Match Report
Match Report - 12 Nov 2011, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team drew with Worthing United
Rangers picked up their first clean sheet of the season but it wasn't enough to collect the win they deserved but that's now 6 without defeat.
With Jabba unfit Aaron Walsh slotted alongside the very impressive Matt Carruthers, with the returning Naz partnering Mheuka up front. With Matt Ford, Any Knott and Dan Griffin all unavailable Josh Perry came in on the right hand side and had his best game for the club.
A strong Worthing United side, containing numerous new faces and boasting plenty of experience, had the better of the opening 15 minutes and would have gone ahead but for Rangers keeper Rob Gordon. He had another fantastic game and made several early saves, a treble save the best of them on 12 minutes. He went on to help Rangers record their first clean sheet of the season and Rob has been brilliant in all 3 games now.
After that opening period Rangers got into the game and they finally got their passing game going. This enabled them to create some good chances in the first half, with Kieran Pamment the main danger. After a slow start to the season he looked back to his best and tormented the home full back all afternoon. Luke Akehurst pulled his hamstring and was replaced by Tom Barnes at full back, who was also playing with an injury, and he went on to have an excellent game.
Both sides could have taken the lead, with Mhueka, Naz and Pamment all going close. Walsh gifted possession deep in his own half and breathed a sigh of relief when the forward stayed on his feet as he tugged him back in the box.
Somehow at the break it remained goalless and was a fair reflection of the half.
A minute after the re start Worthing had their best effort as the ball went across the face of the goal and only needed a touch. After that Rangers really improved their passing and controlled most of the final 45 minutes.
All the players can take great credit in the discipline they showed. They allowed Worthing to have the ball deep in their own half but Cooper and the front 2 were brilliant in their pressing of the midfield in the right areas, superb team work between them. Supplemented by the quality of the passing Rangers created a host of chances. Daley Clark was immense in midfield, showing much better composure. This possession allowed the defence, brilliantly marshalled by Carruthers and ably support by Walsh, to squeeze and relax more than recent weeks. This saw numerous chances created for the visitors. Mhueka header looked in but went straight at the keeper, then Naz headed against the bar from 5 yards. Pamment and Cooper had long range efforts well saved and at the end Perry twice went close after strong runs down the left.
Worthing did have one good effort which was cleared off the line by Dodd at the near post from a corner but Rangers really looked like taking all 3 points.
It wasn't to be as the final whistle came. But the whole team played well, put in a decent shift and played some really neat football.
A mention must got the officials, all 3 superb. The referee, really well assisted, allowed some excellent advantages and controlled the game better than any official this season.
With 5 or 6 missing this week and 2 new faces on the way competition for places is really hotting up and the squad is now probably the strongest Rangers have ever had.
A win followed by a winning run is surely just round the corner.
Gordon, Akehurst (33 minutes Barnes), Walsh, Carruthers, Dodd, Cooper, Clark, Perry, Pamment, Mheuka (80mins Arnoux), Rouanne.
Worthing United 0 - 0 St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team