Match Report
Match Report - 07 Jan 2012, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Selsey FC
Rangers hoped the new year would bring about a change in their fortunes but it wasn't too be.
Once again Rangers played some excellent attacking football and created more chances than the visitors but the difference was they weren't as clinical and defended poorly to hand their opponents 3 points.
Rangers made 5 changes from their last performance, inforced changes were O Rouke for Keeper Rob Gordon, who tweaked his back washing his car in the morning, Dodd for Leppard (hand injury) at right back, Perry for Gacias and Pople starting up top with Walsh moving back to centre back for Charker (groin).
Rangers started the better and on a poor surface played some excellent football. They should have been awarded a penalty when Ford was man handled in the 6 yard box. That's now 7 penalty decisions that have gone against Rangers in the past 8 games!
Rangers did take a deserved lead when Pamment delivered an excellent free kick and Walsh flicked home.
The goal should have been the catalyst for Rangers to push on but instead they were behind within 10 minutes. Dodd and Walsh missed a long goal kick which found its way through to the Selsey winger who cooly finished across O Rouke.
Reminiscent of last week Selsey took the lead with their second shot on goal. Perry slipped in midfield, the ball was swiftly moved to the left and before Rangers could re group Wimble volleyed home from 6 yards out.
Rangers were now on the back foot and they failed to cope with the pressure. Unlike the opening period where they moved the ball quickly to their danger players they played too deep and took too many wrong decisions.
Throughout the game Selsey pushed a lot of men forward & pressed high up the pitch. The Rangers defenders didn't take that into account in their decision making and instead of having time on the ball they were hassled and hurried in to mistakes. They continually overplayed at the back instead of moving the ball forward to exploit the big gap Selsey offered between the defence and midifeld.
When Rangers did move the ball they continued to look dangerous going forward. After an excellent move down the left Cooper did brilliantly to jink into the box and found himself with just the keeper to beat. The keeper stood up well and made a comfortable save but Cooper really should have done better.
Pople cleverly found some space just inside the box and his curling effort clipped the outside of the post with the keeper beaten.
Like their previous game Rangers created 6 good chances but found themselves 2-1 down at the break.
Manager Collins commended his team on their attacking play but asked them to improve their decision making when deciding to play out from the back. Unfortunately it wasn't absorbed as Rangers gifted Selsey 2 goals after the break.
Clark could not continue after a head injury picked up just before the break and was replaced by Gacias.
He was straight in to the action and released White Ford but taking the ball early on the right foot lacked composure to test the keeper.
The game was evenly poised and Rangers looked like they could get back into the match. Ford picked up an injury and was replaced by Forward on 62 minutes.
Selsey replaced their centre back, who is actually Bognors first choice defender and was playing to gain match fitness after injury.
As Rangers pressed for the equaliser they shot themselves in the foot and conceded the killer third. A complete mis kick by O Neil allowed the Selsey winger clean through and he calmly finished.
The charity did not end as Rangers, despite their half time warnings, once again were caught over playing at the back. Carruthers blocked clearance gifted a chance to Wimble who duly obliged with a neat finish.
Minutes later the visitors scored their 5th. A thrown in was flicked to the edge of the box and with no one picked up the ball was smashed home.
Rangers got a consolation when Walsh headed home a Pamment corner. The 2 goals showed his team mates the desire to make things happen when the ball goes in to the box.
Rangers could have squeezed in a third but the keeper made an excellent save.
Like many games this season Rangers drudged off to defeat having competed and played some decent football. Selsey were clinical when they were gifted the opportunities and O Rouke conceded 5 goals but those apart did not have a save to make.
Team: O Rouke, Dodd, O Neil, Carruthers, Walsh, Cooper, Clark (Gacias 45mins), Pamment, Perry, Pople, Ford (62 mins Forward)
Goals: Walsh x2
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 2 - 5 Selsey FC