Bramhall Rangers 6 Monkhouse Gladback 8
“In football you suffer and it’s not so bad to see your team suffer. We will need to play better and we will play better” – Sven Goran Eriksson
11 days is along time in football. Since the Rangers last played a match much has happened in the world of sport. In that time Ronaldo has eaten a sum total of 180 pies (rumours are that a certain Dr Holland is his new fitness guru), Michael Owen has discovered he is a distant relative of a Rascle McPherson after suffering his latest injury setback, Hen-mania is waining as for the first time in a long time no one cares about Tim’s whites being whiter than white, Peter Crouch has been given leave of the World Cup squad to pursue his love of being tall, and Sven “tried it and it didn’t work”. What “it” is, is entirely up to you, but rest assured it was a complete failure!
Rangers came together after the short break with Mr T in goal, Nev, Pie, Big Pete, Mini and Shiz returning to the side. Lifey made his first start of the season since netting twice in a 9-1 over Cheadle over 2 months ago. Monkhouse Gladbach was the opposition and despite being a beatable team Rangers had only managed to snatch a point in their 4 previous meetings.
The game didn’t start too well and Gladbach were able to nip into a two goal lead. The blues seemed lethargic and poor communication lead to the chances. A couple of subs changed the face of the game and Rangers were able to threaten more upfront. The Rangers started to trouble the keeper more in what was a very open game. Mini pulled a goal back for the Rangers, and Shiz also scored after the play seemed to have ground to a halt. Pie was lying on the floor and everyone seemed to wait for the whistle. Shiz ever alert stabbed the ball through the crowd for his 1st of the season.
Mr T was making some smashing saves in the sticks but was exposed far too easily by the defending. Shots were not closed down quick enough. Some strong tackles were being made though, Shiz feeling the brunt of a few and Lifey getting involved with a few niggling kicks. Mini was momentarily absent from the play as whilst making an excellent challenge he caught a flailing arm right on the conk! Bloodied and dazed he traipsed off the pitch for medical attention from a concerned looking Charlotte.
Nev was the pick of the defenders in the opening exchanges, and showed why he has been a permanent fixture in the team for the last 3 seasons. Making his 35th appearance for the Rangers he was marching up the appearances chart and one more game will see him in to 7th place, ahead of Rangers stalwarts Belly, Hedderz and Dr Holland. Sadly the goal scoring doesn’t match, still no goals in 32 games.
Half time came and (unsure of the score) it was 2 to the Rangers and a few more to Monkhouse. It hadn’t clicked for the side from Bramhall but they were still in the game. The second half would prove to be closer than expected. The spaces grew as the game progressed and this enables Big Pete to register after some battling play with a good finish. He had a goal harshly disallowed in the first half so made up for it in the second. The game two’d and fro’d and for every goal the Rangers scored so did Monkhouse. Lifey got a goal from, finishing coolly for his 9th for the Rangers, overtaking Rascle in the all time scorer’s chart! Lifey seemed to have trouble with Piggy-itus as on a couple of prolonged occasions though, and could be seen in the middle of the pitch tying his shoelaces as an attack formed around him! Amazing sight!
The pick of the goals came from Pie though, who seemingly with nowhere to go in the far left corner unearthed a magical drag back to fox the defender. Forced across the edge of the area he made a little room and finished expertly with a right footer, megging the keeper to boot! Fine football!
In a strange piece of play, a seemingly harmless long ball was drifting into the corner near Mr T’s goal, it was just out of the area for the keeper and Shiz was tracking back under no pressure to mop up the play. Mr T inexplicably grasped out of his area for the ball clutching it to his chest. It was a penalty as clear as Peter Crouch is tall! No arguments!
The striker placed the ball and with one step shot right footed down to Mr T’s right hand side. In a majestic show of determination to put right his wrong, Mr T saved the shot and scampered to gather the rebound. Great stuff!
Mini, bloodied tissue wedged in his nostrils, got his second after a compact one-two with Big Pete (pass and move the name of the game) for his 11th of the season. This, it turned out, was the equaliser to make the game 6-6, with 3 minutes to play. Had all the Rangers been aware of the score they may have altered their game for the last few minutes. Instead glaring gaps appeared at the back and Monkhouse were able to get two late goals to seal victory.
Final score – Bramhall Rangers 6 Monkhouse Gladbach 8
Goals: Mini (2), Pie (1), Shiz (1), Big Pete (1), Lifey (1)
Nev goal watch – 32
Lifey needs Velcro count - 1
11 days is along time in football. Since the Rangers last played a match much has happened in the world of sport. In that time Ronaldo has eaten a sum total of 180 pies (rumours are that a certain Dr Holland is his new fitness guru), Michael Owen has discovered he is a distant relative of a Rascle McPherson after suffering his latest injury setback, Hen-mania is waining as for the first time in a long time no one cares about Tim’s whites being whiter than white, Peter Crouch has been given leave of the World Cup squad to pursue his love of being tall, and Sven “tried it and it didn’t work”. What “it” is, is entirely up to you, but rest assured it was a complete failure!
Rangers came together after the short break with Mr T in goal, Nev, Pie, Big Pete, Mini and Shiz returning to the side. Lifey made his first start of the season since netting twice in a 9-1 over Cheadle over 2 months ago. Monkhouse Gladbach was the opposition and despite being a beatable team Rangers had only managed to snatch a point in their 4 previous meetings.
