Garforth Villa 2 - Garforth Rangers A 3

03/02/2008 GJFL

Well now we know – this Rangers team won’t go all year without a league win, as Rangers bagged their first 3 pointer with victory in a closely contested local derby.

From the kick off, Rangers were up for this as the first five minutes proved when they were in total control – and I think stunned the boys from Villa who I’m sure understandably given our poor results had turned up expecting a walk over.  To be fair though this victory has been coming for a while – were not a bad side (usually) and today got our just rewards.

The story of the match was that Rangers started well and after testing the keeper early got their rewards when Liam chipped the keeper from distance.  Despite further chances though, Villa came back into the match well and equalized after creatively opening up the defence from the wings and before half time had added a second when their lively striker demonstrated why you don’t give up and always chase down the ball and (legally) took a loose ball from the keeper and slotted home.

So it’s half time and Rangers are losing 2-1 playing up hill and against the wind…but for once this season we didn’t give up, with the lively Joe (playing his first game in ages) creating and scoring the equalisier and with ten minutes to go, Jack got the decisive winner from a well taken corner.  For the last ten minutes both teams had their chances but Rangers grabbed the points.

This was a team that played well for the whole 60 minutes (rather than just in patches) and the result reflected that.  The managers weird Christmas tree type formation (1-4-1-4-1) worked well and the boys played in and stuck to their given position, well most of the time!.  In goal Ryan was magnificent and pulled off a couple of fantastic and very brave saves (and may have a nice black eye to show for it), the defence did their stuff well - Jack was outstanding as usual, Sam and Callum combined well and in the first half Tom B played the centre half role, allowing Robert to wander the pitch in the holding role and set up a number of chances.  Kallum bossed the midfield (as well as the ref!) ably assisted by Adam whilst Joe and Tom played the role of attacking midfielders perfectly allowing Liam to have one of his best games of the season up front.

In the second half, the subs played their part, with Paul having a great game setting up some real chances and Cameron adopting a “you will not pass” role in defence…..and although some of the lads changed position they played those new positions superbly, particularly Tom B who dropped into the hole ahead of the defence whilst Rob had climbed out of it to ably take on the centre half role.

It was no surprise when at the end of the match the manager couldn’t pick a man of the match – all the lads were simply fantastic and deservedly they all were named man of the match (extra pocket money all round mums and dads).  I’m sure Villa will fell hard done by not to have got a draw today – both teams really did play some good football in a great local derby that was a joy to watch, but I think Rangers were the better side and got their just rewards.

Five games left in the league now and another 15 points up for grabs, if you we continue to play like this for the next couple of months there no reason why most if not all of those points cannot be won and perhaps we could even pull off the escape of the century and avoid relegation!  Next week, it’s back to the cup competition - lets build on this performance when we travel to Osset and book our place in the quarter finals.

Well done lads.

Man of the match:  All of them

Team: - R Blackburn, P Cowling, T Barratt, J Wainwright, K Hirst, R Crebbin, A Taylor, T Cliff, L Dent, C Atkinson, J Nightingale, C Robinson, S Connolly

Garforth Rangers A 8 Leeds City Juniors 1

13/01/2008 GJFL – Supplementary Cup

The supplementary cup saw the visit of Division 2 side Leeds City Junior to a windswept comp – a good test for Rangers A given that almost certainly we will be playing division 2 football next year and at last we got our first competitive victory of the 2007/8 season – well done lads.

From the kick off Rangers were on top in this one, and after ten minutes they got the all important opener – when Tom B pulled the ball back to Liam, and from just inside the area Liam tucked the ball into the back of the net.  5 minutes later, Paddy made it two from the spot with a well-taken penalty and by half time it was three after Paul was set up by Tom B and poked the ball home.

The second half followed in much the same vein – Rangers had most of the play although Leeds Juniors always remained a threat.  Paddy got the fourth whilst an unfortunate defensive mix up led to an own goal to make it five.  Probably the second best goal of the game came next when the Leeds City striker hit a beauty from just outside the box that Ryan had no chance with to make the score 5-1 – and to remind Rangers that this was no walk over.

