Match Report
Match Report - 15 Aug 2010, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Banstead Athletic
There were no complaints at the Colwell on Sunday as Rangers exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle at the hands of Banstead Athletic.
Rangers first ever home tie in the most famous cup competition in the world attracted a crowd of over 150 on a warm yet breezy Sunday afternoon. The Combined Counties Premier League outfit were, for the best part, the stronger and more determined and ended Rangers hopes of progressing with two second half goals inside fifteen minutes of the restart.
Banstead made their mark right from the outset, forcing Rangers to defend deeply and the back four of Brown, Morton, Charker and Butler were given a tuff time from the impressive movement from Banstead’s front two of Rapson and Harmsworth and the lively left wing back James Stenning. It was no surprise it was from the left that Banstead opened the scoring when 12 minutes in Jack Stafford struck his pacey corner kick into the box which was met with a thumping header from centre back Luke Hackett, giving Simon Lehkyj in the Rangers goal no chance. In truth it was a soft goal to concede from a set piece although it wasn’t the first time that the Rangers goal had been threatened in the opening exchanges.
As early as the 4th minute Lehkyj was called in to action and had to make a smart save from a header from Harmsworth, this after Rangers Elliott Butler fired a free kick just wide of Gavin Dilleys left hand post and Naz Rouane had blazed a shot over the bar. Hackett was booked for a heavy challenge on Rouane not long after his opener as attempts followed at both ends in a lively opening encounter. Banstead probably had the better of it but Rangers had their moments and could have gone level when Butlers deep cross from the left found Pitcher on the edge of the box but his spectacular goal bound volley was well blocked by Charlie Clark-Lee, the Banstead captain. As the half was coming to an end Palmer put Rouane clear on the right and what should have been a pass inside to put Pitcher in one on one and a great chance of an equaliser, ended with a shot that went well over.
Rangers left side of the impressive Butler and James Westlake looked the most likely to trouble the visitors but Banstead always had the upper hand with Jake Forward and Jamie Weston out muscled by their counterparts. It was however the Butler Pitcher combination that put Rangers level right on half time. In an almost repeat move of a few minutes earlier, Pitcher cleverly took the ball on his body from Butlers deep cross, he found Sam Palmer with a deft touch and the Rangers man smashed in from 8 yards. HT1-1.
A goal before the break was perhaps the inspiration that Rangers needed for the second period but after just 4 minutes of the restart the visitors half time substitute Cameron Goff volleyed in from 25 yards after Forward failed to get enough on a clearance. Even the partisan home crowd could be excused for applauding a quite spectacular finish that had Lehkyj rooted to the spot as the ball flashed into his top left corner of the net. Roy Staughtons men have showed resilience and spirit in their previous matches so far but to give credit to Banstead it was they who continued to ask most of the questions and continued to press. Stafford and Stenning combined well again the latter unleashing another fierce drive that Lehkyj did well to push over and then Rapson missed a glorious opportunity to put his side further ahead but pulled his shot wide when it looked easier to score. Just before the hour mark Ayres midfield strength shrugged off challenges from Weston and Forward, then broke into the box before slipping the ball to Matt Harmsworth who coolly finished the job.
Staughton was positive in his changes, Dellow immediately replaced Glenn Charker to go three at the back in search of a comeback. Josh Hawkes then replaced Naz Rouane on 65 minutes and Rangers appeared to rally. It was Hawkes himself who almost dragged his team back in it, when, his strength took him past two defenders into the box but when forced slightly wide lost the opportunity and fired tamely at Dilleys goal! Karl Hodges replaced Andy Brown with 5 minutes remaining but Banstead held on and deservedly took their place in the next round. The Rangers boss Roy Staughton was philosophical after the game, not too dis heartened, “after all, we were never going to win it” referring to the cup itself “and on the day they were better than us, no complaints”
Rangers return to league action at Crawley Down Tuesday night k.o 7.30pm
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 1 - 3 Banstead Athletic