Bramhall Rangers 5 Puss in Boots 14
A tale of two halves.
Rangers prepared for this game in a buoyant mood after a comfortable victory last Thursday. Guarding against complacency they managed to field a strong team this time round, certainly in terms of numbers. Pie took the goalkeeper gloves for the second time this season, Nev and Piggy restored to outfield positions. Shiz and Shepwad (Stu) both made appearances, as did Mini. The main change from the previous week was that Lifey dropped out to be replaced by Rascle for his second game of the spring season. The team was slightly heavy defensively, but strangely it was the defending (not necessarily defence) that fell foul this game. Puss in Boots (consistently inconsistent) had a squad of seven, and were looking for their first official win of the season.
The first half was a very balanced and even encounter, and if either team started brightest it was the Rangers. The initial sparring led to a couple of opportunities, but both teams and keepers were equal to the task. After five minutes or so the game opened up a bit. Mini, given time and space on the ball advanced over the halfway point. With no challenge coming he thrashed home a right footer, which swerved and dipped past the keeper.
Further opportunities were created (struggling to remember the order of goals) and Mini was able to double his tally. An excellent one-two with Shiz (works like a charm) saw a very difficult chance finished nicely by Mini. The ball moving across his body Mini hit it first time, left footed and it beat the keeper all ends up. Much of the plaudits to Shiz for the link up play. Puss in Boots found themselves back in the game, party due to a moment to forget for Pie in nets. A long distance effort seemed to elude him as he threw himself around the area, the ball mysteriously sneaking through his body. Nervous glances were exchanged as Jeremy Beadle was half expected to jump out from behind the hoardings!
At half time, the Rangers could be happy with their work. Rascle was showing improved fitness and power, and Nev was the usual consistent defender he has been. Shiz’s energy created chances for Piggy whose shooting boots must have been discarded with the tasty snacks. Mini completed a quick fire hat trick after a great pass from Shepwad, and seemed to rediscover the finishing that has somewhat eluded him in previous seasons.
The half time whistle, whilst a blessing in terms or being able to regroup and reenergise, is also a very nervy moment for the Rangers. There is an air of resignation that their will be a collapse of some sort, be it a panicky 5 minutes or a full scale capitulation. Horribly it proved to be the latter. 4-3 down was a decent position to be in, but in truth the Rangers never threatened to improve on that.
Some horror defending was at fault for certainly a handful of goals. Failure to play the simple pass, track the runners and clear the lines were schoolboy errors. Undone by one twos (which had worked so well in Rangers favour in the first) was a frustrating element of the game. Mini gave the game some parity by bagging two more. This took his Powerleague total to 106 goals for the Rangers. Rascle was unlucky when stretching for a through ball, and Piggy hit the woodwork a couple of times.
The whole direction of the game was transformed in a “crazy two minutes” as Shepwad described it up. Puss in Boots had scored, and Rangers settled into position to restart the game. Shepwad played a pass to the edge of the area where he hoped Nev would control and start the attack. A break down in communication led to Nev leaving the ball for Pie to collect in the area. Pie, not really aware of the situation, was not expecting the pass and the ball nestled in the bottom corner of his goal without a touch. His dive was late and of no use. It truly was one of “aunties sporting bloomers”.
A gloom descended over pitch 4, and was not to lift. From the resulting centre, Piggy (as is his will) ran and hurdled the ball on the centre spot, barely back healing it to Shepwad without any communication, and continued sprinting up the pitch. Shepwad, puzzled by this crazy play assumed Piggy was joking around or subbing and casually played the ball back to the centre. It was picked up by the PIB attacker who waltzed up field a scored the third goal in the space of about two minutes. From this point on the game descended into farce. Heads dropped and the Rangers players longed for the whistle. Nev and Pie exchanged places in nets, after another PIB goal, and lack of awareness led to the game kicking off with Nev struggling to put his gloves on. Another clip for Dennis Norden’s, “It’ll be alright on the Night” was seen when Nev struggled to deal with a back pass. The ball slipped through his legs and with limbs flailing he dragged the ball clear, only to get his foot tangled in the netting! It was like Noel Edmonds had achieved a team Gotcha!
Pie showed great enthusiasm for the brief period he was on and created a great chance for Shepwad when he could have shot himself. Rascle and Shiz gave 100% to the end, but things outside their control were the undoing of the defence.
In truth it was one of the most sorry second half displays from the Rangers we have seen. Spectators Belly and Charlotte could not believe their eyes. Disappointment was again expressed at certain members of the team putting others under pressure by dilly dallying on the ball, and in the end it was another harsh lesson, but I doubt the Rangers (or certain players) will learn from it.
Final score – Bramhall Rangers 5 Puss in Boots 14
Goals – Mini (5)
Nev goal watch – 18
NB – See below for details of BRFC Awards Spring 2006.