The game didn’t start too well and Gladbach were able to nip into a two goal lead. The blues seemed lethargic and poor communication lead to the chances. A couple of subs changed the face of the game and Rangers were able to threaten more upfront. The Rangers started to trouble the keeper more in what was a very open game. Mini pulled a goal back for the Rangers, and Shiz also scored after the play seemed to have ground to a halt. Pie was lying on the floor and everyone seemed to wait for the whistle. Shiz ever alert stabbed the ball through the crowd for his 1st of the season.
Mr T was making some smashing saves in the sticks but was exposed far too easily by the defending. Shots were not closed down quick enough. Some strong tackles were being made though, Shiz feeling the brunt of a few and Lifey getting involved with a few niggling kicks. Mini was momentarily absent from the play as whilst making an excellent challenge he caught a flailing arm right on the conk! Bloodied and dazed he traipsed off the pitch for medical attention from a concerned looking Charlotte.
Nev was the pick of the defenders in the opening exchanges, and showed why he has been a permanent fixture in the team for the last 3 seasons. Making his 35th appearance for the Rangers he was marching up the appearances chart and one more game will see him in to 7th place, ahead of Rangers stalwarts Belly, Hedderz and Dr Holland. Sadly the goal scoring doesn’t match, still no goals in 32 games.
Half time came and (unsure of the score) it was 2 to the Rangers and a few more to Monkhouse. It hadn’t clicked for the side from Bramhall but they were still in the game. The second half would prove to be closer than expected. The spaces grew as the game progressed and this enables Big Pete to register after some battling play with a good finish. He had a goal harshly disallowed in the first half so made up for it in the second. The game two’d and fro’d and for every goal the Rangers scored so did Monkhouse. Lifey got a goal from, finishing coolly for his 9th for the Rangers, overtaking Rascle in the all time scorer’s chart! Lifey seemed to have trouble with Piggy-itus as on a couple of prolonged occasions though, and could be seen in the middle of the pitch tying his shoelaces as an attack formed around him! Amazing sight!
The pick of the goals came from Pie though, who seemingly with nowhere to go in the far left corner unearthed a magical drag back to fox the defender. Forced across the edge of the area he made a little room and finished expertly with a right footer, megging the keeper to boot! Fine football!
In a strange piece of play, a seemingly harmless long ball was drifting into the corner near Mr T’s goal, it was just out of the area for the keeper and Shiz was tracking back under no pressure to mop up the play. Mr T inexplicably grasped out of his area for the ball clutching it to his chest. It was a penalty as clear as Peter Crouch is tall! No arguments!
The striker placed the ball and with one step shot right footed down to Mr T’s right hand side. In a majestic show of determination to put right his wrong, Mr T saved the shot and scampered to gather the rebound. Great stuff!
Mini, bloodied tissue wedged in his nostrils, got his second after a compact one-two with Big Pete (pass and move the name of the game) for his 11th of the season. This, it turned out, was the equaliser to make the game 6-6, with 3 minutes to play. Had all the Rangers been aware of the score they may have altered their game for the last few minutes. Instead glaring gaps appeared at the back and Monkhouse were able to get two late goals to seal victory.
Final score – Bramhall Rangers 6 Monkhouse Gladbach 8
Goals: Mini (2), Pie (1), Shiz (1), Big Pete (1), Lifey (1)
Nev goal watch – 32
Lifey needs Velcro count - 1
posted by Mini at 11:51 am
4 Comments:
Ok my thoughts (criticisms?) on the game last night can be broken down into 2 points, both of which have one common point as the overiding concern...I'm not going to purposefully critise and name people here because we were all to blame for them during the game.
1) Defending
There seemed to be a number of points last night when the defending and marking was fairly shabby. This was particularly evident as Mini has written in his report above once we had equalised to bring the game to 6-6. I would put this down to communication. There was no real organisation at all, and at times it didn't seem like people knew who was picking up who.
2) Attacking
There was no real urgency when we had the ball going forwarded. People weren't often moving into space or round the pitch. Also quite often the person with the ball took far too long in releasing it to take advantage of any space. Yes admittedly this last point could come down to a lack of movement from the other outfield players, but it wasn't solely this as I experienced personally a number of times myself when in space calling for the ball - it either never came and was lost, or came to late that I was immeadiately tackled/under pressure. I also noticed it a lot on the sidelines when i was off the pitch. Again though I think the major problem here was communication - in the second half I had the ball in the corner with my back to the pitch, and so couldn't see where the rest of the players were. No shouts, so I didn't know what to do with it. This results in my either losing the ball, or ending up playing an aimless ball to nowhere because I don't know where anyone is. Luckily I struck lucky when I managed to pull the ball out and get a goal! :)
I was also to blame for this, especially at the start of the game when it took me a little while to get going (I was involved in us conceding the first 2 goals, though not the only one).
I did not know we had pulled in back to 6-6, and thought we needed a few more which is why I hung forward a bit right at the death. Never mind.
The ref did call out quite loud (I was on the side-lines and heard him) that it was 6-6.
But never mind...
It was a shame to let that one slip, and thought our performance was just short of England standard... and the reason we were short, well we didn't win :(
Positives from it are that it was good to see the goals spread around the team a lot more than usual.
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