Match Report
Match Report - 14 Jan 2012, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team beat Storrington
Rangers 5 Storrington 0
Rangers finally ended their long winless run with a well deserved victory in the Brighton Charity Cup. It is a real tonic for the club and there was a great buzz for the players. With the great talent at the club, this could be a real turning point for the players as they push towards safety in the final third of the season.
Missing several key players those who came in did exceptionally well and demonstrates the strength in depth at the club.
With Glen Charker the only recognised centre back available in the club Daley Clark dropped back into the back 4.
That saw Charlie Romain come in alongside Cooper in midfield, with Leppard partnering Pople up top.
In recent weeks oppositions have been extremely clinical and really punishing Rangers. For once though it was Rangers who took some of the numerous chances created, whilst Storrington let the home side off as they missed a hatful of opportunities and found Gordon in superb form.
Gordon is an inspiration for Rangers and his presence breathes huge confidence in the side. Some of his saves were exceptional and only Leppard denied him the man of the match award. He scored 1, set up 2 goals and created several more chances with his pace and brilliance on the ball. His energy, work rate and appetite to play football is an example and he thoroughly deserved his goal.
Storrington missed 2 good early opportunities as Rangers took a while to settle but the home side got on top and started to dominate. They created a number of chances before they took the lead when O Neil's deep cross was volleyed home by Pople.
To their credit Storrington came back into the game and deserved an equaliser before Rangers 2nd goal allowed the home side to relax and go on to secure a comfortable win.
O Neils corner somehow found the back of the net, with a defender having the last touch. That bit of luck had deserted Rangers in recent weeks and was the catalyst which saw Rangers dominate the final 30 minutes.
Romain became a bigger influence as the game wore on and linked the play well. Youth player Tom ward came on with 25 minutes to go and slotted in well on his debut.
Leppard pace caused the visitors defence problems all afternoon and he was twice denied before he set up Pople for Rangers third. Substitute Forward superbly curled in Rangers 4th before Leppard got his deserved reward with a cracking finish.
On another day Leppard could have had a deserved hattrick, as could Regan for the visitors.
Whiteford should have put the icing on the cake with the 6th but having rounded the keeper he collided with Leppard, who hunger saw him desperate for another.
The performance now gives manager Kieran Collins a headache for selection with Ringmer visiting next week.
Team: Gordon, Dodd, Clark, Charker, O Neil, Cooper (68 mins Ward), Romain, Pamment, Perry (60 mins Forward), Pople (68mins Whiteford), Leppard
Yellow Leppard
MOM: Leppard just shaded Gordon
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 5 - 0 Storrington