Match Report
Match Report - 24 Mar 2012, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Chichester
Chichester 4 Rangers 0
Rangers travelled to Chichester in a battle of the basement teams with 11 players unavailable through injuries and suspensions, plus Whiteford, Pamment and Forward all playing when not fully fit.
That meant a major reshuffle with Barnes partnering Philpott, for his third spell at the club, at the back with Leppard at right back. Youth players Strange and Maskell got their first taste of senior football from the bench with coach Flomo making up the other sub.
With only 3 combined wins between the teams both would have been looking for a bright start, Rangers would have probably been more confident with Chichester having lost 17 consecutive matches.
However it was the home side who started the better as Rangers didn't turn up for the first half.
The early exchanges were dominated by the home side and they twice had the ball in the net but both efforts were ruled out correctly for offside. They did turn their dominance in to a goal when a slip by Philpot enabled the midfielder to run clean through and round Gordon before slipping into an empty net.
Rangers simply couldn't get to grips with the Chi midfield trio as they continued to dominate. They were lucky not to go further behind as Vasolo pace caused them numerous problems. Romain was desperately trying to drag Rangers back in to the game and it was his pressure that finally led to Rangers first shot.
That seemed to lift Rangers and they gradually got themselves into the game. Forwards pressure released Pamment who had a good chance to score but had his shot saved. Then minutes later he had an even better opportunity but with just the keeper to beat blazed over.
Just when it looked like Rangers would get to half time with just a 1 goal deficit they conceded a second on the stroke of half time. The No 8 made a late run and totally unmarked he volleyed home at the far post.
Rangers had it all to do in the second half and although their performance did dramatically improve they never really looked getting the goal they needed to put the pressure back on the home side. They had a a few shots that the home keeper dealt with and their final passed failed them when well placed.
As Rangers pushed they were caught twice late on as Chi completed a comfortable win.
On a positive note 16 year olds Joe Maskell and Alex Strange both made excellent debuts and showed their senior counter parts their if life in the old dog yet.
Team: Gordon, Leppard, Dodd, Philpott (Strange 67mins), Barnes, Clark, Romain, Forward, Whiteford (80 mins Flomo), Pamment, Pople (58 mins Maskell).
Chichester 4 - 0 St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team