Match Report
Match Report - 08 Sep 2009, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team beat Mile Oak
The third home game in 7 days saw rangers welcome back Dan O’farrell and Martin Duke for his full debut. Mile Oak provided the opposition and O’farrell almost scored with a header from a Maynard free kick after the speedy Westlake was brought down on the right by the box.
Mile Oak applied some pressure and Lehkyj was nearly caught out when he got back to scramble away a speculative long range effort for a corner.
Duke hit a diagonal ball which evaded the visiting defence to find Jake Forward. The defence recovered and saw off the danger.
Lansdale was given time and space to charge forward and smash a shot gaolbound which Lehkyj parried away.
Rangers shifted the ball quickly and found Westlake in space down the right his fine cross saw sam palmers diving header just go wide.
Oak continued to press but didn’t create any clear cut chances.
Duke went close with a drive at the end of a neat passing sequence.
Half time 0-0.
The second half was 7 minutes old when rangers took the lead, Oak defender Ash tried to Shepard the ball out for a goal kick only for Forward to pinch the ball from him and pull it back for Sam Palmer to slip it in the net. 1-0
Rangers looked to extend their lead and Carruthers header drifted wide from a corner.
Rangers were grateful for O’Farrells timely tackle to see off the danger for a corner.
Westlake and Duke got the ball to Pitcher who’s shot missed the far post by a whisker. Stenning pulled off a fine save and at the other end pulling beat the off side and hit the bar.
The game became quite frantic with the more clear cut chances being created by rangers.
Westlake saw his shot deflected into the side netting and from the resulting corner pitcher produced some fancy footwork which saw him upended for a penalty.
He stepped up and duly fired home the spot kick on 75 minutes. 2-0.
Rangers were denied twice in quick succession first when Stenning made another fine save and second when Sam Palmer was sythed down when clean through on goal. The ref waved away the appeal as the defender awaited his punishment which did not arrive. Rangers replaced Sam Palmer with Russell Harris 0n 80 minutes. Westlake went close with a chip and Pitcher saw another good shot well saved.
Mile Oak then had Martin sent off for a second booking. Rangers used their remaining permitted subs bringing on Andy Brown and Josh Hawkes for James Westlake and Geoff Pitcher in the final couple of minutes.
Mom Elliott butler does so much work on and off the ball
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 2 - 0 Mile Oak