Match Report
Match Report - 19 Sep 2009, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Arundel
After an even first half with chances at a premium, Arundel won the match at St Francis Rangers with two goals inside a minute at the start of the second half.
From that moment on there was only one winner as Rangers looked devoid of any real movement or passion and the visitors got in behind the defence time and time again only to be thwarted by Simon Lehkyj or poor finishing.
Rangers did rally late on with their first real piece of quality, which ended with Geoff Pitcher nodding in a fine Jamie Weston cross. But rather than sparking a comeback, it was once again Arundel who could have finished the match off with late chances which all failed to hit the target.
Both sides had spells of pressure in the first half without looking that threatening. Pitcher fired straight at O'Connor and later saw a header drift wide after some good work down the flank by Jamie Westlake.
Immediately after the break, Rangers put a swift move together but unfortunately the tireless Sam Palmer could not take the ball in his stride at full pace.
The home side then gifted Arundel the lead from a free kick as Robert Grove rose unchallenged at the back post to loop his header over the stranded Lehkyj.
Directly from the kick off, Tom Djamaluddin was guilty of conceding possession and Russell Hardwell curled the resulting corner directly in off the far post.
Arundel then started to have a field day down the Rangers left flank but failed to capitalise and for all their possession, Lehkyj was only marginally busier than O'Connor at the opposite end.
Scott Tipper had a great chance to make it 3-0 but failed to hit the target from close range and the one real bright light for Rangers, Jamie Weston, went on a strong run before his curling shot went narrowly wide.
The introduction of Greg Archer on 70 minutes gave Rangers a little more impetuous but they still looked unlikely to test O'Connor and it was not long before Rangers were once again opened up, only for last-ditch tackle to stop Matt Hucket.
An injury to Palmer meant Rangers had to replace the striker with a defender, Matt Carruthers thrown on as a makeshift centre forward. He showed some decent touches and was in at the start of their goal when he set Jake Forward racing through. Forward in turn found Weston and he delivered an inch perfect cross for Pitcher to get on the scoresheet for an amazing eighth match running.
But the late rally did not materialise and Arundel should have put the game to bed with two late chances.
Rangers are a young team who seem set to grow in maturity as the season unfolds but on this day they lacked real quality and manager Roy Staughton must be concerned at the lack of chances created and the pressure that put on a defence which always looked like leaking goals too easily
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 1 - 2 Arundel