Match Report
Match Report - 24 Jan 2009, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team beat Horsham YMCA
Saturday 24th January 2009
Horsham YMCA 1 – 2 St Francis Rangers
Sussex County Football League Division 1
When Rangers boss Dan Bryan asked his team for a performance, he could only probably imagine he would get the response he did. From the first to the last whistle, Rangers were on their toes and gave league leaders YM a real test in a fantastic team performance. Rangers could have been 2 up inside the first 5 minutes if their finishing had been better but Sam Jeremiah fired straight at Rand in the YM goal and then Ben Palmer fired wide after a really good build up with Phil Gault pulling the strings. Elliot Butler and Terry Gacias were dominant in the middle of the park and were being well supported out wide by Chris Maynard and Sam Palmer and it was Rangers width and pace which were constant threats. Butler linked up brilliantly with Maynard only to see his cross turned behind for a corner. The resulting corner saw Jeremiah rise un-challenged but could only watch his header get palmed away by Rand. Moments later Rangers got the break through they deserved and it all came from a really good interception by Ben Palmer. His quick thinking and smart pass found Jeremiah just inside the box and his sharp turn allowed him a yard of space to fire in to the top corner. The goal seemed to give YM the kick into life they needed and Clay Lamont went close with a header from a corner and then slack marking by Rangers saw Paul Elliot turn in un-challenged to make 1-1. Elliot went close to giving YM the lead after a poor pass by Jake Philpott but Si Lehkyj was out quickly to clear the danger. Sam Palmer At the other end Tom Rand handled outside of his box and was fortunate only to see yellow. The resulting free kick saw Gault fire over.
Rangers started the 2nd half exactly like the first and forced 6 consecutive corners and Sam Jeremiah was unlucky not get his 2nd when his shot on the turn just went wide of the upright. Lamont went close for YM at the other end but Lehkyj pulled off a great save and that was really the only notable chance YM had in the 2nd half due to Rangers dominance. Jeremiah went close again on the hour mark after his header from a Maynard free kick was tipped over. Gault thought he had scored when his delightful chip hit the underside of the bar and bounce out; Jeremiah was on-hand to tap home only to be flagged for off-side. Jeremiah again went close with 5 to go but his chip just shave the post and went out to safety. With the clock showing 90, Rangers got the goal they richly deserved. A Maynard corner was headed away and when it fell to Gacias, rather than strike for goal, he chipped the ball back into the YM box and Ben Palmer headed home to leave Rand no chance.
“We needed a performance” said Bryan. “We haven’t been at our best for a while but today shows how far we have come. I thought were fantastic going forward today, our passing was sharp and our work rate was top notch. I don’t think they were expecting us to come here and play today but we fancied our chances here. What we now need to do is follow that up at Whitehawk next week”.
Rangers: Lehkyj, Djamaluddin, B.Palmer, Philpott, O’Farrell, Gacias, S.Palmer, Butler, Jeremiah, Gault, Maynard: Subs: Brown, Harris, Slade, Revell all unused.
Horsham YMCA 1 - 2 St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team