Match Report
Match Report - 08 Oct 2011, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Shoreham
Rangers slipped to their 10th successive defeat and with it into the relegation zone.
Against a pretty poor Shoreham side Rangers had a great chance to end their losing sequence but again they failed to defend. It has to be very frustrating for the players, they gave their all but without any recognised central defenders they were always up against it.
The first half was a tight affair, the difference a solitary goal after some neat play down the left saw the ball pulled back and fired home from the edge of the box. Rangers should have stopped the original run as the winger turned Brown and Akehurst far too easily.
Pamment looked lively but failed to get much protection from the referee as he was continually fouled. He should have had a penalty when he was brought down after having his shirt pulled as well.
Both sides failed to turn chances into goals but that all changed in the second period. It seemed like a contest of who would concede more with some pretty dire defending by both teams.
To their credit both sides tried their hardest and played some neat attacking football but it came down to who could hold on the longest.
Just after the re start Walsh headed Rangers level from close range but within minutes Shoreham regained the lead when rangers defence allowed them a simple shot.
Rangers threw on Pat Rose and he instantly drew Rangers level with a cracking drilled shot from the edge of the box.
O Rouke then made a fabulous finger tip save to keep Rangers level. Pamment should have had another penalty mid way through the half when he was blatantly tripped but again the luck went against them.
Another inconsistent decision saw Shoreham win a freekick which was brilliantly drilled in. As the ball looked destined for the corner Collins handled and conceded a penalty which Shoreham converted.
Rangers injury woes continued when stand in defender Walsh then had to come off injured, Brown having to stand in at centre back. Perry came on for Pople and his excellent chip to the far post saw Rose head home to get Rangers level again.
There was always another goal left and it was Rose and Collin who switched off down the left that allowed Shoreham to steal the winner with 2 minutes remaining.
Team: O Rouke, Brown, Walsh (70min Rose), Akehurst, Dodd, Collins, Pople (60 Perry), Mitchell (80 mins Arnoux), Cooper, Clark, Pamment
Goals: Walsh 55, Rose 70 and 80
Yellow: Collin
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 3 - 4 Shoreham