Match Report
Match Report - 11 Oct 2008, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Horsham YMCA
Saturday 11th October 2008
St Francis Rangers 0 – 3 Horsham YMCA
Sussex Senior Cup Round Two
Match Report by Gary Lomas
This match could have been wrapped up by Rangers in the first half but poor finishing proved costly as the vastly experienced YM took control of the 2nd half and made Rangers pay dearly. Rangers Boss, Dan Bryan quoted, “I am not blaming the officials for the result as we failed to take our chances although I do get frustrated at the way some of the ‘big clubs’ appear to get treated very differently to us. We had 5 players booked and one sent off for 2 bookables in a game that was not dirty. Even YM’s manager was amazed by some of the decisions when no common sense was applied.” “However, we are still learning at this level and when you take a look at the team YM had out, I think we did okay and proved we can compete at this level. It was also a big loss to lose Sam Jeremiah who picked up and injury playing for Sussex mid week.”
Phil Gault should have put Rangers one up within the first minute when he intercepted a back pass but could only fire at the keepers legs. A few minutes later Jake Forward and Iain Wood both saw their efforts sail over the bar. Wood was once again in the thick of it and James Virgo did well to get in a last ditch tackle when Wood was about to pull the trigger. YM had their first real chance 20 minutes in and it fell to ex Lewes player Matt Geard but he failed to trouble Simon Lehkyj with his chip. Maynard was the next guilty Rangers player to miss when through on goal as he saw his shot strike the keepers legs. From the resulting corner, Sam Palmer headed over from 6 yards out unchallenged. It was very much starting to look like one of those days. Terry Gacias was first to go in the book for a tackle on Geard and it wouldn’t be long before he followed him in the book when he tussled with Rangers skipper O’Farrell. Out came the yellow and Geard and O’Farrell brought the ref’s tally to 3 for the half. Just before half time, Phil Gault showed a fantastic touch in the box but failed to get a shot off and moments later, he headed a Jake Forward cross wide.
YM started brightly in the 2nd half but it was Jake Forward for Rangers who had the first chance but could only slice his shot wide of the mark. Martyn Flack headed over for YM and then Lehkyj pulled of his first real save of the match from Scott Marshall. Phil Gault then saw his shot blocked after some good link up play from Forward and Djamaluddin. Lehkyj was the next Rangers player in the book when he collided with Paul Elliott. The ref took an age to stop the play and give the free kick and to everyone’s amazement he booked Lehkyj! It was Elliott who opened the scoring on 60 minutes. Rangers had possession of the ball in their own half and then gave the ball away too cheaply and got punished as Elliott fired home from close range. Rangers chased the game and Bryan made 3 substitutions to change things around. Maynard was replaced by Chris Cook, Geoff Pitcher came on for Elliott Butler and Ian Breeds replaced Jake Forward. Geoff Pitcher had an instant impact and started to pull the strings. He saw his free kick failed to trouble the keeper and then he failed to shoot after delightfully bringing the ball down in the box. With 3 minutes to go, Rangers got caught on the break and Ben Palmer brought down Elliott in the box and picked up Rangers 4th yellow. Elliott picked himself up to take the penalty which Lehkyj comfortably saved. Once again the official decided to take centre stage and gave YM another chance from the spot stating Lehkyj has moved! Elliott made no mistake with the re-take. Rangers tempers were sky high at this stage and they must learn to control them better if they want to be successful this season because moments after the kick off, O’Farrell was adjudged to have fouled Elliott and his frustration boiled over as he kicked the ball away. Everyone knows this is a bookable offence but considering the ball went about 3 foot and it was the last minute of the game, it was slightly surprising to see another yellow branded followed by red. Phil Gault went in the book for remonstrating and then to rub salt in wounds, Elliott completed his hat-trick with the last kick of the game.
Rangers: Lehkyj, Djamaluddin, Butler, B.Palmer, O’Farrell, Gacias, Wood, Forward, S.Palmer, Gault, Maynard. Subs: Cook (Maynard 66), Pitcher (Butler 72), Breeds (Forward 80), Jeremiah unused.
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 0 - 3 Horsham YMCA