11-15 to Monkhouse Gladbach. Rangers will be looking over their shoulders going into the second half of the season.
Remember, keep thinking about who you think deserves what awards this season, and pencil Friday 26 May 2006 - BRFC Awards Ceremony Spring Season into your diaries.
Final score: Bramhall Rangers 4 Northern Canaries 9
Goals: Mini (2), Rascle (1), Shiz (1)
Nev goal watch – 20
Pie goal watch – 10
* During the game, if in a challenge/passage of play, the bespectacled chap’s spectacles fall off his bespectacled head, don’t bend down and help him get them. Let him pick up his own freakin’ spectacles!
posted by Mini at 9:59 am
2 Comments:
Glad to see a better performance last night. Makes football much more enjoyable. Obviously there are still things to work on, but still...
As for myself, well I didn't feel I was particularly good last night, especially attackwise. Two reasons - 1) I hate playing in wet conditions, and 2) I really don't have any confidence with the ball at my feet at the moment, so my passing, control and shooting is even poorer than usual. I think I need a goal just to get the confidence up again...
One easy area of improvement from last nights match is marking of there last man back from goalkeeper throwouts. Time and time again (and I'm sorry to be specific) Piggy (though others contributed every now and then) was metres away from this man. This meant the defender had time to control it, look up and see the lay of the land, have a think, and make the pass. This certainly is not playing to individual strengths. If you don't have the best skill at tackling, why make the man your "marking" very attractive to receive the ball? Also, there is NO chance to intercept a ball that is rolled all of 1 metre, so we as a team have just given up an opportunity to win the ball easily. You can contribute a lot in defence without actually tackling. In the same way that when I'm on the attack and I make runs to awful positions, but importantly, drag one of there players with me to create more space for attackers, I expect others do there bit and sacrifice themselves on the defence by making sure the opposition doesn't have an easy throw out.
Lets make sure we improve on this next week
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