The reminder did the trick though, and shortly afterwards Rangers made it 6 when Paddy rather greedily got his hatrick – taking the ball off Tom just as he was about to shoot.  Ryan’s mazy run from half way should have been rewarded with a goal but it was scrambled off the line only for Kallum H to bury the clearance to make it 7-1.   The best goal of the game was the last, a fantastically taken corner by taken Paddy landed plum in the middle of the box where Kallum H got his second with a wonderful shot on the turn (not sure which part of body we used though to get it!).

So the victory was well won, but all credit too Leeds Juniors – they were no push over and could have added a few more except for the fantastic defence, led by the man of the match Jack as they mopped up almost everything when they had too and generally kept their shape.

Interestingly, despite it being the first win, I don’t think this was our best performance of the season and there is still lots to work on – too often two or three Rangers players were trying to play the same ball, there was very little attempts from distance as we usually tried to walk the ball into the net, there were too many foul throws and we did continue to loose our shape and were lucky not to get punished more often when Leeds broke out of their own half.

But maybe I’m being picky – there was lots of the good stuff and it was win that the lads should be proud of that has been coming for a while and even better we’re in the second round of the cup – who knows perhaps we could even win it.  Lets work on those problem areas for next week and give Rothwell Town a run for their money when we recommence league action.

Man of the match:  Jack Wainwright

Team: - R Blackburn, P Cowling, T Barratt, J Wainwright, K Hirst, R Crebbin, P Wilkinson, A Taylor, T Cliff, N Hartley, R Bugg, L Dent, C Atkinson

Garforth Rangers A 0 Wortley Boys 6

06/01/2008 GJFL

2008 dawned with the visit of run away league leaders Wortley, who earlier in the season had thrashed a very poor Garforth A 9-0 in the first league match of the season…which seamed to set the tone for our performances in 2007.  If this match is setting the tone for 2008 then there is a bright future ahead for Rangers A as the score line today was in no way reflective of the match.

In the first half Rangers were simply the best side – Wortley understandably expecting an easy match hardly got a touch of the ball for the first five minutes as the lads passed it around with style…but unfortunately lacked any cutting impact in the box.  For all the initial pressure, as you would expect from the team at the top of the tree, Wortley began to come more into the game and forced the first goal ten minutes in, giving Ryan between the sticks no chance.

Rangers though continued to have the best of the half and were playing some of the best football of the season – when Wortley attacked the team defended as a unit but also pushed forward well together and they were genuinely unlucky to go in at the break 1-0 down rather than level or even in the lead.

The second half started well for 30 odd seconds, but a soft foul throw gave away possession in the Rangers half and Wortley punished Rangers by adding the second.  Inexplicably (but as has been the norm this season!), Rangers simply stopped playing for ten minutes and just hoofed the ball back to the eager opposition and before you knew it, Wortley were six nil up.

Then for the last 15 minutes we started playing again!  Driven on by Tom Barratt playing the game of his season at centre half and new boy Paul, Rangers started once again to have more of the ball and could well have grabbed a consolation with virtually the last attack of the match but it was not to be.

If Rangers play like this for the remainder of the season then the results will start coming our way – well done to all.  Next week sees the diversion of the challenge cup, lets hope we can play again like this and get that first competitive win of the season.

Man of the match:  Tom Barratt

Team: - R Blackburn, P Cowling, T Barratt, J Wainwright, P Atkinson, K Hirst, R Crebbin, P Wilkinson, A Taylor, T Cliff, N Hartley, S Connelly, T Maher, R Bugg, L Dent.

Garforth Rangers A 0 Rothwell Juniors 4

18/11/2007 GJFL

Winter arrived in Garforth as Rangers entertained title hopefuls Rothwell Juniors, just three weeks after being tonked 8-1 in the cup by them.

