Match Report
Match Report - 20 Sep 2008, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team beat Westfield
Saturday 20th September 2008
St Francis Rangers 4 – 3 Westfield (aet)
FA Vase Qualifying Round 2
Match Report by Gary Lomas
Rangers first ever match in the FA Vase turned out to be a 7 goal thriller with Rangers twice 2 goals in front but needing extra time to finish off the Combined Counties outfit Westfield. Westfield were a big physical side who played some neat football but it was Rangers who twice went close in the first 10 minutes with both chances falling to Phil Gault who was frustrated to see his shot cleared off the line. Rangers looked lively up front with Gault and Jeremiah both working hard and Geoff Pitcher was commanding the middle of the park and when he put Terry Gacias away, his cross was inches away from being turned in. Westfield created their first real chance on 20 minutes when a long clearance eluded both O’Farrell and Djamaluddin and they were relieved to see Simon Lehkyj save well. Rangers lacked a little composure at the back and Djamaluddin was lucky not to give away a penalty when he caught the ankles of the impressive Bulgarian striker, Tony Buzov. On 35 minutes Rangers got the break through after some good build up play from Iain Wood and Geoff Pitcher. Phil Gault fired home from close range from Pitchers pull back. Buzov should have pulled Westfield level when he drove in the side netting after he out muscled Elliott Butler. Right on the stroke of half time, Rangers thought they had gone 2 nil up when Terry Gacias volleyed home from 14 yards only to see the goal ruled out for off-side.
Rangers dominated the start of the 2nd half and Phil Gault should have put Rangers 2 up when he fired wide from a great Ben Palmer cross. A few moments later it was 2 nil when Sam Jeremiah saw his header come back off the bar and he made no mistake with the rebound. The goal seemed to spur Westfield on and they instantly hit back when once again Buzov showed good skills and when Lehkyj failed to hold his shot, Jason Malone made no mistake from close range. On 65 it was 2-2 and no-one could argue that Westfield deserved it. After some sharp passing, David Court made no mistake when one on one with Lehkyj. Rangers made a few changes and Luke Leppard came on for Ben Palmer (injured) and Ian Breeds replaced Jake Forward. Breeds was instantly in the action and his great cross fell to Gault at the back post who pulled the ball back for Iain Woods who couldn’t keep his header down. Rangers could have won it late on when both Pitcher and Jeremiah had half chances.
Sam Palmer replaced Iain Wood (injured) at the start of extra time and his pace down the right started to cause Westfield real problems. Ian Breeds saw his shot cleared off the line and Sam Palmer saw his strong run end in a Rangers corner. It was Sam Palmer that put Rangers back in the lead when he out paced the defenders and the advancing keeper after being put through by Geoff Pitcher. Westfield thought they had equalised right on the stroke of half time but the assistant referee was right to disallow the goal as the Westfield sub controlled the ball with his hand before firing in on goal. Gault could had made it 4-2 to Rangers but saw his shot flash wide but on 113 minutes Gault got his 2nd and Rangers 4th when he headed home a Geoff Pitcher corner. With virtually the last kick of the game, Buzov got the goal his performance deserved when he fired home from close range.
“Our fitness was key in extra time” said Rangers boss Dan Bryan. “We won the game twice today and I was a little disappointed that at 2-0 we didn’t close the match out”. “I was impressed with Westfield and they came to play which made for an entertaining match”.
Rangers: Lehkyj, B.Palmer, Butler Djamaluddin, O’Farrell, Pitcher, Wood, Forward, Jeremiah, Gault, Gacias. Subs: Leppard (B.Palmer 68), Breeds (Forward 76), S.Palmer (Wood 92), Slade & Turpin unused.
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 4 - 3 Westfield