Match Report
Match Report - 03 Dec 2011, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team drew with Sidley
Rangers hit back to secure another draw in a game where they should have taken all 3 points. They played some lovely neat football but again failed to take their chances and luck continues to desert them as 2 blatant penalty appeals were waived away.
With 7 players unavailable Pat Rose came in for Josh Perry, with Mikael Arnoux partnering Louis Pople up front.
After a slow start Rangers got their passing going and controlled the majority of the first half. However Sidley scored against the run of play with their first shot. Some neat passing released the winger inside O Neil and his cross found Holt unmarked 6 yards out to convert. Rangers made a tactical switch to combat the narrow opposition and it helped Rangers grab a foothold in the game.
Arnoux gave Rangers more pace up top and his running gave more space to the midfield which they exploited well. A fantastic 40 yard pass by O Neil sent Cooper through and with a great first touch he fired a shot which some how Christie saved. Rangers short passing was excellent but the 40 yard passes sprayed by Carruthers and O Neil really put Rangers on the front foot and supplied some great ammunition for the front two. Pamment and Rose saw a lot of the ball out wide and looked dangerous, Rose sending over one fabulous cross which Pople headed wide. The visiting full backs were also getting forward with every opportunity and had excellent games.
Rangers were well on top and should have been level.
Cooper's energy was incredible in the first period and one lung bursting run saw released by an excellent through ball. As he went to shoot he was shoved from behind in the box, it was a blatant penalty but not awarded.
Pople then had a great chance to score but fired wide and Pat Rose also saw an effort go over.
Walsh was booked for an innocuous hand ball, despite his protests.
A clever turn by Arnoux in the box saw his cross shot come back off the far post to safety.
Sidleys front two looked dangerous in possession and ran the channels very well, offering a great outlet. Had they received better service than the long pumped balls they may have caused more problems for Rangers but instead they carried on hitting long balls all afternoon.
Pamment was then kicked out of the action, a red card offence for the assault only received a yellow card. He was replaced by Charlie Romain with Cooper pulling right in midfield.
Rangers somehow went in at the break trailing to that early goal and they made a second change at the break. Glenn Charker slotted alongside Matt Carruthers with Walsh moving up front.
The move worked as Rangers again dominated and created a host of chances. They played some great, quick incisive football, one such move led to the equaliser. A move, involving 6 players and 10 passes saw Romain put through and this time he smashed the ball past Christie.
Rangers had their tails up and pushed for the winner, Pople three times going close. Cooper went on some mazy runs, bamboozling the home defence but too often he help on too long and the end result never materialised. He shows great balance and draws defenders but needs to learn to release the ball quicker to help his team mates.
Charlie Romain was having a positive impact with his simple, 1 touch passing and was at the heart of most of the good moves Rangers created.
Walsh picked up a back injury and with Mikael already withdrawn coach Flomo had to go on up top. He made an immediate impact putting himself about.
Rangers should have been awarded another penalty when Cooper was again bundled over in the box but again their appeals went unanswered. That's 3 stone wall penalty appeals not won in last 2 games, these decisions seem to go against you at the bottom.
The fussy referee then sent Rangers manager to the stands for asking a free kick to be taken from the correct spot. Once he sent Collins off the assistant referee ensured the free kick was taken from the correct spot, so Kieran was right all along!
Clark gave Rangers the steely edge they have lacked in some many games this season and his added composure has really enabled Rangers to flourish recently.
From a deep cross down the right Pople had a header scooped off the line and then Flomo had an effort go wide.
Sidley always offered a threat on the break and they had their own chances as Rangers tired in the final 15 minutes. First Rob Gordon did brilliantly to save at Holt feet and then after O Neil slipped the cross shot evaded everyone. Sidley had another 2 or 3 close chances but the ball didn't break kindly.
Another slip by O Neil allowed Holt in but Carruthers got a great block in.
Carruthers then had a free kick well saved at the other end. He was then on the end of a very late tackle which saw another caution, soon followed by Cooper.
A late flurry in the visitors box saw a late escape but having dominated possession for so long Rangers will feel they should have taken all 3 points.
Team: Gordon, Dodd, Walsh (67mins Flomo), Carruthers, O Neil, Clark, Cooper, Rose, Arnoux (45 mins Charker), Pamment (45mins Romain), Pople
Yellows: Walsh, Romain, Cooper
MOM: Clark
Sidley 1 - 1 St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team