Despite the cold though Rangers put on a gutsy display and were really a little unlucky to lose by such a margin –Rothwell had raced into a fortunate 4-0 lead by half time - one goal was one of those “hoofed” return balls from the keepers kick that usually goes harmlessly wide or way over but this time it looped into the net and the second came from a needless penalty as an attacker was brought down as he ran away from goal. 

In the second half, Rangers showed they can play football and kept it goalless, had most of the play in the Rothwell half and concentrated on doing the easy things like passing, moving, playing in the right position etc and should really have had at least one or two goals to show for their efforts.

Difficult to single anyone out really as all of the lads really gave their all despite the wind, the rain and the cold, but of note Tom Cliff was a star at the back in second half, Paddy was everywhere as usual, Jack must have run Tom close to being MOM with a great display of passing and moving, Nathan restored to the side showed what he can do and was a livewire throughout and Callum Atkinson was as commanding as ever at the back.

Play like this next week at Bramley for the full sixty minutes and there is no reason to think that we cannot start picking up some points – well done lads on a much-improved performance.

Man of the match:  Tom Cliff

Team: - P Wilkinson, C Atkinson, J Wainwright, T Maher, R Crebbin, A Taylor, T Cliff, S Connolly, K Hurst, S Irish, T Barratt, S Ward, N Hartley, J Wilson

Garforth Rangers A 0 Colton Juniors 6

11/11/2007 GJFL

After last weeks first win of the season normal service was resumed, as Rangers A were thrashed 6-0 at home by last years Champions, Colton.

Since this age group formed Rangers have never beaten Colton, who have always been a strong team, and on today’s performance there was little likelihood of us making amends as we were never in this one and didn’t really threaten the Colton goal until they had a 3-0 lead and were cruising to victory.

Story of the match was for most of the match Rangers simply failed to defend and play as a team, relying once again on simply booting the ball anywhere…rather than doing the simple things like passing to your own players and moving in space.  Today, after an opening 5 minutes of sustained pressure Colton scored from a deserved penalty and then dominated the first half completely aside from a handful of ineffective Garforth attacks and happily scored two more before half-time.  Second half, Rangers came out of their shells a little and tried to take the game to Colton but simply couldn’t get the breakthrough they needed and after a good fifteen minutes of football, Colton managed to a add a fourth to kill off this spirited comeback and ultimately added two more just to make sure.

With 17 lads on the books, squad rotation is likely to become Neal “Benitiz” Dents way and each week the team on the field will be playing for their places the following week.  Although a disappointing result, this week it was particularly interesting to note that the three substitutes Tom C, Rob and Sam C did indeed rise to this challenge as did Kallum H, Jack, Tom B and the once again outstanding Paddy, who together should be the first 7 names on the team sheet for next weeks particularly tough challenge against Rothwell Juniors…with the remaining four (plus subs) places up for grabs at training on Saturday.

Funny game following football, and when your teams losing everyone’s a critic and knows how it should be done!!  But really for the lads, it’s just about having patience, learning the game and having faith in what the managers ask them to do on a Sunday……the good times will come back again (honest!). 

Interestingly, it’s worth noting in this season long blog, that after the game the lads played a “mixed-side” friendly with Rangers B whose opposition had failed to turn up.  I may have read it wrong, but for me it was a joy to watch all the kids having fun playing football for an hour without any pressure – they were shouting to each other, sharing a joke, playing well and generally having a good time for probably the first Sunday this season…and to me, that’s what playing football is all about when you’re 12 years old …..or in your thirties and beyond….perhaps there’s a lesson for us all in there somewhere. 

Man of the match:  To be announced at training Saturday

Team: - P Wilkinson, C Atkinson, J Wainwright, L Dent, T Maher, R Crebbin, A Taylor, T Cliff, C Robinson, S Connolly, K Hurst, S Irish, T Barratt, S Ward

Garforth Rangers A 6 Durkar Devils Juniors 5

04/11/2007 Friendly

Well okay, there were no fireworks, but we’ve won!!  Before this match, the stats for the 2007/8 season were Played 8, Drawn 1, Lost 7, Won 0….but now we know we know we wont go through the whole season without winning!  Alright we’ve been close before (and had some right stinkers we deserved to lose!) and this was only a friendly, but it was a win!