Rangers prepared for this game in a buoyant mood after a comfortable victory last Thursday. Guarding against complacency they managed to field a strong team this time round, certainly in terms of numbers. Pie took the goalkeeper gloves for the second time this season, Nev and Piggy restored to outfield positions. Shiz and Shepwad (Stu) both made appearances, as did Mini. The main change from the previous week was that Lifey dropped out to be replaced by Rascle for his second game of the spring season. The team was slightly heavy defensively, but strangely it was the defending (not necessarily defence) that fell foul this game. Puss in Boots (consistently inconsistent) had a squad of seven, and were looking for their first official win of the season.
The first half was a very balanced and even encounter, and if either team started brightest it was the Rangers. The initial sparring led to a couple of opportunities, but both teams and keepers were equal to the task. After five minutes or so the game opened up a bit. Mini, given time and space on the ball advanced over the halfway point. With no challenge coming he thrashed home a right footer, which swerved and dipped past the keeper.
Further opportunities were created (struggling to remember the order of goals) and Mini was able to double his tally. An excellent one-two with Shiz (works like a charm) saw a very difficult chance finished nicely by Mini. The ball moving across his body Mini hit it first time, left footed and it beat the keeper all ends up. Much of the plaudits to Shiz for the link up play. Puss in Boots found themselves back in the game, party due to a moment to forget for Pie in nets. A long distance effort seemed to elude him as he threw himself around the area, the ball mysteriously sneaking through his body. Nervous glances were exchanged as Jeremy Beadle was half expected to jump out from behind the hoardings!
At half time, the Rangers could be happy with their work. Rascle was showing improved fitness and power, and Nev was the usual consistent defender he has been. Shiz’s energy created chances for Piggy whose shooting boots must have been discarded with the tasty snacks. Mini completed a quick fire hat trick after a great pass from Shepwad, and seemed to rediscover the finishing that has somewhat eluded him in previous seasons.
The half time whistle, whilst a blessing in terms or being able to regroup and reenergise, is also a very nervy moment for the Rangers. There is an air of resignation that their will be a collapse of some sort, be it a panicky 5 minutes or a full scale capitulation. Horribly it proved to be the latter. 4-3 down was a decent position to be in, but in truth the Rangers never threatened to improve on that.
Some horror defending was at fault for certainly a handful of goals. Failure to play the simple pass, track the runners and clear the lines were schoolboy errors. Undone by one twos (which had worked so well in Rangers favour in the first) was a frustrating element of the game. Mini gave the game some parity by bagging two more. This took his Powerleague total to 106 goals for the Rangers. Rascle was unlucky when stretching for a through ball, and Piggy hit the woodwork a couple of times.
The whole direction of the game was transformed in a “crazy two minutes” as Shepwad described it up. Puss in Boots had scored, and Rangers settled into position to restart the game. Shepwad played a pass to the edge of the area where he hoped Nev would control and start the attack. A break down in communication led to Nev leaving the ball for Pie to collect in the area. Pie, not really aware of the situation, was not expecting the pass and the ball nestled in the bottom corner of his goal without a touch. His dive was late and of no use. It truly was one of “aunties sporting bloomers”.
A gloom descended over pitch 4, and was not to lift. From the resulting centre, Piggy (as is his will) ran and hurdled the ball on the centre spot, barely back healing it to Shepwad without any communication, and continued sprinting up the pitch. Shepwad, puzzled by this crazy play assumed Piggy was joking around or subbing and casually played the ball back to the centre. It was picked up by the PIB attacker who waltzed up field a scored the third goal in the space of about two minutes. From this point on the game descended into farce. Heads dropped and the Rangers players longed for the whistle. Nev and Pie exchanged places in nets, after another PIB goal, and lack of awareness led to the game kicking off with Nev struggling to put his gloves on. Another clip for Dennis Norden’s, “It’ll be alright on the Night” was seen when Nev struggled to deal with a back pass. The ball slipped through his legs and with limbs flailing he dragged the ball clear, only to get his foot tangled in the netting! It was like Noel Edmonds had achieved a team Gotcha!
Pie showed great enthusiasm for the brief period he was on and created a great chance for Shepwad when he could have shot himself. Rascle and Shiz gave 100% to the end, but things outside their control were the undoing of the defence.
In truth it was one of the most sorry second half displays from the Rangers we have seen. Spectators Belly and Charlotte could not believe their eyes. Disappointment was again expressed at certain members of the team putting others under pressure by dilly dallying on the ball, and in the end it was another harsh lesson, but I doubt the Rangers (or certain players) will learn from it.
Final score – Bramhall Rangers 5 Puss in Boots 14
Goals – Mini (5)
Nev goal watch – 18
NB – See below for details of BRFC Awards Spring 2006.
posted by Mini at 10:21 am
2 Comments:
Disappointing...
A huge leap backwards defensively in the second half. I'm tired of saying the same things... and at this moment struggling to control myself from unleashing a torrent of abuse.
1-2's totally destroyed us in the second half, I hope we learn from this next week.
How many times do people have to keep banging there heads against a wall before they realise it is this action that is giving them a headache?
Spot on, spot on.
Personally, I am taking a couple of things to improve on - making sure i am aware at all times, including our kick offs in case of wayward backpasses. And also to try and get more of my body in front of the ball, especially when the shots are around my feet...
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