Match Report
Match Report - 13 Oct 2009, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Peacehaven & Telescombe
Match Report by Colin Mansbridge
After an encouraging point against Shoreham on Saturday, Rangers could have approached this match with reasonable expectations but it was not to be. They were well beaten by a Peacehaven side who were quicker on the ball and their first touch allowed them to create numerous chances which inevitably resulted in goals.
Simon Lehkyj in the Rangers goal had already pulled of two excellent saves before Peacehaven opened the scoring on 22 minutes. Ben Palmer was harshly booked for a foul on the right hand edge of the Rangers box and Ranger’s wall proved ineffective as Peacehaven No 8, Clive Snell curled and dipped his free kick inside the right hand post of Lehkyj’s goal. Within two minutes Craig Bunch had headed a second Peacehaven goal from a searching cross from the left. Bunch was proving difficult to handle and should have scored goal number three on the half hour when clear through on the left but shot weakly wide of the visitor’s right hand post. Peacehaven were well worth their 2-0 half time lead as Rangers had not troubled their keeper Jake Buss at all in the first half.
Rangers started the second half with more conviction with Josh Hawkes replacing Tom Djamaluddin and Jamie Westlake probing the right hand side of the Peacehaven defence. A couple of shots by Jamie Weston and Geoff Pitcher were well blocked before Sam Palmer tried a shot from 30 yards on 55 minutes which cleared the home bar. However, two minutes later, Peacehaven increased their lead when a long ball sent their No 7 Tom Burton on a run on the left which resulted in him shooting across Lehkyj inside the right hand post. Peacehaven continued to create chances but poor finishing and competent keeping by Lehkyj prevented further goals. On 67 minutes, Geoff Pitcher and Jamie Westlake were replaced by Mike McDonald and Russell Harris and 5 minutes later Harris tried a snap shot from the edge of the area which was well saved by Buss diving to his left.
On 76 minutes Ben Palmer was booked again by referee Boris Erguven but carried on playing for 5 minutes before the assistant referee pointed out the discrepancy to the referee, which he then rectified by issuing Palmer a red card.
On 90 +2 minutes Peacehaven were awarded a penalty which was duly converted by substitute no.17 ?
MOM:- Simon Lehkyj did most to limit the damage.
Peacehaven & Telescombe 4 - 0 St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team