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