Porthleven Rangers 4 - Lanner 1

This week Rangers took on Lanner at Galla Park, Porthleven. After a week of confusion with league fixtures, cup fixtures, and the home and away schedules. Rangers managed to get a home tie after Lanner graciously agreed to switch the fixture to allow the use of an otherwise unused Galla Park.

The game started brightly for Rangers and after making some good use of the big field Sniff Bray picked out the Old mother Si Hubbard with a good cross and he headed on to we cant play on the left Hitchens, who coolly lobbed the keeper. Then for some strange reason having been given instructions to keep the game wide Rangers started to lose their shape and Lanner started to make the most of their limited possession. The youngest Wortley Bart between the sticks this week was forced into one or two good saves to keep them out. Then came one of those moments that just drive you mad, when a simple throw-in was for some reason thrown across the box instead of down the line. After both Centre half's Brum Willets and the old Pension Book Wortley failed to get to the ball, up step the Lanner forward to score the equaliser. A moment which earned Tom Layzell the Richard of the day pink club shirt this week.

With Rangers losing their shape and failing to go on from what had been a good start, it was no surprise that they failed to take advantage of several good opportunities that they created. When the half time whistle went it was a relief to all concerned and a chance to shake things up.

The second half saw a change at the back for Rangers and the introduction of player manager Cozy Powell at left back and Tom Layzell moving out onto the left. This seemed to give Rangers a better shape along with a more solid back line. The second half was really all Rangers and Lanner were forced to play pretty much on the break. Still however Rangers front line couldn't find the net, when Hitchens was put clean through it looked like the deadlock would be broken, but it wasn't to be. After a quick perorate in front of goal in came a challenge and another great chance went begging. This was followed later by Ricky I cant play a holding roll Williams striking the bottom of the post after a great strike but the score remained deadlocked.

With time ticking by and for all Rangers possession something had to be done. With Hitchens and Williams making way for Mat Wordell and the third Wortley Steve. The introduction of fresh legs in the middle of the park and a change in the front line paid dividends and after a great ball by the largest Wortley Steve in went the seamstress Gary Richards to score the first of his brace. This settled the Rangers and knocked some stuffing out of what was a determined Lanner side. With the whistle still ringing in the ears, Richards was put in for a second time and made no mistake of putting the ball away again. The next ten minutes saw chance after chance created and Band Banned Brand missing out on a couple of good opportunities. With time ticking away Tom Layzell still had a chance to make amends for his school Boy error earlier, and after cutting inside the left back drove a great strike into the bottom corner.

The final whistle went and Rangers had won this one 4-1 and on reflection probably should have won much more comfortally. The wheels have been put back on the Rangers wagon but its still to be seen if they will stay there. Lanner had given this game a real go and most be thanked for the way the game was played and in fact for just playing in the first place. Thanks also go to Digger for his refereeing skills as well cheers mate.

Next week Rangers travel to play Trevenson in the cup and with a now full squad to choose from and after this game selection could be interesting. Could we see the introduction of squad rotation at Rangers who knows?

Carharrack 2 - Porthleven Rangers 4

Richards sows it up for rangers!

This week rangers travelled to Carharrack and back to Redruth again for this clash, after discovering that the Venue had been changed.

Rangers taking to the field without a real warm up didn't take long to get going and within 2 minutes of the start Top seamstress Gary Richards forced his way through to score. The home side however responded well to going behind and could so easily have forced an equaliser, but Rangers Keeper Tiddles Pawley who was in fine form pulled of a couple of early saves. Even when he let one by, cash customer Layzell was there to clear the lines, and had another solid game in the ever changing back four of Rangers.

Playing into a stiff breeze and on a small pitch it was hard work for Rangers to find the time and space that they wanted. With the standard of football dropping every second it wasn't until the 28 minute that they doubled the lead. With Gary Richards again finding the back of the net for his second, after some good work in the middle from Si Hubbard and Ricky williams.

Then the trouble started for Rangers with pressure mounting and several corners a fine long range strike brought Carharrack back into the game. This was a case of the under dog not knowing when they are beaten something Rangers know all to well about from last season. With the home side now all up for the contest, it was they who finished the half the strongest.

Half time brought the usual strong words from the management and the second half started with Rangers showing some more control on the game. Then a ball into the box found Bench Hitchens and as he flicked on his marker decided to raise an arm and the ref pointed top the spot. May have been a harsh decision but probably the right one. With players looking round to see who would take it, up stepped Richards in the stitch of time to slot the ball in for his Hat trick.