Being a friendly, the whole squad turned out for this one, which was played as three 30 minute halves to give all the lads the opportunity to play for their place in next weeks starting line up against Colton. 

The first half was really even, both teams played well, and in my opinion Rangers shaded it but they walked off with a score line that read “Rangers 0 – Durkar 2” which absolutely did not reflect the true nature of the half – Durkar had two clear chances in the first half and scored from the both – and on each occasion Tom, back between the sticks for this one had no chance.

Too many times this season when we’ve gone in at the break behind or level our commitment levels have dropped, heads have gone down and we have lost….but not today and by the end of the second “third” Rangers walked off the pitch with a score line that read “Rangers 3 – Durkar 2” and had this been a proper league match we’d have grabbed the points.  What did the damage was a devastating 10 minute spell in which Tom B scored a hat-trick of fantastic goals and the remainder of a half where a Rangers team actually played in their in positions well and defended as a unit – and it was quite possibly the best thirty minutes we have played this year.  Durkar were not out of it by any means but Tom was the equal of anything they could come up with.

Heads held high Rangers trotted out for the third 30 minute period…and immediately switched off and let Durkar equalise!!  However, Rangers continued to press forward and scored two more goals (sorry our normal touchline reporter was absent today so I can’t remember who scored) and also forced an unfortunate own goal to take a healthy 6-3 lead.  Now you’d have thought that Durkar, with only 14 players would be tiring and would give up at this point but to their credit they didn’t.  Firstly they were awarded a penalty for an unfortunate trip, which they failed to convert as Tom pulled off a fantastic save (It was the second attempt at the penalty as the first although converted was ruled out as the Durkar lads ran into the penalty area despite being warned by the referee beforehand not to….learn from that lads - always listen to what the referee tells you!!!.

Missing the penalty spured Durkar on though and they soon added to their tally with two well taken goals in the dying minutes to bring the score to “Rangers 6 – Durkar 5”.  It could have all gone wrong at this point, but despite Durkar having their “tails up” it was really pleasing to see that for the final five minutes Rangers kept the ball in the Durkar half and looked like they were the team that would most likely to add to their tally, rather than a team that would concede a draw!  

This was great performance by the lads against a very good, well disciplined Durkar side who are doing really well in the top flight of the Charles Rice league, and I’m sure a team that will feel hard done by not to have got a draw today.  Everyone of the lads gave their all and didn’t let their heads go down at all, lets hope we can build on this and get a result against Colton next week and start picking up some precious league points.

Man of the match:  Tom Maher

Team: - P Wilkinson, C Atkinson, J Wainwright, L Dent, T Maher, R Crebbin, A Taylor, T Cliff, C Robinson, N Hartley, J Wilson, S Connolly, R Bugg, K Hurst, S Irish, T Barratt, S Ward

Rothwell Juniors 8 Garforth Rangers A 1

28/10/2007 Challenge Cup

Rangers first taste of cup football was always going to be a difficult one against a Rothwell Juniors side who have only been beaten this year by Wortley and are flying high in the league.  With this in mind Rangers took an almost full squad to the match allowing all the lads a run out and the manger a chance to experiment.

Unfortunately, Rothwell did indeed prove too strong for us and ran out worthy winners.  Rangers themselves didn’t play overly badly and there were passages of good play, particularly at the start of the second half when Rangers had a good period of sustained play and pressure and Jack scored a wonderful goal – and it was really good to see all the lads playing until the end and keeping their heads up.

The move to 11 aside can be difficult and as the lads learn their trade there will be days like this but we’re getting better!  The basic skills are clearly there and now the lads really need to learn how to play on big pitches as a team – too often in this match we invited pressure by not clearing are lines effectively -  play the simple passes and that will soon come…..in this match the midfield often was the line of defence, again not allowing us to brake out of our own half and always inviting Rothwell to come on to us. It will come boys – just keep working, keep your heads up and training hard and we may even start to turn this season around.

