Match Report
Match Report - 28 Jan 2012, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to East Grinstead Town
Rangers dominated the game but somehow ended up on the losing end of another home defeat. They battled back from 2 down to equalise, only to concede from a set piece in injury time.
With Luke Leppard absent through work commitments Jake Forward came in to midfield, with Rangers deploying a new adventurous 4-3-3 system with the ball. This saw Pamment move up top and he excelled, his movement was superb bettered by his link play with quick incisive passing.
The new system allowed Cooper and Forward to bomb on from midfield and it was these runs that saw Rangers twice go close in the opening 15 minutes in which they dominated. Cooper found himself in space in the box but with the keeper to beat he found the angle too tight and fired over.
Whiteford had a good chance after some neat build up play before Pamment flashed wide,
Rangers were well on top but against the run of play they fell behind. Dodd careless pass put the forward through one on one against Walsh. The forward was pulling at Walsh shorts and as they fell the referee gave a free kick just on the edge of the box. It was a harsh decision but one that , if a foul, should have seen Walsh pick up at least a yellow if it was a foul but he escaped unpunished.
Michael Death mis hit the free kick but it crept under the wall to squeeze home beyound Gordon.
The goal saw East Grinstead gain in confidence and the remainder of the half was more even. Pamment and Perry had half chances for Rangers, whilst Death had another effort saved. Carruthers then twice had shots on goal saved and blocked as Rangers looked destined to equalise.
Just before half time the visitors extended their lead. Clark played a blind pass straight to Downs on the half way line, who released Hider who cooly clipped the ball over the advancing Gordon.
Rangers could count themselves really unfortunate to be down at the break, 2 errors punished.
But Rangers came out determined in the second period and dominated the half, and on a difficult pitch playing some fabulous football in the process.
An O Neil corner was headed home by Perry at the near post and this sparked Rangers in to action.
Whiteford soon had the ball in the net with a superb finish but he was flagged offside. O Neil had a long range effort saved, Pamment shot wide, Cooper had a effort well blocked and Pamment went close again. Minutes later he made ammends for that miss with a fabulous finish after a great through ball from O Neil.
It only seemed a mater of time before Rangers dominance put them in front but they failed to convert their chances.
Walsh should have earnt a penalty when he was pulled back when he went to put the ball in an empty net, following up a rebound after the keeper spilled Forwards long range effort.
The keeper fumbled again and Pamment had the goal at his mercy but somehow hit the bar from 6yards.
The visitors pushed Tony Read up front and that gave Rangers a lot more problems. From a right wing cross Read headed against the bar, before his close range shot was well saved by Gordon.
Then in injury time Rangers switched off again as a right wing corner was flicked on by read and headed home from 2 yards out at the back post by Nial Lee. Rangers still had time to grab another equaliser and it looked sure they would. Carruthers flicked on O Neils cross and Daley Clark had the simple task of heading home from 2 yards at the far stick. Unfortunately Cooper got in the way and headed over!
Overall Rangers should feel pleased with their performance as they dominated the football. But their errors were punished and sometimes it is the result that's more important than the style.
Kieran Colligns was pleased with how the team adapted to a new system, particularly only having spent 30 minutes in training on it in the week.
They carried out instructions perfectly and 95% of the game went to plan, it was just unfortunate that other 5% was punished.
Team: Gordon, O Neil, Dodd, Carruthers, Walsh, Perry (Pople 67mins), Whiteford, Pamment, Cooper, Forward, Clark.
MOM: Pamment
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 2 - 3 East Grinstead Town