Porthleven Rangers 6 - Cury 0

On Wednesday evening Porthleven Rangers won their second local derby in 7 days. After seeing off the Airmen of Culdrose last week, this week they toppled local boys Cury.

This game was pretty much a one sided affair with Rangers being comfortably in control from the off. With stand in Keeper `The Cat` Powell forced between the sticks, after all three of Rangers keepers became unavailable. This was however an inspired move with his stealth like reactions pulling off a fine save within the first five minutes. In a gravity assisted fall to his right he gathered the ball cleanly to deny what was Cury's only real attempt in 90 minutes, after which he watch the game from his goal line.

After Cury's fleeting sight of the goal, Rangers started to apply the pressure and after what seemed like an age were awarded a penalty after the Demon Pimlott was brought down in the box. Up stepped the tight walleted striker Bartlett to score the first of his two goals. Having struck from the spot the tight one soon slotted another. The total was then added to by with a deft turn and shot from the leg end, sorry legend Matt Waddell for his first of two (Thank god for some good defending or he may have got three!). Then If that was not enough the defence decided to help out, when from a corner one of Cury's own had a go on goal from close in, giving the keeper no chance.

Turning round four up Rangers played the second half knowing the game was in the bag and could only be theirs to throw away. With a couple of changes in the second half being made by Rangers leading to the introduction of Welsh winger not taffy Griffiths on the left and Rangers top trainer Parsons at right back and a seamless transition of formation. Two more goals came in this half, with Waddell getting his second, but no third (Ha ha!) after Dave Tyson Brand pounced on a weak goal bound hat trick header and slotted home. Much to the relief of the management.

With the Welsh wizard having a field day on the left with, step overs, drag backs and just plain passing, it was the Cury Keeper who pulled of several good stops to keep the score line down and deny Rangers more goals.

As both light and time was running out the best move of the match lead to a wonderful headed goal from the Old Mother Hubbard, after a fine ball from Tax dodger Pollard. With the home team linesman more than content and everyone else was heading for the half way line, from the dark the Ref's whistle was heard and offside was given. Not to disparage the Ref who had a good game in general, other than two offsides one spear tackle and a strange elbowing incident ran the game without fuss, many thanks from Rangers for that, and well done to Cury on what was a well mannered and clean contest.

Next Wednesday sees Rangers travel out East to Ruan Minor. With two wins under the belt and the cob web's of summer being shed this good prove to be a good test for both sides.

Managers Verdict 7/10 for effort, never got out of third gear, Overall 7/10, most try to play with more control.

Match Report By Cozy Powell

Porthleven Rangers 2 - Culdrose 1

Porthleven rangers travelled to local rivals Culdrose on Wednesday evening and opened their season with a shock local derby win.

The game started of with Culdrose making all the running and Rangers playing on the break. It was fair to say however that the flag on more than one occasion came to Culdrose's rescue. The Rangers forwards Demon Damon Pimlott and Gavin check out my new Roo boots Periton played on the shoulders of the defence, and with good balls being delivered into the spaces it was only a matter of time before they beat the flag.

It was Culdrose who stroke first after finding plenty of space down the Rangers left flank. A situation which needed to be addressed and after the Goal Rangers made the change required, and that space became a little harder to find. Culdrose did however still manage to carve out a couple of good chances but failed to find the target. When they did find it they discovered Yet another Wortley was in good form between the sticks. The first half ran out with Culdrose leading 1-0 but Rangers knew they weren't out of this one.

The second half started much the same as the first, but the Rangers believe was growing. The Flag was finally beaten on 55 minutes by Roo Periton and he calmly slotted home. This goal galvanised Rangers and led to Culdrose trying a little to hard and in the process wasting some good positions. With twenty minutes left on the clock the Old mother himself Si Hubbard fired Rangers into the lead with a fine shot into the bottom corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.

Culdrose down but not out continued to fight and pressed Rangers hard, but the Old experienced defence drew on all its aching bones and stood firm. Even when Culdrose rang the changes they as a man refused to buckle and with some fine work from the Mid field the clock was running down. With Wortley Junior winning more than his fair share of balls in the middle Pensioner Wortley tackling at the back and yet another Wortley keeping goal it's fair to say Rangers are a tight knit group. The team spirit proved a big part in this game and it was certainly Rangers 12th man.

When the final whistle went Rangers had won 2-1 and it fair to say have started this season the way they finished the last. Already they have more points in the bag than the whole of 2005 put together. Culdrose must be wondering what is going on, with Rangers having won their last two league encounters and proving to be a bogey their side.

Rangers travel away again next wednesday for yet another local derby with Cury and now playing with confidence look forward to the challenge.

Match Report By Cozy Powell

Rangers Final Warm Up.

LIZARD 1 - PORTHLEVEN RANGERS 1

Friday night saw Rangers take part in their final warm up at Lizard before the kick off of the new season away to Culdrose on Wednesday evening.

Rangers again forced to field a depleted side with several key players working or injured. The game was a free flowing affair with Rangers playing the best of the football. Trying out a new system at the back for the first time, the rear guard of Rangers looked comfortable in defence and keeper Tresidder was not troubled all game.

The centre half's of Rangers saw new boy Burfitt playing alongside regulars Brum Willets and have you seen my new car? Waddell, and was easily the man of the match with an excellent performance. The midfield of Rangers also saw a few changes this time out with Player Manager Powell, Steve another Wortley and on loan signing Rob the Bench Hitchens playing through the middle and Tom Layzell and Griff i'm not welsh Griffiths playing out wide.

