Match Report
Match Report - 17 Oct 2009, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Eastbourne Utd Assn
By Chris Francis
A piece of audacious opportunism by Geoff Pitcher handed St Francis Rangers an unexpected lifeline at home to County League champions Eastbourne United Associaition on Saturday and went close to earning them a point their efforts probably deserved.
The hosts kicked off after going 3-0 down and Pitcher spotted United's young keeper distracted by one of his own supporters behind the goal. Adam Sargent's mind was certainly not on the game fleetingly but credit Pitcher's brilliance in beating him w
ADVERTISEMENTith a truly exquisite strike from the halfway line.
That was on 68 minutes and 11 minutes later Pitcher's delightful ball played Sam Palmer through for the neatest of finishes.
The classy visitors were now on the ropes and after that Pitcher hit a post with Sargent beaten and was also inches over with a free kick awarded for a foul on. That was given on the edge of the box when there was a strong body of opinion that felt it was inside the area.
Rangers had turned around a little unlucky to be trailing 1-0 to a United side who showed plenty of quality but whose final pass or shot let them down.
The hosts were excellent in midfield with Messrs Forward, Weston, Westlake and Butler comfortable on the ball. But it was Butler's error on halfway that enabled United to break away on 15 minutes and open the scoring with a splendidly taken goal by Steve Dallaway.
Rangers' best chances came when the well placed Jake Forward failed to get hold of Sam Palmer cross and then after the goal there were strong claims for handball when Sam Palmer had his close range header blocked after a neat move involving Pitcher and Weston.
Visiting skipper Reece Head did well to block a goalbound effort and then on 34 minutes Ben Palmer failed to get enough power into his free header from a Jamie Weston corner.
One sensed that Rangers needed to score the next goal to have a good chance of taking something from the game and when they conceded goals on 53 and 68 minutes, the match looked well out of reach.
But Pitcher's moment of magic put a real dent in that theory and in the end it was United who were hanging on for the final whistle.
Simon Lehkyj's punched clearance was returned for United sub Lucas Mann to make a quick impression with a headed goal and then when Lehkyj beat out the firecest of drives by Ben Billings, who had been allowed acres of space down the Rangers right, Steve Morris did well to turn in the rebound.
Morris had earned the only yellow card of the first half but referee Darren Eaton started spraying them around far more liberally in the last 15 minutes.
Glen Charker, who had another solid match at the back for Rangers, started the ball rolling and Jamie Westlake followed immediately for something he said. Making it two apiece in the second half, there were bookings for United sub Dan Andrews and defender Lee Jules, the latter for that foul on Pitcher that should perhaps have brought a penalty.
It was all-acton stuff and one could sympathise with home manager Roy Staughton who felt his side deserved a point for their efforts.
No doubt someone who was mighty relieved that did not happen was keeper Sargent, who until time helps him forget, will not be talking to supporters while the game is progress.
Middy Starman: Plenty of worthy candidates but it goes to Jake Forward, always available in an industrious midfield display.
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 2 - 3 Eastbourne Utd Assn