Man of the match:  Cameron Robinson

Team: - P Wilkinson, C Atkinson, J Wainwright, L Dent, T Maher, R Crebbin, A Taylor, T Cliff, C Robinson, N Hartley, J Wilson, S Connolly, R Bugg, K Hurst, S Irish

Garforth Rangers A 2 – Garforth Villa 4

21/10/2007 GJFL

After last weeks disappointing result from the score line for this one you would guess that Rangers were as bad again – but you would be wrong.  This was a fantastic local derby played in the best spirit of the game and all the lads did us proud.  Okay we lost, but the performance was excellent and all the lads put in the hard work demanded after the last poor performance and each and everyone of them deserved to be named man of the match!

Our star man of the year to date, Paddy, decided that it was time for a turn between the sticks for this match and may well have just found him self a new career with a fantastic performance.  From the off both teams were up for this game and at the risk of falling back into lazy reporting there was significant too-ing and fro-ing for the first twenty minutes of this match with both teams having chances in a very even match, but eventually it was Rangers who took the lead with a well taken goal by James.

Unfortunately, Villa soon equalised beating the offside attack from a long kick from the goalie, giving Paddy no chance and it was just five minutes later when they did the same thing to make it 2-1 at half time.

Five minutes into the second half, Villa got a third with a flowing move and deft shot and they soon beat the offside trap again to make it four.  Did Rangers heads go down – no they didn’t we carried on and James then got a deserved second with a fantastic chip and whilst Rangers pressed to the end for a third – it just wouldn’t come.

What was really good about this match was that not one of the lads went down at all during this match, we battled on to the end and it was clearly a performance to build on moving forward.  This match could have gone either way and to be honest a draw would have been a very fair result – okay, at time’s Rangers defended too high up the field playing the offside trap – but it won’t work on the pitch when the goalie is booting kicks beyond the last line of defence – we absolutely have to defend in “the dropping zone” but the lads will learn that as they mature. 

To sum up, this was the best performance of the season – against an excellent Villa side who will do well this year (and may I add the best played and most good natured derby we have ever played – a great credit to all the players and parents – its was a joy to participate in).

Man of the match:  Adam Taylor

Team: - P Wilkinson, C Atkinson, J Wainwright, L Dent, T Maher, R Crebbin, A Taylor, T Cliff, C Robinson, N Hartley, J Wilson, S Connolly, R Bugg

Stanningly Albion 4 – Garforth Rangers A 0

14/10/2007 GJFL

Strange one this.  We arrived for the late kick off at Stanningly to be greeted by one of the biggest pitches we have played on this year, which considering the time of year was rather boggy and the grass somewhat longer than we are used to – but both sides have to play on it so no particular problems with that.

In the first half, nearly all the play was in the Rangers half and Stanningly had most of the play yet Rangers had the best chance to go one up with a break away goal – halftime score 0-0.  In the second half the game was played mainly in the Stanningly half and yet Rangers lost 4-0!

Difficult to put your finger on what exactly went wrong today – as we did everything badly - we didn’t pass, we relied on hoofing the ball up the field to no-one in particular, for 50 minutes every clearance we had went to an opposition player and generally we were second to every ball.   To be fair, three of the Stanningly goals were what could be classed as “break-away” goals leaving Tom with no chance but they were worthy winners.

There were passages of play that reminded us of what Rangers can do - Liam played his best game of the season on the right – but he didn’t have support of players moving ahead of him until the second half when Cameron arrived on the scene (who also played really well) finally allowing the ball to get to the striking partnership of Tom and Tom and providing opportunities for us to least test the keeper but no goals were forthcoming.

So to sum up - First half – we battle well and stayed in it….second half we let in a breakaway goal, heads went down, most players started walking and dropping in and out of the game as and when they felt like it and we deservedly lost 4-0. 