It was Rangers who broke the deadlock half way through the first half when yet another Wortley headed home, after a flowing move through the mid field led to a pin point cross from Demon Damo Pimlott. This was the only goal of the half and for all Lizards Huff and Puff they failed to trouble the Rangers keeper on a single occasion. The half finishing with Rangers one up.

The second half started as the first had finished with Rangers playing the best of the football and Lizard huffing and Puffing away, but failing to create any real chances. Rangers defence was it's fair to say was playing an outstanding game, and time and time again they snuffed out any threat from the Lizard side. Lizard had to be very, very, thankful to what surely must have been a local Ref, when Demon Pimlott was put clean through on goal and was body checked by the keeper in a moment more akin with WWF more than the FHFL !.

The only man on the field who didn't think it was a penalty, and probably a Red card was the Referee. After the game he did however admit his mistake and say it was a penalty and he had even asked the keeper who had agreed it was. Strange things happen when you play so far out to the East.

Lizard did find a way back into the game in the second half, when there was one of those Seaman moments and a poor cross looped in over the stranded keeper. It does always amaze me though when someone on the field says good shot, are they having a laugh?? Rangers did however continue to create chances and another Wortley blazed several opportunities into the gardens behind the Lizard goal. The Demon himself hit the bar on two occasions. The best chance fell to stand in forward pointy head Powell, when having eluded the defence was picked out with a perfect ball by Layzell but failed to hit the target with his header from a full 6 yards, once a defender always a defender.

The game finished with a 1-1 score line and both sides got what they wanted, a good run out and a chance to see what they are looking like before the season starts in earnest. It is true to say that Rangers will for once have selection problems with 20 plus players now on the books, it can only be a good thing.

New boys Burfitt and Perry will only be adding to the problem with both players having had a good game. Even Port loan signing Hitchens had to admit that Rangers are not the Hump and Hope team he believed they were, and that we can play the game the way its meant to be played.

Things are starting to take shape for Rangers and hopes are high.............


All in all Managers verdict, 9/10 for effort, 8/10 for performance, must work on hitting the Target.

Match Report By Cozy Powell

Rangers V Penryn Pre Season friendly

Porthleven Rangers 1 - Penryn 8

Rangers travelled to Penryn on Saturday with a weakened side to play a combination of Penryns Div 1/2 sides. A game of three half's this one, with the 90 minutes divided into three 30 minute sections. This allowed both sides a chance to try different formations and different players. A great advantage as it turned out for Penryn who were certainly not short on numbers. Whereas Rangers had just 14 of its 26 man squad available ( Cricket, Work, Holidays and injury taking care of the rest).

The game did start brightly for the under dogs with Penryn not use to being closed down so quickly and by being caught out by Rangers being a better side than they had thought. One player was heard to say on the forced hike to the field, sorry pitch, it's not Porthleven it's only Rangers. Well, it was only Rangers who took the lead after 15 minutes of the first period when Tax dodging Centre half Dave Pollard fired home from close range after some good work down the right by loan signings for the day Jock Burgoyle (Stithians) and Dan the man (Porthleven Res/2nds).

With Penryn being forced into errors and with their Keeper failing to hold onto any thing Rangers could have stretched the lead but it wasn't to be. When left wing Tom I have a headache Layzell was forced off after a clash of heads. Rangers Veteran and manager Powell was forced to take to the field carrying an injury himself and very tired legs from Thursdays much easier than Tuesdays (Lying B*.?$*£d Howes ) training session. It wasn't long after that that a well directed Toe Punt from the edge of the box found its way into the corner of the net giving Rangers Keeper Steve Tresidder no chance.

When the second third started Penryn made several changes and brought on some more experienced players and more importantly fresh legs. Rangers didn't have that luxury when Jock went off with a pulled hamstring. Just to add insult to injury a Very Local Referee then sent off Rangers centre Half Ryan Brum Willets for foul and abusive language, after he failed to see him being mugged on the edge of Rangers box.

With the manager Powell arguing with the Ref as much as possible, he was adornment he had to go and not for the agreed sin binning, agreed before kick off, but the rest of the game (a decision he then relented on in the third period ). This led to Rangers having to reshuffle yet again and with 10 very tired bodies facing fresh legs all over the Park, goals started to follow. By the end of the period it was 5-1 to a much relieved Penryn side.

The final period saw Rangers forced to use Keeper Bart Wortley in the out field and more shuffling of the pack, with front man Bartlett going off with a metertarsol or was it a blister. Again Penryn brought on fresh legs and again this did tell on Rangers who by now were pretty much all spent, but this didn't stop them creating a couple chances of their own. Somehow the Penryn keeper made a couple of good saves, One from Bart which looked for all to be a certain goal, but somehow the keeper managed to get a hoof on it. Good job he didn't use his hands as there is no way he would have held it. Rangers got through on several occasions and each time the ball just wouldn't go in and each time it was a long way back to the defence.

Penryn eventually ran out convincing winners 8-1 but this game was not about the scoreline for Rangers, it was about getting rid of some cob webs and starting to think about football again.

The next challenge for Rangers will be Lizard away on Friday the 18th, by then the Rangers side should be back to something like full strength and be looking for a better performance.

Managers Verdict........ 8/10 for effort, overall 3/10 must try harder.

Match Report By Cozy Powell