Match Report
Match Report - 20 Dec 2008, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team drew with East Grinstead FC
Saturday 20th December 2008
East Grinstead Town 1 – 1 St Francis Rangers
Sussex County League Division 1
By Gary Lomas
This is game that Rangers dominated pretty much from start to finish against a very negative home side that appeared to be set out to not lose rather than try and win. In fact it was only the last 20 minutes of the match when the hosts showed any sort of attacking force when they brought on the experienced pair of Simon Funnell and Nick Sullivan. However, Dan Bryan will be ruing the fact that dominance in possession was not turned in to goals. On another day Sam Jeremiah and Jake Forward would have taken some of their chances and put the game to bed but it was a basic error, which gave the hosts the lead against the run of play on 22 minutes. Elliott Butler headed a throw in back towards his goal and when Simon Lehkyj came to punch, Liam Bull beat him to the ball and his header came back of the post for a simple tap in for Michael Belli.
Before that Rangers had 3 decent chances, which were all, spurned. Sam Palmer headed tamely in to the keepers arms from Terry Gacias free kick. Jake Forward fired at the keeper’s legs and the rebound was fired over from Jeremiah and then Tom Djamaluddin fired wide from a corner. Rangers continued to press but after good build up play, it was the choice of the final ball, which kept letting them down.
The 2nd half started pretty much the same as the first, Rangers were asking all the questions and Jeremiah should have drawn Rangers level but headed over a Gacias corner from inside the 6-yard box. Moments later Rangers though they had a penalty when Jake Forward was pulled back in the box but the ref waved away the claims. It was Forward again in the thick of it and when he unsettled the host’s big defenders, he failed to hit the target when really well placed. Andy Brown was replaced on 60 minutes by Iain Wood after picking up a knock to his ankle which must make him doubt for the Boxing Day fixture, but the introduction of Wood and a shuffle of the pack got Rangers level. A strong run led to Wood being hauled down just outside the box and Terry Gacias in swinging free kick was headed home by Djamaluddin. Simon Lehkyj was instantly in action at the other end when the game opened up and he saved well from Sullivan. Jeremiah had another good chance to take all 3 points but his shot went straight at the keeper after a good run and pass by Sam Palmer.
Rangers boss was pleased with the performance but a little frustrated not to take all the points and he will be looking to keep the unbeaten in 3 going in to the Boxing Day derby with Neighbours Hassocks.
Rangers; Lehkyj, Brown, Butler, B.Palmer, Djamaluddin, Gacias, Breeds, Forward, Jeremiah, Gault, S.Palmer. Subs: Wood (Brown 60), Geard, Gainey both unused.
East Grinstead FC 1 - 1 St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team