Guys you simply have to learn to start to play as a team and to have that will to win, to keep going and pushing to the end – we did it last week and it was a great performance – this week the old Rangers were back and it wasn’t pretty.  Next week it’s the local derby as we host Villa at the Comp – if we can’t raise our game for that one then perhaps we should all pack it in.

Man of the match:  Liam Dent

Team: - P Wilkinson, C Atkinson, J Wainwright, L Dent, T Maher, R Crebbin, T Cliff, C Robinson, N Hartley, J Wilson, T Barratt, R Bugg; S Connelly

Garforth Rangers A 2 – Rothwell Town 2

07/10/2007 (GJFL)

What a great morning for playing football – and for once what a great Rangers performance.  Rangers did almost everything right – the bits that have been missing from previous performances – passing, moving, chasing down the ball, wanting to win – were here in abundance and we deservedly picked up our first point of the season….maybe there is hope for us after all.

From Ryan in the goal to Tom C upfront every player had a fantastic game.  The defence played as a unit marshalled as usual by Adam, Paddy bossed  the midfield which connected well with the strikers and in the first half Rangers had numerous chances to take the lead – although Rothwell also had there chances and at one stage rattled the bar at half time it was 0-0 with Rangers just shading it.

Second half started with Ryan pulling off a fantastic fingertip save which seemed to spur the team on more and Rangers then played the best twenty minutes of 11 aside football we have seen and went 2-0 up.  Firstly, Paddy played in Tom C who fair and square beat the offside trap and buried the ball in the net and then Paddy made it two from the spot (at the second attempt) after Tom C had been brought down in the box.

At two nil up you’d think we would have this one in the bag but understandably given the recent results Rangers were nervously playing out the match and Rothwell got back into it with a delightful lob that left Ryan with no chance.  Rothwell then piled on the pressure yet Rangers could have had a couple of breakaway goals as Tom B went close twice running through the middle with just the keeper to beat – on both occasions the keeper did enough to keep him out.

With almost the final kick of the game, Rothwell pressure paid off and they scrambled one in to level the score – which on reflection was probably a fair result.

A great game though – well done lads - play like this every week and we will pick up a hatful of points this season.

Man of the Match:  Tom Cliff

Team: - P Wilkinson, C Atkinson, J Wainwright, K Hirst, L Dent, R Bugg, R Crebbin, T Cliff, S Irish, A Taylor, N Hartley, J Wilson, T Barratt, R Bugg; S Connelly

Garforth Rangers A 0 – Seacroft Colts 4

30/08/2007 GJFL

Another sunny morning, another loss…. but it’s not about winning and losing (okay it is eventually about winning but…..) rather at this age it’s about learning to play the game and giving your all – and this week all the lads can be really proud of their performance.  In my humble opinion they were the best team on the pitch, just lacking the killer instinct in the box – but that will come…play like this every week and we will start picking up points very quickly.

From the kick off, Rangers dominated this match, doing all the right things, passing to each other, pressing the opposition, winning the ball…..there was long spells of good play with Rangers winning a number of corners and but for a few off sides then Rangers could easily have taken the lead and it was Paddy who had the best chance of the half with an excellent looping shot just turned around the post by the keeper.

Although Rangers certainly had the upper hand, Seacroft had their moments, generally break away attacks to be fair, but the defence held firm, keeping a good line…. until disaster struck when Kallum hammered a clearance into his own net…..and nothing to be ashamed about – he did all the right things and 99 times out of 100 clearances like that will be fine, Rangers were just going to have one of those unlucky days!.

The manager immediately shuffled the pack after this, bringing on Tom and Joe in an attempt to add some proven goal scoring talent to the mix…..but the goal wouldn’t come.  What was really good though was that not one Rangers players head went down…they continued to play as they had before, passing well and pressing for the equaliser, with Liam, Tom and Paddy all going close.

After the break, Rangers continued to be the better side on the pitch, but unfortunately following a goal mouth scramble found themselves somewhat unfairly 2-0 down….did we give up…no we didn’t!…..unfortunately nor did Seacroft and a yet another goal mouth scramble shortly afterwards left Rangers 3-0 down.

