Bramhall Rangers

Friday, August 18, 2006

Bramhall Rangers 11 - 15 Omatha

"I think this could be our best victory over Germany since the war" - John Motson


Expectation was building prior to this match after recent form of two victories from the previous three matches. In the last meeting with Omatha the Rangers had been resoundingly trounced 11-4 and as an incentive prize money was on the table for the first person to bring down (legally) Omatha’s talisman, Henry.

Again it was the ‘Magnificent 7’ (© Pie) that stood up to take on this challenge.

Nev was the first to be tempted by this wager; low visibility and poor road safety sense combining to make Henry potential easy pickings in the car park.


As with last week the Rangers made an excellent start to the match, with Mini notching up a two goal lead within minutes that left Omatha stunned. However for the next few minutes it was Omatha’s turn. Rangers eased of the pressure and allowed Omatha to make some precision shots from tight angles. This resulted in Omatha claiming a goal and then scoring a further two in almost the same style; powerful low shots beating Mr T at his far post. Omatha may have had money on decking the Rangers too; their bespectacled forward (who had ordered us to provide a ‘nice clean game’ prior to kick off) commited his second blatant foul of the night, sidelining Nev for the rest of the match.

Cometh the hour cometh the man, and an Omatha infringement won the Rangers a penalty. Pie was the man to take, driving in a powerful shot to the right of the despairing keeper. Rangers again took the lead though Mini, but with some fancy footwork and shooting from the opposition, Rangers went in to half time 6-4 down.


Both sides were beginning to tire as the second half commenced, but traded goals pretty evenly none the less. Omatha’s strategy seemed more practiced skill than luck; whenever their man had any space a shot was rifled low and hard towards the corner of the Rangers goal, more often than not slipping into the corner of the net beyond Mr T. The goals conceded could have been a lot higher with this skill on show but generally excellent man marking and good communication from defence stemmed the flow of shots.

Rangers had some good chances, Omatha repeatedly committing two players to tackle one Ranger. With a man found unmarked in space, Rangers tried some distance shots of their own and were occasionally rewarded, Pie claiming his second of the match with a deflection from his rasping right foot drive.


In the final 5 minutes Rangers were trailing 15-8, but still managed to worry Omatha with a final flurry of activity. Big Pete slotted home his first of the match.
Rangers 10th goal, a left footed shot, provided Pie with his first Powerleague hattrick, and Rascle materialised outside the Omatha box to notch up another.

All of the team ended the match with cuts and grazes and Pie had a bloodied knee after being cut down by Henry, but the Rangers can take some comfort from converting so many chances, Rangers highest haul this season.


Final Score – Bramhall Rangers 11 Omatha 15
Goals - Mini (6), Pie (3), Big Pete (1), Rascle (1)

Nev goal watch - 39

8 Comments:

Blogger Mini said...

Excellent report.

I felt last nigh was one of the really good games we have played in for a long time. Rivals a couple of the Classic Homes games at Vida and some of the Canaries games at Powerleague.

It was not dirty, Henry behaved himself, there was no whinging to the ref (who by all accounts was largely invisible - a good thing) by either side.

We looked good going forward and if we can start to get goals consistently from numerous players it will only benefit us.

Key to our defeat was lack of concentration after scoring a goal of our own. Often we got ahead or level to conceed straight afterwards. Teams are at their most vulnerable after scoring so we need to bear this in mind. Also, as I was always shouting last night we need to cut out the shots. Far to many efforts were scored from distance when there shold have been a block. But small things which arent to difficult to master.

Next week is the Canaries and there is double joy on offer.

Firstly, we can beat then and we will beat them!

Secondly, by beating them we will more than likely help send the Slim Jims up, so we can have an incident free/injury free season next time round!

Quomodo Illa Pomma Amatis!

10:28 am  
Blogger Pie said...

I'll have you know T that my second goal didn't take a deflection! It was a sweet sweet strike into the top corner. It was fantastic, probably the best shot i've had for the Rangers. My hat-trick goal wasn't bad either. I won the ball with my back to goal, and turned and as Mini would say "Thierry Henry'd it" into to back of the net. I was well chuffed.

I'd echo a lot of what Mini said though too. T, you were beaten quite a bit by long range shots. We have to try and cut them out on the way through, even if it means taking one in your special place! Its worth it for the team!

Secondly something i think we should try to do against faster and more skillful opposition is not let them come inside. Try and force them down the boards if we can. Its not easy, and it won't always work, but if we can do that it will be a great help...

11:39 am  
Blogger ShiZ said...

modest as always Mr Pie, remember the people who played a part also in your goals by passing it to you :)

Agree with stopping players coming inside. We really have to watch that.

7:46 pm  
Blogger -=EviL Ras=- said...

Good match, everyone came away smiling dispite a loss. And we're all learning things in every game we play.

However, I'd like to add that the "magnificent 7" tag is actually my device, not held under copyright of pie! I used this during the comments under the 15-1 loss to rapid tirers! And if john gets editting to add how world shattering his 3 great goals were, i want my name as the copright holder for that device!!! So Nurr ;)

2:48 am  
Blogger Pie said...

I never claimed the Magnificent 7. My phrase was the 7 Muskateers!

12:36 pm  
Blogger Belly said...

"Again it was the ‘Magnificent 7’ (© Pie)"

Hmmm

8:05 am  
Blogger Pie said...

Yes but just because other uneducated people (sorry Mini and T) have written that it doesn't make it my phrase!!

10:32 am  
Blogger Mini said...

It was a mistake on my part originally, for which I apologise.

12:08 pm  

Post a Comment

<< Home