Match Report
Match Report - 20 Aug 2011, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to ERITH & BELVEDERE
Once again Rangers were knocked out at the first hurdle as their FA cup jinx continued.
Playing at a fantastic venue on a great pitch Rangers were never really in the game as Erith were comfortable winners and the final scoreline was a fair reflection of the match.
In the first period Rangers never threatened, other than a couple of long range efforts from Pamment and Gacias.
Erith containing a lot of ex pro's, were much sharper, more physical and experienced all round the pitch.
Baker did well to make an early save as Rangers failed to find any rhythm, and soon made another reaction save to keep the game scoreless.
Eirth played very direct, hitting long passes to their pacey wide players all afternoon. At first Dodds struggled to cope with the pace and variety of some good right wing play but eventually he managed to stand up and be counted.
Despite warnings Rangers kept giving away cheap free kicks. Erith's set piece delivery was exceptional and only some lucky breaks and last ditch defending kept the hosts out.
Rangers best move of the first half was on the break when Walsh and Macfie combined well but the cross that was fired across the home 6 yard box eluded everyone.
That set the visitors up for their best spell of the match. First Perry could have scored from close range but got the ball caught under his feet and then Archer shot just wide.
Erith would probably have thought themselves unlucky to be goalless at the break. Rangers decision making was poor as they played far too many long balls, failing to exploit the large gaps available and falling in the trap of the deeply positoned home back 4.
Rangers started the second half poorly and within minutes of restart they were 1 down. They could not defend a simple throw and as the ball was delivered back into the 6 yard box Baker failed to get a connection allowing the unmarked forward to head home from 4 yards.
It was 2-0 a few minutes later when Hollicks was adjudged to have climbed on the forward but our view it seemed like the forward has back in. Matter not, the penalty kick was dispatched with ease to give Erith a cushion.
Rangers never threatened at all in the second period as the home back 4 used all their experience to soak up everything Rangers could muster. To be fair Rangers passing was never up the standards needed and their commitment to win a tackle fell well short of the hosts.
Only the post denied the home side a third and having made 3 subs Rangers went down to 10 men after Hollicks was carried off injured. The referee who had a good game overall allowed too many home players the benefit of jumping into players in the air and this lead to Hollicks injury. It should definitely have been prevented by the referee.
A sour note for the match was the sub, number 14, foe Erith deciding to poke his fist in to Pamments bollocks. No need for that type of action, having been the better side all game they should have been better than that.
A bit of a lesson for Rangers who look forward to league action on Tuesday night at Crowoborough, who went down 6-2 up the round to Eirth Town.
A poor day for Sussex football as only 2 clubs won against other non Sussex clubs.
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 0 - 2 ERITH & BELVEDERE