WRCFA Under 21 League Team 2011/12

Rangers look to blood youngsters

Season 2011/12

Garforth Rangers AFC were the inaugural winners of the West Riding County Football Association's mid-week, floodlit league for players under the age of 21 years.

New Team Manager, Carl Marshall looks to build a side around the club's current U17 Leeds and District Junior League side and the long-serving players in the U21 set up who provide essential experience and guidance for the step up to open-age football.

Garforth Rangers AFC : 1

Thorpe United FC         : 0

21/03/2012, WRCFA U21 League

The scoreline may look familiar as Rangers battled to victory over a good Thorpe side, but Garforth's  season has been marked for it's inconsistency as much as anything.

Sandwiched between these two satisfying performances have been a few where we didn't really turn up. Heavy defeats by sides who competed better on the day tell a story of the season. There's no doubt that our players have the skill and technique but sometimes we womder if they lack a little heart for the battle.

In this game Garforth were resloute in their defensive approach, Drew Gill and Luke Stones, ably assisted by Jack Stoker and Fraser Escritt were alert and first to everything for the most part, leaving stand in keeper, Reed little to do except catch weak shots aimed directly at him.

In mid-field, Matty Ellis & Jake Thompson, holding combined well with Liam Thompson, Tom Hinchliffe and Matty Eaglen to cover every inch of the pitch and contain their opponents. Lone Striker Danny Wiltshire never stopped making runs and closed down where necessary until he had no more to give.

When the war of attrition, it was by no means a dirty game, ebbed a little and the game entered it's final throes, substitutes Booker & Sharp combined to serve up a delightful winning goal that was no more than the performance deserved but in a game of few chances it was the sole effort of quality finishing, by Sharp, where defences otherwise dominated.

Team : Reed, Stoker, Gill, Stones, Escritt, Ellis, Thompson.J, Thompson.L, Hinchliffe, Eaglen, Wiltshire : Booker, Sharp

Sherburn White Rose FC : 0

Garforth Rangers AFC    : 1

05/10/2011, WRCFA U21 League

Despite the superb playing surface, conditions were less that ideal for this game as a strong wind blew across the pitch making passing football tricky to say the least.

Key players, from last season having moved on due to the age limit, Rangers introduced several 16 year olds to this level of football and if they found it a challenge they hid it well. Captained by veteran, at 20 years old, Drew Gill and ably supported by the returning Stogdale, in goal, Rangers otherwise very young backline were solid throughout. Rob Fothergill, usually to be found plying his trade in mid-field, at centre back and the two full backs Escritt & Thorpe completed the unit that were to be tested by the conditions with every kick.

Early possession was dominated by Garforth and their mid-field quartet of Stoker, Ellis, Field & Hinchliffe kept the ball well, considering the problems caused by the elements. Up front Marshall & Booker looked sharp and did their best to ensure possession was not squandered lightly so as to give defenders a breather. In view of the amount of possession Rangers enjoyed, a single goal from Marshall was perhaps scant consolation and didn’t seem to be enough of a half-time lead from seeming to have the benefit of the wind behind them.

The second-half opened with Hill replacing Field and Rangers under siege as the wind now assisted their opponents and kept them hemmed in their own half for long periods. Solid defending was now the order of the day to protect their slender first half lead and to say they stepped up to the plate would be an understatement as despite being under the cosh for the most part Garforth had what seemed a quality goal chalked off, by a labouring ref, and several further attempts at goal as Sherburn sent players forward in desperation. Fresh legs in the form of Allsop and Eaglen helped to ensure the points went to Rangers.

Debut Manager, at this level, Carl Marshall could not hide his delight at holding out for a win and was so obviously proud of the young players also on debut, he singled out the defence for special mention and Captain Drew Gill praised both full backs Escritt & Thorpe for sticking determinedly to the pre-match game plan.

Team: Stogdale,Gill,Fothergill,Thorpe,Stoker,Ellis,Field,Hinchliffe,Marshall,Booker : Allsop, Eagle, Hill