This Rangers side, transformed from last week played on to the end though and still had most of the game but just couldn’t find an opening and it was almost fulltime when from another Seacroft break away the fourth goal came – despite a last ditch attempt at a clearance by Nathan.

This week all the players deserve credit and picking the man of the match must have difficult – almost every player played his position well (and stayed in it!) and importantly they talked to each other and passed the ball around well.  Honourable mentions must go to Cliffy, Liam, Paddy (again!), Cameron, and Jack who in my opinion played the best they have all season.

Football is an easy game but strangely one of the hardest to learn – this was a performance the lads can really build on.  Had we been better at clearing the ball when it was in the box, holding a tighter offside line and pushing out quicker and perhaps a little luckier when in the final third then this result could easily have been 4-0 to Rangers.  Next week sees the visit of Rothwell Town – the only other team in league not to have a point – build on this performance and there is no reason not to think that we will be able to take those first points of the season and move away from last place in the table. 

Man of the match:  Kallum Hirst

Team: - P Wilkinson, C Atkinson, J Wainwright, L Dent, T Maher, R Crebbin, S Irish, A Taylor, T Cliff, K Hirst, C Robinson, N Hartley, J Wilson, J Nightingale, T Barratt

Wortley Boys 9 – Garforth Rangers A 0

23/08/2007 GJFL

Yes you’ve read that right – it says 9-0 to them!  It was a nice late summers day – the sun was shining and a gentle breeze blowing as we made our way to Wortley Wrec to play certain championship contenders Wortley….we knew it would be a tough game but I don’t think anyone expected just how badly Rangers would play and quite frankly this was the most inept performance I have witnessed since they formed some 4 years ago…there have been highs and lows in that time but this lads was the worst yet.

Strangely enough it started well and for ten minutes the game was even, okay we didn’t particularly trouble the Wortley keeper, but Tom wasn’t particularly troubled either and dare I say it I believed we were holding our own – Paddy as usual was outstanding but the whole team appeared to be up for it, chasing down Wortley whenever they had the ball….then disaster a Wortley break away and Tom had no chance – one nil to the Wortley boys and it was at this point that the Rangers game simply collapsed.  Now potentially the Wortley goal came from a player breaking forward from an offside position, the players themselves were sure it did…but quite simply that’s tough.  The ref simply cannot see every offside, and linesman in this league cannot flag for them so it will happen, he made a decision that it was not off-side so there you go – play on…do not argue, do not let your heads go down and give up – play on…..the ref will not change his mind.  Without doubt I guarantee that there will be times this season when Rangers get the benefit of doubt and it’s unlikely we react in the same way in that circumstance.  Anyway, somewhat put out by the perceived injustice of the situation Rangers did give up and within a couple of minutes it was 3-0 to the Wortley boys….and 4-0 by half time (I think).

Now interesting, Rangers best bit of play came immediately the second half started – why…because we passed the ball at least 7 times and moved it around well, Liam, Paddy, Jack, Callum, showing us just what they could do….then we lost the ball and gave passing up as a bad idea for the rest of the game.  A number of other things were noticeable in the second half, including:

·          Most of the lads didn’t play in their given position and had forgotten everything they know about the 11 a-side game…..on more than one occasion the last man in defence was one of our forwards.

·          When out of position, nobody covered…and some managed to get as far out of position as possible by taking all sorts of free kicks and throw in’s.

·          We were always trying the “glory balls” from deadball situations and attempting to hoof it three quarters of the way up the field (which 99.9% of the time ended at the feet of a Wortley player).  Why not take a quick short ball – concentrate on doing the easy stuff well and we will be a lot better as team.

·          Most of the lads were slower to the ball than Wortley and appeared on this performance to be half as fit as the opposition.

