Match Report
Match Report - 27 Apr 2010, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team drew with Lingfield
By Chris Francis
Roy Staughton and his St Francis Rangers team deserved a bit of luck after another injury time blow on Tuesday and it came with news that defeats for both Hailsham and Crowborough ensures Rangers can plan for another season in the top flight.
They richly deserve that and a young side will have learned much this time around that could well bear riper fruit next season. But one habit they will want to break is conceding stoppage time goals. Two a week earlier cost them three points at home to Wick and then two more points were surrendered as Lingfield scored eight minutes into almost 10 added by under-fire referee Kevin Roberts.
The official took a lot of flak alround but he gave some brave decisions and probably I was the only other person in the ground to believe his second penalty award against the hosts was justified. To me, Elliott Butler just caught Eddie Kaboah on the ankle and Andy Dalhouse levelled from the spot on 37 minutes.
Only six minutes earlier it looked harsh when Ben Palmer was penalised but Simon Lehkyj showed great reactions and incredibly strong hands to turn over Ollie Davis' spot kick.
Quick thinking by skipper-for-the-night Chris Maynard set up Sam Palmer for the opening goal on 16 minutes. Initially it looked like visiting keeper Adam Woodward was penalised for handling outside the box but it was probably for picking up a back pass. Anyway, Lingfield were still arguing about that when Maynard took the free kick swiftly and Palmer found the unguarded net.
The visitors were level only three minutes as Josh Hawkes added the finishing touch to Maynard's cross shot and Rangers should have been comfortable when Matt Carruthers headed them 3-1 in front on 57 minutes, just a minute after being booked for deliberate handball.
Lingfield sub Simon Wallace headed his side back in contention 10 minutes after that and despite a few wobbles, it looked like Rangers would hold out until Teddy Ansell struck deep in stoppage time.
There was still time left for Kaboah to pick up a second yellow, well overdue although the second foul against him was probably harsh, and that meant a total of seven yellow cards, with Maynard and Lingfield's Woodward, Brett Lovett and Tom Gilbert the other offenders. It was not an easy night for anyone but at least Rangers can now plan for a brighter future.
Middy Starman: Plenty of candidates but it just goes to Simon Lehkyj for that marvellous penalty save and other good work under pressure.
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 3 - 3 Lingfield