Bramhall Rangers 2 Puss in Boots 6
"If history is going to repeat itself I should think we can expect the same thing again." - Terry Venables
Fears that the regular seven for the spring 2006 season would be broken up were put to bed early on Thursday after Rascle’s toe inflammation had died down sufficiently for him to play. For the 5th game in 6 Rangers lined up as usual. Mr T has made the keeper gloves his, and with news that Belly may have suffered “a tear of the cartilage” he may be needed for sometime. The doctors may “recommend an arthroscopy which is a telescope put inside the knee” for Belly, which could mean a lengthy layoff.
Puss in Boots, this week’s opponents, were enjoying a decent season and have been 3rd in the league for much of the campaign. They don’t tend to concede very many goals, but have a penchant for grabbing a few themselves, matching their position in the league with goals for. With the season drawing to a conclusion Rangers could still make a mid-table position with another 3 points and results going in their favour.
The game turned out to be a more even affair than expected, and Puss in Boots did not live up to our expectations of a high scoring team. They did however prove difficult to break down at the back. A combination of poor finishing, lack of space and good goal keeping meant that Rangers couldn’t breach the defence in the first half. Mini dragged a shot wide and a couple more efforts lacked precision from Piggy and Shiz.
At the other end the Rangers were pulling together defensively and for the most part worked well as a team, covering runs and intercepting passes. Tracking the runners was much better, cutting down the number of successful one-twos substantially. Mr T was well guarded for large portions of the game, and even nursing a minor finger injury was equal to all but two efforts that came his way in the first half. The second came after Rangers failed to clear and Mr T found himself out of position and vulnerable from the angle.
2-0 at half time was probably a fair reflection of how the game had gone, though in order to try and force the game the Rangers would leave more gaps in the second half to be exploited. Keeping solid after the break was again important, and as with the two previous games, was achieved with hard work and good running.
Mini gave the Rangers a lifeline, guiding the ball past the keeper with his left foot. Despite this goal Rangers still struggles to create many more chances. An attempted counter attack was broken down after a poor pass from Piggy and PIB raced up to the other end. Under pressure from the attacker Nev was unfortunate to step into the area and calls for a push in his back were rejected. The penalty was scored comfortably.
Rascle was confident to go forward more this game, sensing the need to support the attack. He was unlucky not to score when in a bit of space on the left of the area. Nev confident and comfortable again at the back ventured forward on occasion but was always watchful of the quick break.
With a more disciplined opposition, Shiz was not gifted with the freedoms of last week, but still created a few chances in the second half. One effort struck the outside of the post after some great battling. There were a few strong challenges in the game, not dirty but niggles. Shiz should have had a free kick after being slammed into the boards, but instead the game went on for PIB to score the rebound. It was littered with tangles of legs and sprawling bodies. Pie the victim in the first half more by accident than intention, Shiz in the second with both players 100% committed.
Rangers did get a second goal. The PIB goalkeeper favoured long throw outs possibly because the short options were closed off or he sensed space up field, but this often meant Rangers could intercept and attack. Mini cut out a throw out and shinned a waist high ball too Pie who showed great shape on the volley to rifle past the keeper to double his tally for the season and Rangers for the game.
Piggy misfired during this encounter but seems to have improved his game in other areas such as sprinting for 50-50’s and using his body strength more. A little more composure on the ball would help to create more for the team and him and still needs to be worked on.
Mini was disappointed not to influence the game more, and will be looking to raise his game next week in what will be a very tough game against league leaders The Griswald’s who have a very impressive record of 10 wins out of 12, and 135 goals for.
Final score: Bramhall Rangers 2 Puss in Boots 6
Goals: Mini (1), Pie (1)
Nev goal watch – 25
*Please see below for details of the Rangers Award ceremony. Add you comments and thoughts*
Fears that the regular seven for the spring 2006 season would be broken up were put to bed early on Thursday after Rascle’s toe inflammation had died down sufficiently for him to play. For the 5th game in 6 Rangers lined up as usual. Mr T has made the keeper gloves his, and with news that Belly may have suffered “a tear of the cartilage” he may be needed for sometime. The doctors may “recommend an arthroscopy which is a telescope put inside the knee” for Belly, which could mean a lengthy layoff.
Puss in Boots, this week’s opponents, were enjoying a decent season and have been 3rd in the league for much of the campaign. They don’t tend to concede very many goals, but have a penchant for grabbing a few themselves, matching their position in the league with goals for. With the season drawing to a conclusion Rangers could still make a mid-table position with another 3 points and results going in their favour.
