Match Report
Match Report - 29 Nov 2011, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Lancing
Rangers played their part in a very entertaining game at Culver Road and will feel they deserved at least a point against their high flying hosts. They had a big penalty shout turned down and had 2 clear cut chances at the end to pick up the 3 points they deserved.
In a very tight game chances were at a premium and the difference was a converted penalty by sub Sadoah on 71 minutes.
The work rate, commitment and desire was shown all over the pitch with Rangers players superb in their decision making in closing down the opposition to win the ball back. On a perfect, wide pitch, they then had the composure to knock the ball around and for the majority of the match they played the better controlled football. The movement of the ball from back to front was excellent and down the left O Neil and Pamment linked up superbly and showed a real danger.
Despite the excellent possession and neat football neither keeper was really tested in the first half, with Rangers just about shading proceedings with a couple of half chances missed and 2 long range shots from Pamment.
The second half was very similar with Rangers keeping the ball well and playing with confidence. Daley Clark and Rob Cooper dominated possession in the middle of the park but were also key in breaking up play. Pamment picked up a slight hamstring strain and with that the danger down the left subsided slightly but Josh Perry then pick up his game and looked a real threat down the right.
The home side played a little more direct but the Rangers back 4 were superb in their defending. Their desire got them to the ball first and positional play was excellent through out the game.
Rangers brought on the returning Luke Leppard to inject some much needed pace up top and he made an immediate impact. Twice he got in behind and won Rangers corners and then he put one of his thunderous tackles in to collect a harsh booking. Daley Clark was on the end of a very late tackle, so late the referee had turned his back, which meant he had to come off, replaced by the fit again Terry Gacias who slotted in seamlessly.
Lancing had a couple of chances but the game was evenly poised until the 71 st minute. Walsh got tight to his man, as he did all game, but the forward managed to evade his marking and fell to the ground. It looked a harsh penalty from the sidelines but Sadoah converted well.
Rangers bought on Rose for Pamment and they showed great spirit to stay in the contest. Livewire Perry burst in behind the home defence and only needed to square to the unmarked Leppard but his cross evaded him. Then the visitors should have had the penalty of their own. Another great run down the left saw the ball run across the face of the goal and as Leppard went to put the ball in to the net he was bundled over from behind. It was a blatant penalty and would probably have resulted in a red card.
When you are down the bottom the luck seems to go against you. As Rangers pressed hard they left a bit more space and Lancing had two shots well saved by Gordon and then Gainsford had a header just go wide.
Matt Carruthers drove the team forward and it was his long pass that allowed Perry to send Pople clean through but the keeper stood up well and saved his left footed shot.
In the final minute a great passage of passing which involved nearly the whole side and 15 passes, put Cooper through but from 6 yards out he hit his effort straight at the keeper.
Rangers had given their all but the luck evaded them.
Team: Gordon, Dodd, Carruthers, Walsh, O Neil, Pamment (75mins Rose), Cooper, Clark (65mins Gacias), Perry, Rouanne (70 mins Leppard), Pople
MOM: Matt Carruthers, faultess
Lancing 1 - 0 St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team