Match Report
Match Report - 08 Nov 2011, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team drew with Lingfield
Lingfield hit 95th minute equaliser
Rangers will be kicking themselves having let another lead slip but looking back over 90 minutes will be pleased with the result against a strong Lingfield outfit. Rangers were missing 8 players and had to shuffle the pack again. New signings Dan Griffin and Andy Knott came in for their full debuts, with Pamment having to move up front to partner Mikael.
Containing just 5 players from the meeting a month ago Lingfield had improved their team and it showed. The opening 15 minutes were an even affair with Rangers shading it with some controlled football and they had the best early chances but couldn’t convert. Dan Griffin had a lot of the ball and was looking dangerous early on, with Arnoux making some excellent runs. Twice he should have been released through but Cooper held on too long and failed to slot him in. Arnoux was heavily involved, picking up an early booking for an inoccuous foul and then himself going down in the box minutes later. Cooper had the ball in the net but was ruled offside.
As the half wore on Lingfield got into their stride and Rangers, just like Saturday, failed to retain possession in midfield and up front. This meant the home side had a lot of defending to do but they did admirably. The visitors with a direct approach were now on top and created 3 or 4 good chances. Unlike the previous match they failed to convert with Rob Gordon making 2 excellent saves to keep Rangers in the game. Half Time 0-0.
The second half was a similar story with Rangers back 5 having a lot of defending to do but they stood up to the challenge. Again they did Arnoux walked a tightrope for his second booking and was withdrawn early in the second half, replaced by Mheuka who instantly showed how to hold the ball up. This relived some of the pressure from the over worked back 4 and helped Rangers get a foot hold in the match. Pamment was sacrificed as an attacking threat to sit deeper on the visiting 8 who was pulling the strings. He did a fantastic job and helped Rangers enormously, full credit to him.
Against the run of play Rangers took the lead. A cross from the right was brilliantly hit on the volley from 25 yards by Griffin and it nestled in the back of the net.
Despite desperate attempts from the sidelines to drive them forward Rangers really struggled to clear their lines, dropping deeper and deeper. This invited more pressure and Lingfield really should have equalized, they had more than enough chances to. A combination of poor finishing, some fantastic defending and top keeping kept them out. One last ditch tackle from Akehurst saved a certain goal.
On the break Griffin went through for Rangers and was bundled over, it looked a clear scoring chance and the defender was lucky not to receive any kind of card. The freekick was blasted into the wall by Carruthers.
As Lingfield piled men forward it left spaces at the back and Griffin was released down the left. He squared for Mheuka but he couldn’t keep his effort on target.
As injury time arrived 3 minutes were signalled, but in the 94th minute the Dube mis kicked in the box and the ball was superbly hit home to break Rangers hearts.
Rangers have now let in late goals that has cost them 14 points this season, had they won those they would be sitting pretty on 23 points in mid table.
Team: Gordon, Akehurst, Djamaludin, Carruthers, Dodd, Knott (78mins Dube), Clark, Cooper, Arnoux (54 mins Mhueka), Pamment, Griffin (95 mins Charker)
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 1 - 1 Lingfield