I could go on, but I won’t and at 9-0 to the Wortley boys the ref finally put us out of misery (They shoot horses don’t they?).  To end this tirade – are Wortley better than us?  Maybe and they will certainly be in the title hunt and I wish them all the best and hope they do it, but are they 9-0 better than us?  They shouldn’t be and I hope that by the time of the rematch (January) that the boys remember this humbling reminder of why they have to keep going regardless, play in their positions and keep their heads up at all times…and maybe just maybe we can play at our best and demonstrate that actually when we play we are as good as any team in League 1.

Man of the match:  Paddy Wilkinson (third match in row - gave his all and well deserved).

Team: - P Wilkinson, C Atkinson, J Wainwright, L Dent, T Maher, R Crebbin, S Irish, A Taylor, T Cliff, R Bugg, K Hirst, C Robinson.

Garforth Rangers 2 – Bramley Phoenix Juniors 4

16/08/2007 GJFL

After last week’s away loss (less said about that the better but well done to Paddy for picking up the man of the match award), normal reporting service was resumed as Rangers played their first home game of the season.  This season we have moved to play our home games on the larger pitch at Garforth Comp…..the sun was shining, a gentle breeze wafted down the pitch and it was a genuinely good day to playing football (just wait till February – it will be freezing down there!).

Anyway, hopes were high that we could get our first points of the season but it was not to be.  Bramley arrived on the back of a good win last week and were a well-organised team.  The first half was played in the best spirits of the game and whilst Rangers really had the best of it, we simply could not make it show in the last third of the pitch. Sam Irish was whipping in some of the best corners you’ll see taken in this league yet the break through just wouldn’t come.  Bramley were restricted to breakaway attacks but the defence were always up to the task, particularly Jack and Callum, and it was pleasing to see that the off-side trap was played well.  However, as half time approached most of the Rangers team started to bunch in midfield, as did our opposition to be fair, and this lead to game of long balls over the top and it was on the stroke of half time that Bramley played such a move, raced up the pitch and took the lead.

As the second half started, the gentle breeze started to become a bit of gale, which unfortunately Rangers were playing directly into.  Undeterred, Rangers pushed for the equalizer but whilst there was the odd flash of good play and passing movement, most of the team still remained fascinated with half way line, so when Rangers did get a chance, much needed support was not available and our attacks were quickly broke down.  5 minutes in, and a off the ball push gave Bramley a chance to whip in a free kick from just outside the area but Ryan confidently gathered with another of his wonderful saves.  However, this excellent Bramley team were starting to get in the groove and would have increased their advantage had an off-side strike not insisted on having the final touch….. but Rangers failed to heed this warning and just moments later Bramley did legitimately tear the defence apart and took a 2-0 lead.  There then followed a period where Rangers simply couldn’t get out of their own half… heads had gone down, players were getting frustrated and it soon became 3-0 to the visitors….and were it not for some good work from Rob and Jack but in particular the outstanding Paddy, then the score would have been a lot worse.  At 3-0 down, Rangers then picked themselves up a little, got on with playing the game instead of moaning and moping and as the match drew to a close first Sam Irish and then Joe brought the score back to a more respectable 2-3.  There was literally two minutes to go by this time and all of a sudden the game became very open, Bramley, who thought they had this on in the bag, were on the ropes and Rangers tried all they could but couldn’t make an impact as the Bramley keeper kept the doors shut ….and it was his long clearing kick that led to a last minute corner which the Bramley striker, helped enormously by the wind, curled straight into the net to end the match with a 2-4 score line.

This year is going to be a tough one for the lads with some decent teams to compete against and next week sees us visit Wortley Boys, who must be considered genuine championship contenders.  But…there is no reason to believe we will lose IF the boys apply themselves…they can play good football and for longs spells were the best team on the pitch today.  If they keep it together for the whole hour, stop bunching, pass the ball and stop getting frustrated when things are not going to plan then we can, and will beat any of our opposition this year.

Man of the match:  Paddy Wilkinson (again and well deserved).

Team: - P Wilkinson, J Nightingale, C Atkinson, J Wainwright, L Dent,  T Maher, S Connolly, R Crebbin, S Irish, A Taylor, T Cliff, R Bugg, T Barratt.