Porthleven Rangers 7 - Stithians 0

This week Rangers played their first home game of the season against Stithians, in what in all truth was a one sided affair. Rangers eventually winning comfortably by just the odd seven goals. 7 - 0 route in the end.

Rangers had the luxury this week of an almost unchanged side from that which beat both teams of Frogpool and Guscarne last week. Just the one change saw young Dan the man Thomas coming in for Mark Pollard who has gone back to full time tax dodging sorry University.

This was a one sided affair this week and Stithians never got into the game and found themselves one down inside 5 minutes, when Bart the third Wortley pounced after some poor Goal keeping. The make do forward played an outstanding half and chased everything down. It wasn't long before he slotted his second then third and rounded it of with a fourth all in the first half hour. His strike partner for the day Bench Hitchens could not believe it, for all his efforts it just all seemed to fall to the young man. Before the half was finished though he too managed to find the net on a couple of occasions one of which was a superb one two, one two again with the keeper which he slotted into the corner on just the third time of asking, Clinical.

The second half saw three changes for Rangers with regulars Dragon Griffiths, Andy arthritic Wortley, and young Dan all being replaced ensuring all the Rangers players got a good run out.

The strangest thing was the second half line up for Stithians who for some reason dropped both forwards into the back four and put both centre halfs into the attack. This did bring some semblance of order to the back but couldn't stop a well struck shot from Brum Willets being made into a fine own goal by a luckless stithians defender.(Claim it all you like, deflection own goal).

With Rangers making changes in formation and experimenting with different combinations it was pretty much a game over for this week and for all the midfields possession and countless opportunities there where no more goals.

The Rangers keeper Tiddles Pawley never had to make a save for the day.

Rangers start on their first cup campaign next week away to the Lizard and hope to take their new found league form into that with them. You just never know what could happen when you travel that far east.


Managers Verdict 8/10 for effort 9/10 overall did the job in 45 minutes.

Frogpool/Cusgarne 2 V Porthleven Rangers 3

Rangers travelled to play two sides on sat in an away fixture to Frogpool and Cusgarne and came away with all the spoils.

Having both Rangers usual strikers out for this one, the management turn to new signing Rob the Bench Hitchings and usual keeper the third Wortley Bart to play up top and what a call it proved to be.

The game started brightly for Rangers and they made all the early running and Frogpool never really got going. With Mark Tax dodger Pollard on one flank Welsh Dragon Griffiths on the other Rangers played with some good width and caused problems for the home side on both flanks.

It was a Frogpool mistake however which led to the first goal when a short back pass was pounced on by the Bench who made no mistake in beating the keeper.

With the two standing strikers causing all sorts problems for the defence it wasn't long before Rangers found the back of the net again, this time from a superb move down the Rangers right which started with a ball being passed backwards yes I said backwards unheard of I know but it did happen. With two good first time balls and a great cross the Bench slotted his second and took the game away from the home side.

Frogpool were forced to play on the break for much of this half and Rangers back line coped easily and returning Keeper Tiddles Pawley was un troubled. Even when the home side did find room Rangers players closed down quickly and got in the way of anything heading towards goal.

The half was not done yet however and when younger Wortley went through on goal and went down in the box, it looked a sure penalty, but it was not to be and for the third time this season what looked a sure thing for Rangers was turned down.

The second half started as the first had left off and it wasn't long before what the whole team had been praying for (honest) happened and the Bench scored his third to seal a fine hat trick, they'll be no living with him now.

Now three up and well in control was when things started to go wrong and Rangers allowed Frogpool back into the game. They managed to pinch a goal and with that found some self believe that hadn't been there all day.

Rangers were now forced onto the back foot and with some tired legs on display after a hard game in mid week. Changes were made and in came new boy Dan the Man Thomas for his debut and stalwart Mat still my new car Waddell which led to a suffle at the back. This was supposed to tighten things up but only served to unsettle a back four which was already under pressure and the management has to admit to getting this one wrong. Just to prove it the home side managed to find another one and Rangers were now right under the cosh.

Making a final change to bring in fresh legs saw the introduction of a third and final Wortley who having only been on for a few minutes hit a great drive onto the outside of the post. Then on another Frogpool attack a great shot appeared to be heading for the top corner, when from no where came keeper Tiddles Pawley to make a top class save. You know its a good one when the opposition bench says it is and the bloke who hit is left holding his head in disbelief.

The game now flowed from end to end for the last few minutes and neither side had much left in the tanks when the final whistle sounded. Thats three more league points secured for Rangers and a solid start to a long season.

This was a good game of football played in a great spirit and both sets of players should be congratulated on a good performance.

For some strange reason Rangers don't have a game now for two weeks and can look forward to their next game and the start of the first cup campaign.

Managers Verdict 8/10 for effort, 8/10 for performance and I'll give myself a stern talking to about the substitutions!

Match Report by Cozy Powell

Ruan Minor 2 - Porthleven Rangers 1

This was always expected to be one of the tougher fixtures for Rangers this season, playing against last seasons div 2 side Ruan Minor.

This really was one of those evenings for Rangers that just didn't go their way. With no Ref to govern proceedings it was agreed by both sides that a neutral man take charge. A decision that Rangers would come to regret.

The game finally started at 6.40 after what appear a delay to allow Ruan Players to be rounded up and called for. A 6.15 kick off, not a chance.

The game started brightly for Rangers with them making all the early play. With the new mid field Dynamo Bench Hitchens settling in well along side the Old Mother Hubbard. However with no more than a dozen on the clock Ruan somehow found away into the Game and the experienced back four of Rangers started to lose their early confidence.
With that old stalwart Chomper playing up top for Ruan and creating mayhem where ever he could. It wasn't too long before a gaol was conceded following a series of long throws, corners and up and unders by the home side.

Rangers calmed themselves down again late in the half and were unlucky not to come in level after the Demon Pimlott struck the bar from well out. Then late in the half the keeper spilled another effort but no-one had followed in. The half was made worse for Rangers when striker Tight Wallet Bartlet had to go off following a poor challenge.

After receiving a roasting from the manager at half time and being put in the picture about players waiting in the wings for their chance. The second half started brightly and within ten minutes a great move through the middle and a clever ball laid out wide opened the defence and allowed Tom play me where you like Layzell to notched up the equaliser.

Ruan however were not done yet and again started to hump the ball forward. But the changes made at the half started to play dividends for Rangers and old Chomper found he had grown a new shadow in the break in the shape of New Car Waddell. However after the Ref awarded a foul in the corner and a ball into the box was not cleanly dealt with and Ruans second hit the back of the net.

Rangers never say die attitude this season came to the fore but chances were getting hard to come by. Then late on a shot came in the keeper fumbled the ball along the line and Dave Tyson Brand had a go at a `fifty fifty` with the Keeper. Who somewhat took exception. Throw a quick left right combo before players stepped in and stopped any reply. With the Whistle blown the Ref had a word with Rangers player Brand and everyone thought surely there must be more to come for the Keeper, and yes there was a FREE KICK. No card, No word, No penalty!. This did prove to be pretty much the last of the action in this game and as darkness had fallen long ago time ran out.

Still the story goes on with no electric available for an age, no lights, and words being spoken all around. The best line I have ever heard, to their keeper from the ref. "If that had been any other Ref, it would have been a red card and a penalty."........ Well, thanks for the honesty.

To the players of Ruan a good game played with good spirit and a hard fought contest, well done.

Rangers Travel to Frogpool and Cusgarne on Saturday 9th Sept(No it is just one place, Honest) and hope for more luck and a better result.

Managers Verdict: Robbed, say no more................................

Match Report By Cozy Powell