The game turned out to be a more even affair than expected, and Puss in Boots did not live up to our expectations of a high scoring team. They did however prove difficult to break down at the back. A combination of poor finishing, lack of space and good goal keeping meant that Rangers couldn’t breach the defence in the first half. Mini dragged a shot wide and a couple more efforts lacked precision from Piggy and Shiz.
At the other end the Rangers were pulling together defensively and for the most part worked well as a team, covering runs and intercepting passes. Tracking the runners was much better, cutting down the number of successful one-twos substantially. Mr T was well guarded for large portions of the game, and even nursing a minor finger injury was equal to all but two efforts that came his way in the first half. The second came after Rangers failed to clear and Mr T found himself out of position and vulnerable from the angle.
2-0 at half time was probably a fair reflection of how the game had gone, though in order to try and force the game the Rangers would leave more gaps in the second half to be exploited. Keeping solid after the break was again important, and as with the two previous games, was achieved with hard work and good running.
Mini gave the Rangers a lifeline, guiding the ball past the keeper with his left foot. Despite this goal Rangers still struggles to create many more chances. An attempted counter attack was broken down after a poor pass from Piggy and PIB raced up to the other end. Under pressure from the attacker Nev was unfortunate to step into the area and calls for a push in his back were rejected. The penalty was scored comfortably.
Rascle was confident to go forward more this game, sensing the need to support the attack. He was unlucky not to score when in a bit of space on the left of the area. Nev confident and comfortable again at the back ventured forward on occasion but was always watchful of the quick break.
With a more disciplined opposition, Shiz was not gifted with the freedoms of last week, but still created a few chances in the second half. One effort struck the outside of the post after some great battling. There were a few strong challenges in the game, not dirty but niggles. Shiz should have had a free kick after being slammed into the boards, but instead the game went on for PIB to score the rebound. It was littered with tangles of legs and sprawling bodies. Pie the victim in the first half more by accident than intention, Shiz in the second with both players 100% committed.
Rangers did get a second goal. The PIB goalkeeper favoured long throw outs possibly because the short options were closed off or he sensed space up field, but this often meant Rangers could intercept and attack. Mini cut out a throw out and shinned a waist high ball too Pie who showed great shape on the volley to rifle past the keeper to double his tally for the season and Rangers for the game.
Piggy misfired during this encounter but seems to have improved his game in other areas such as sprinting for 50-50’s and using his body strength more. A little more composure on the ball would help to create more for the team and him and still needs to be worked on.
Mini was disappointed not to influence the game more, and will be looking to raise his game next week in what will be a very tough game against league leaders The Griswald’s who have a very impressive record of 10 wins out of 12, and 135 goals for.
Final score: Bramhall Rangers 2 Puss in Boots 6
Goals: Mini (1), Pie (1)
Nev goal watch – 25
*Please see below for details of the Rangers Award ceremony. Add you comments and thoughts*
posted by Mini at 9:58 am
2 Comments:
I too was disappointed by my performance. I think food played a part ... my stomach is just to slow at digesting it! Will be looking at tinned Ravioli to solve it for future 20:30 KO's.
Still there where a number of positives to take as pointed out in the match report. Tough match next week against the Griza's!
Only a couple of comments from me this week.
Firstly I was a little disappointed with the ref yesterday. Regularly PIB were pushing in the back, notably for the penalty when it was a blatent shove in Nev's back from where I was stood, and secondly for the goal they scored when Shiz had a simple pass back to Mark, got a push against the boards and the ball came to the edge of the area where they scored. I should have gone with the man, but to be fair I was expecting an easy pass back to Mark from Shiz so I was setting myself for the attack. But the fact it was a shove in the back should have negated that anyway. I also felt he was very hit and miss with his head height rule too yesterday.
My second point is for Piggy. For the love of god man...ATTACK! You go backwards more times than Ray Wilkins. Simple pass down the line to a team mate, or run it yourself down the boards. Never do your weak ass passes into the middle of the pitch, never do your weak ass passes back to a defender with a man on him, and please please never run accross our own half with the ball because you invariably lose it putting us under pressure!
Overall though a decent defensive perfomance all things considered, especially as they were a much more athletic team than us. It wasn't great going forward, but I don't think we will ever be a high scoring team...
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