Bramhall Rangers 9 Cheadle Utd Thursday 1
A tale of two keepers.
Rangers approached this week’s game against Cheadle Utd with professionalism, hoping to extend the unbeaten run to two games given the default win from last week. Cheadle Utd, who had earlier in the season benefited from a no show were equal on points and are usually the ones to prop up the table at the end of the season.
Rangers continued with the goalkeeper rotation policy, Piggy taking the gloves in the first half, hoping to rejuvenate the team after the break and punish tired legs. Nev, always willing to hurl himself around for the Rangers, was also going to get his first competitive stint in goal, hopefully after ending his long (but as you will see, decreased) goal drought outfield. Mini, Pie, Shiz were the other regulars topped with a sprinkling of Lifey and Stu, in his second consecutive game.
Cheadle looked more determined from the outset this time around, maybe finally wanting to no longer be the East Stirling of Powerleague. The game swung back and forth for the opening 5 minutes at quite a high tempo. Neither team took control of the proceedings, it was often like pinball. After the opening exchanges, Rangers did eventually punish the Cheadle defenders for standing off. Mini collected the ball in his own half and advanced into the space. Unleashing a right footer the keeper was fooled by a dummy by Lifey and the ball squirmed under his body. Soon after Lifey got his first of the game, a solo effort ending with a good finish.
Piggy was handling the ball well and it would not have been obvious it was his first game in that position. Great judgement and no small amount of luck led to some important saves, the post coming to his rescue on a couple of occasions. Cheadle managed to get a goal back though, very fortunately, as Nev tried to cut out an attempt the ball deflected off his shins and sent Piggy the wrong way. As is said most weeks, if you defend as much as Nev does, and put yourself in the line of fire, deflections are only to be expected. More often than not Nev’s interventions dispersed goal scoring opportunities this game, which was another defensive master class.
Disappointed at conceding a goal Rangers pushed forward. Stu was again proving to be an able link up man, picking up the ball deep and creating opportunities with simple passes. Shiz’s energy was infectious, chasing down every ball and getting into some excellent positions in attack. Pie was looking to continue his goal scoring form from the friendly and moved the ball around well. Strength in the challenge was a great bonus as the Cheadle players were decidedly smaller and slighter than the big man.
Come half time and the Rangers were 4-1 to the good (IIRC). Lifey had scored his second of the game with a cool finish. Team work was the feature of the other first half goal. Although Mini will be credited with the goal, it was a great ball into feet from Stu that gave Mini the ball with his back to goal. Laying off to Shiz, and then a sharp turn to receive the ball back made an opening. Shiz threaded the ball through the eye of a needle and Mini poked it home from just outside the box. Great goal!
Piggy was congratulated on an excellent stint in the sticks and Nev took up the mantle, aiming to go one better and keep a clean sheet. In the worst possible start this was threatened. A ball from Shiz from the KO put Stu under pressure on the edge of his own box. Too much time led to indecision and he was dispossessed and the attacker poked the ball under the despairing Nev. A poor start. But, there was to be a reprieve as the whistle was blown. The Cheadle player was adjudged to have entered the area. It was inconclusive, but the Rangers were thankful for the decision. After that it was one way traffic. Piggy was hungry after his uneventful first half and was to bag a quick fire hat-trick. The pick of Piggy’s goals came when Pie battled through numerous challenges and hacks at his ankles, shrugging off the defenders. The ball ran through to Piggy who finished with a deft touch.
Shiz was gifted a goal after some very unselfish play from Piggy, squaring it across the box for a tap in. A carbon copy was scored by Mini for his third, after Pie picked him out with a quickly taken free kick. At the other end Nev was determined to keep the shots out, repelling everything that came his way. The game got a tad feisty as Cheadle’s number 8, frustrated at the way the game was panning out, was called up by the ref for repeat offending and back chat. The Rangers kept their cool throughout.
Defensively it was an excellent performance, and Nev was indeed able to claim the clean sheet. Attack wise, Rangers could and should have had more goals. Mini was guilty of missing a few sitters more often than not after passes from Pie who himself would like to have scored and nearly did with a dipping volley. Piggy had one of his best games for a while with great goalkeeping, forward play and tracking back.
The result lifts Rangers to 4th in the league behind Monkhouse Gladbach on goal difference. A big plus for Rangers, as a team, but especially the defensive players and those that have been in goals is that Rangers have the best defensive record in the division with only 17 goals against (an average of just over 4 a game). Next week sees a game against Puss in Boots who are currently just behind Rangers. However, their two wins have only come courtesy of default. The season promises much.
Final score: Bramhall Rangers 9 Cheadle Utd Thursday 1
Goals: Mini (3), Piggy (3), Lifey (2), Shiz (1)
Nev goal watch – 17*
*Amended to games Nev played in and didn’t score, rather than just total games played since Nev’s last goal.
(Saturday March 18th – Mini and Charlottes House warming party – all invited!)
Rangers approached this week’s game against Cheadle Utd with professionalism, hoping to extend the unbeaten run to two games given the default win from last week. Cheadle Utd, who had earlier in the season benefited from a no show were equal on points and are usually the ones to prop up the table at the end of the season.