Still the home side were not done and again Tiddles pulled of another couple of stops but could do nothing about the fine shin that left him back peddling like your average Army General, only to see the ball dip under the bar, and it was game on again.

As time started to pass it was the strangest of goals which finally tied the game up for Rangers. Old Mother Hubbbard went clean through and after a collision with the keeper was left on his back in the box. As the ball ping ponged around for a while he finally got to his feet only to find the ball back where it had started several seconds earlier, so he duly slotted it into the net for Rangers fourth and final goal.

As time ran out it was three scrappy points for Rangers and on this performance Carharrack could prove to be a hand full for others this season. This was definitely a case of Rangers not being at their best and playing at the same level as the opposition but getting away with it.

Its a home game for Rangers next week against new boys Troon and Rangers will be looking for a better performance but at this stage of the season would be happy with the points however they came.

Junior Cup Porthleven 1 - Truro City 2

This week Rangers took on Division 1 side Truro City and with 6 players out it meant a reshuffle for Rangers and some players seeing the pitch from a different angle. This was an opportunity for Rangers to bring in their two latest signings all the way from Mullion, Ricky no knees Williams and top naval seamstress Gary Richards. With just one surviving member from last weeks back four Rangers rear guard needed time to settle, but with only 2 mins on the clock a lucky strike from Truro's front man found the bottom corner to ensure that didn't happen. The goal did serve to settle Truro and they seemed to think this would be all so easy for them (Mistake).

With Rangers settling into the game with every minute and beginning to see more than their fair share of the ball this was a game which could have gone either way. Then half way through the half Truro thought they had a second after not one but two forwards both clearly off were allowed to go on and score. With the crowd, management and players all going mad the ball was re-spotted before the Ref finally went for a chat with the linesman and the goal was disallowed. The Ref then had some strong words of his own for player manager Cozy Powell who generously thanked the Ref for his timely decision and the game continued.

With time just about to expire Tom Cash Customer Only Layzell gifted Truro a free kick which they duly floated into the box and with Rangers being a little short at the back this week (literally) they pinched a second. There was only just time left on the clock to kick off and before the whistle went, how gutting was that.

Some strong words were said at half time and the second half started brightly for Rangers and when the youngest Wortley broke through and out stripped the defence he somehow contrived to drag his shot wide with just the keeper to beat. With time Ticking by changes had to be made and Player Manager Powell brought himself on. His very first touch of the ball brought a great save from the keeper from a corner when he rose like a salmon to head the ball goal ward (In his mind anyway, still on the ground in reality).

With time ticking by Rangers pushed hard to get something out of this game and with the Spaniard L Powell putting some long throws into the Truro box it was from one of these that, I'm not a left back, I'm not a left back, no I'm not a left back Bench Hitchens somehow flicked a ball on and the Third Wortley Bart punched it home to give Rangers a lifeline.

As the clock ticked by Rangers just couldn't carve out another real chance and when the final whistle went Truro were much relieved and Rangers left to concentrate on the league again and reflect on a chance gone by to prove this is a club on the way up.

Next week its back to league action for Rangers and headaches over team selection with three regulars coming back into contention and another signing coming home.

Finally to Truro and you escaped by the skin of your teeth, but we wish all the best in the next round and thank you and the Ref for a good game well played.

Porthleven Rangers 0 - Lizard 2 Wheatley Cobb Cup

Rangers travelled to the Lizard this week for their first Cup game of the new season and can now concentrate on the league again. This was not the result the Chairman was after and not the result the players had in mind either.

This was a close fort contest but Lizard ran out 2-0 victors in the end. It was Rangers who made the early running and created three or four good chances to go ahead, but the usually clinical strike force failed to find the net.

The Rangers mid field were getting forward at every opportunity and it looked only a matter of time before they took one of the chances, then a long clearance from the Lizard by passed the midfield, and with both keeper and defender going for the ball it was an outstretched Lizard leg that got there first to knocked the ball into the empty net.

The Second half was more of the same Rangers getting forward and setting up chances. The Lizard keeper was however having a tremendous day and pulled off a string of fine saves and must surely have been their man of the match. Then with 25 mins to go a short back pass fell to a lizard forward and with the keeper caught in no mans land he curled a shot into the net to go two up. Still rangers pushed on and still the goal wouldn't come and some resolute defending and some good keeping kept Rangers out.

The game finished with Lizard 2 up and more than pleased with the result and Rangers brought back down to earth after a good start to the season so far.

Rangers will find next weeks task no easier as they entertain div 1 side Truro City in the Junior cup. The final word must however be for Saturdays Referee who had an excellent game and is by far the best Ref our club has seen in several years, well played Ref.