Match Report
Match Report - 25 Oct 2008, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Shoreham
Saturday 25th October 2008
St Francis Rangers 1 – 2 Shoreham
Sussex County League Division 1
Match Report by Gary Lomas
RANGERS got exactly what they deserved from this match – Nothing. Dan Bryan gave a few home truths after the match as he was left deflated by a sub standard performance. “At least on Tuesday against Hailsham we worked hard even if we didn’t play that well. Today we had nothing and were very poor.” However, after changing our formation at half time, I thought we had a 10 minutes spell at the start of the 2nd half which looked like we might get something from the match only to give away an incredibly soft goal though our own mistakes.” I will be looking for a big reaction on Tuesday from the players as Lingfield will not be an easy place to go.”
The first 15 minutes were really scrappy with both sides squandering possession way to easily and it was the visitors who had the first real chance of the match. Tom Djamaluddin back in the starting line up after injury misjudged a header and Rob Boddy placed the ball wide of Simon Lehkyj’s post when well placed. It was then Rangers turn to fire wide after probably the only real piece of quality they delivered all day. The move started from a Shoreham corner, which Chris Maynard started and nearly finished after collecting the ball on the edge of the Rangers box. Gault and Jeremiah were both involved and when Jeremiah crossed for Maynard he managed to slice his shot wide from close range. Jeremiah then failed to beat the keeper from close range after another breakaway from a Shoreham corner. Kevin Keehan sliced his shot on to the Rangers bar after Simon Lehkyj failed to get any distance on his punch and then Sam Palmer found the side netting at the other end.
Rangers started brightly at the beginning of the 2nd half and after some great work by Sam Palmer, Phil Gault headed on to the bar from a Maynard corner. The game then swung Shoreham’s way when Djamaluddin gave the ball away and Dan Taylor’s speculative effort from the edge of the box bounced over a Lehkyj and in to the net. Rangers huffed and puffed but with no quality, it was looking unlikely they would get back in to it, however, for all of Shoreham’s possession they never really created too much up top and the excellent Keehan was getting more and more frustrated with the lack of options for him to pick a pass. Rangers did draw level on 72 minutes when Gacias headed a fantastic Maynard free kick home. The celebrations were short lived when Maynard lost possession and then pulled down Boddy to give Shoreham a free kick in a dangerous area. The ball was swung in to the near post and duly dispatched by Darren Annis who drifted in completely unmarked. Shoreham controlled the last 15 minutes and were delighted to hear the final whistle and leave will all 3 points.
Rangers: Lehkyj, Djamaluddin, Butler, B.Palmer, O’Farrell, Gacias, Wood, S.Palmer, Jeremiah, Gault, Maynard. Subs: Forward (Wood 62), Harris (S.Palmer 67), Walton (O’Farrell 70).
St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team 1 - 2 Shoreham