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GINGER NINJA ROGERS INSPIRES RANGERS TO 4-1 WIN |
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Rangers headed out to Warren Farm to face their old adversaries Larkspur Rovers. Although the opposition’s faces seem to be different each year there is always a score to settle. This time to avenge defeat in last season’s League Trophy. It was another warm day, Headstone lined up with three changes from their last fixture. Don Ellam made his league debut up front with Carl Grayson and Alan Hunter was back in the defence to tighten things up. Could Rangers bounce back from last week’s poor display? It certainly looked that way as Captain Richard Clarke and Matt Rogers dominated the midfield battle from the off. On a smaller pitch it was always going to be more physical and the midfield four were winning everything. Anything that did get past was snubbed out by the defence, Alan Hunter playing particularly well, fullbacks Phil Crowcroft and Simon Reynolds linking up well down the flanks. The first real incident was an introduction for new boy Ellam to Referee Secretary John Lewis, whistle happy John was happy to deafen everyone and book Elam for dissent. The referee was making his usual double standard decisions, but even he couldn’t find much fault with Rangers football. Headstone started to play some cracking stuff and soon produced a few shots at goal, but nothing to trouble the goalkeeper yet. A few corners were forced and eventually, after some good work down the right from Grayson, Nick Wale (playing on the left) headed the ball goalwards. A great save from the keeper could not prevent the ball crossing the line off the crossbar, the linesman sportingly signalled a goal. 1-0. Clarke was winning every header in midfield and only poor concentration let Larkspur have a sniff at goal. Soon after the first a Crowcroft long throw was flicked on by Grayson and Rogers ghosted into the area to deftly sidefoot home. 2-0. Good work from Crowcroft on the left, nice footwork and great finish by Grayson earned his first goal and Headstones’s third. 3-0. Could the Rangers keep this up? The forward two, Rogers and James Chandler were playing excellently. More chances for Ellam and Chandler, playing right midfield, weren’t converted but showed that Headstone were on top. Defender Paul Jarvis skied a good chance miles over the bar form a Chandler corner. Larkspur managed one pot shot at goal that almost broke the corner flag. Half time came around Unfortunately half time signalled the start of a Larkspur revival. Headstone were either tired or lazy, but their passing went to pot. Desperate tackling and defending ended up with long ball football and very few intricate passing moves. Larkspur started to force corners, both their wide midfielders were pushing up and causing panic. Then suddenly, against the run of play Chandler skipped down the right hand side and crossed for Ellam to slot into an empty net. 4-0. Larkspur really came at Headstone after that, but Hunter, Jarvis, Reynolds and Crowcroft held firm. There were half chances, but they were wide of James Hamer’s goal. Then from one of Larkspur’s numerous corners a long shot was blocked but bounced into the area. Hunter went to clear and sliced it right to an unmarked Rovers player. Empty net. 4-1. Mark Liggins was brought on up front for Grayson to change the complexion of the game and Andy Carr replaced Ellam. The pressure was showing, Clarke got into a row with Chandler and Crowcroft. Reynolds and Hunter also had a spat, the latter injuring the former in a challenge later on but the fullback would return later. Rovers were pushing up more and more players and that left Rangers space. Clarke and Carr got in each others way and missed a great chance from a right wing cross. Rangers soaked up more pressure and just before the end Wale missed a good chance when Carr was in a better position. Full time. Matt Rogers won Dream Team’s Man of the Match award, but there could have been many other candidates. Great bouncebackability from last week, although Larkspur were a much weaker team. Team: 4-4-2. J.Hamer; S.Reynolds, A.Hunter, Paul Jarvis, P.Crowcroft; J.Chandler, R.Clarke (C), M.Rogers, N.Wale; D.Ellam, C.Grayson. Subs: A.Carr replaced C.Grayson (60 mins) M.Liggins replaced D.Ellam (70 mins) Referee: J. Lewis Team Milestones Alan Hunter’s 50th Appearance for the club Carl Grayson’s 1st goal for the club Nick Wale’s goal meant he has scored for Headstone in every season (8th) he has played in
Article by Paul Jarvis (website writer)
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