Rangers continued with the goalkeeper rotation policy, Piggy taking the gloves in the first half, hoping to rejuvenate the team after the break and punish tired legs. Nev, always willing to hurl himself around for the Rangers, was also going to get his first competitive stint in goal, hopefully after ending his long (but as you will see, decreased) goal drought outfield. Mini, Pie, Shiz were the other regulars topped with a sprinkling of Lifey and Stu, in his second consecutive game.
Cheadle looked more determined from the outset this time around, maybe finally wanting to no longer be the East Stirling of Powerleague. The game swung back and forth for the opening 5 minutes at quite a high tempo. Neither team took control of the proceedings, it was often like pinball. After the opening exchanges, Rangers did eventually punish the Cheadle defenders for standing off. Mini collected the ball in his own half and advanced into the space. Unleashing a right footer the keeper was fooled by a dummy by Lifey and the ball squirmed under his body. Soon after Lifey got his first of the game, a solo effort ending with a good finish.
Piggy was handling the ball well and it would not have been obvious it was his first game in that position. Great judgement and no small amount of luck led to some important saves, the post coming to his rescue on a couple of occasions. Cheadle managed to get a goal back though, very fortunately, as Nev tried to cut out an attempt the ball deflected off his shins and sent Piggy the wrong way. As is said most weeks, if you defend as much as Nev does, and put yourself in the line of fire, deflections are only to be expected. More often than not Nev’s interventions dispersed goal scoring opportunities this game, which was another defensive master class.
Disappointed at conceding a goal Rangers pushed forward. Stu was again proving to be an able link up man, picking up the ball deep and creating opportunities with simple passes. Shiz’s energy was infectious, chasing down every ball and getting into some excellent positions in attack. Pie was looking to continue his goal scoring form from the friendly and moved the ball around well. Strength in the challenge was a great bonus as the Cheadle players were decidedly smaller and slighter than the big man.
Come half time and the Rangers were 4-1 to the good (IIRC). Lifey had scored his second of the game with a cool finish. Team work was the feature of the other first half goal. Although Mini will be credited with the goal, it was a great ball into feet from Stu that gave Mini the ball with his back to goal. Laying off to Shiz, and then a sharp turn to receive the ball back made an opening. Shiz threaded the ball through the eye of a needle and Mini poked it home from just outside the box. Great goal!
Piggy was congratulated on an excellent stint in the sticks and Nev took up the mantle, aiming to go one better and keep a clean sheet. In the worst possible start this was threatened. A ball from Shiz from the KO put Stu under pressure on the edge of his own box. Too much time led to indecision and he was dispossessed and the attacker poked the ball under the despairing Nev. A poor start. But, there was to be a reprieve as the whistle was blown. The Cheadle player was adjudged to have entered the area. It was inconclusive, but the Rangers were thankful for the decision. After that it was one way traffic. Piggy was hungry after his uneventful first half and was to bag a quick fire hat-trick. The pick of Piggy’s goals came when Pie battled through numerous challenges and hacks at his ankles, shrugging off the defenders. The ball ran through to Piggy who finished with a deft touch.
Shiz was gifted a goal after some very unselfish play from Piggy, squaring it across the box for a tap in. A carbon copy was scored by Mini for his third, after Pie picked him out with a quickly taken free kick. At the other end Nev was determined to keep the shots out, repelling everything that came his way. The game got a tad feisty as Cheadle’s number 8, frustrated at the way the game was panning out, was called up by the ref for repeat offending and back chat. The Rangers kept their cool throughout.
Defensively it was an excellent performance, and Nev was indeed able to claim the clean sheet. Attack wise, Rangers could and should have had more goals. Mini was guilty of missing a few sitters more often than not after passes from Pie who himself would like to have scored and nearly did with a dipping volley. Piggy had one of his best games for a while with great goalkeeping, forward play and tracking back.
The result lifts Rangers to 4th in the league behind Monkhouse Gladbach on goal difference. A big plus for Rangers, as a team, but especially the defensive players and those that have been in goals is that Rangers have the best defensive record in the division with only 17 goals against (an average of just over 4 a game). Next week sees a game against Puss in Boots who are currently just behind Rangers. However, their two wins have only come courtesy of default. The season promises much.
Final score: Bramhall Rangers 9 Cheadle Utd Thursday 1
Goals: Mini (3), Piggy (3), Lifey (2), Shiz (1)
Nev goal watch – 17*
*Amended to games Nev played in and didn’t score, rather than just total games played since Nev’s last goal.
(Saturday March 18th – Mini and Charlottes House warming party – all invited!)
posted by Mini at 10:15 am
2 Comments:
I would just like to point out that my dipping volley was actually a shot that covered the whole length of the pitch, and was on target! The fact it went slightly over head height was by-the-by!
Also I was please to get 3 assists in the game, though disappointed i didn't score. Again.
COngrats to Piggy and Nev for their stints in goal, Shiz was immense outfield as usual, and Stu played well throughout.
Lifey has chastised me for not including the following in the report (spelling & grammar courtesy of a top notch lawyer):
"my secons was an absolutely peach, intercepted a pass form the kick off, round the man and finishing with aplumb!
You omitted that I hit 3 strikes against the post (one even hit both post and along the line + my severla set ups!"
I'm not too sure where he got the peaches and plumbs from but maybe he stopped at a fruit and veg store on the way!
:)
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