Troon 1 v Porthleven Rangers 0

This week Rangers travelled to Troon in a return league fixture, looking for three points to put them back in the hunt for Promotion this season.

The game started the usual way for Rangers when the Ref failed to show and as per usual Rangers played on with an unofficial Official in charge, something they will never do again. It is fair to say it was also a decision that would come to haunt them again.

After waiting for both the Ref who failed to show and the kit, which had been taken on a mystery tour of Cornwall when a couple of Rangers players had decided to visit Trevenson prior to the game. Top marks go to The Old mother Hubbard and Brum which way is left Willets for there sterling work.

When the game finally started it was Rangers who made all of the early running and looked by far the better side. With some good passing and great movement Troon where forced onto the back foot. With good work being put in by Steve the second Wortley on one side and Dave banned Brand on the other. It look to all that it was a matter of time before Rangers took the lead.

As the half drew on it was in fact Troon who had a couple of good chances to take the lead but Rangers keeper Tiddles Pawley was on his best form this week and pulled of a couple of good stops. This was not a game for the faint hearted and with the pitch turning into a mud bath and the lines having been almost washed out. The ref was going to be needed to keep control on this one.

Then with half time approaching Rangers keeper took a couple of knocks when coming to collect a couple high balls. The first glue to the Refs inability then came to the fore when he declared the Keeper didn't have the ball in both hands when he was clattered. The Rangers manager did point out to the Ref that a foul is a foul, and the keeper doesn't have to catch the ball before a foul could be given.

The first half ended goal less and both sides went off thinking there was still plenty to play for. The half time team talk for Rangers was for once only a lighter shade of Blue and the instructions for the second half were more of the same.

The second half was pretty much a mirror of the first and both sides where now finding it difficult to get anything going in the poor conditions. With neither sets of forwards really seeing much of the ball chances where very limited. Rangers front line of Bart wortley and Audi Hitchens worked hard but never really had the luck that their play deserved and the break through just would not come.

With time ticking by and this game having Nil Nil written all over it, up stepped the Ref for the home team. When a ball broke into the box and the Troon forward kicked it ahead for what was surely to be a goal kick, he then cut across the retreating defender Cold Legs Williams and went to ground. The long sighted Referee who was still to cross the half way line had no problems in awarding the spot kick.

To the dismay of all concerned, even the neutral Camborne Park management who had come on a scouting mission was heard to say that is never a penalty. The Ref however was undeterred and steadfastly refused to even talk to the linesman. When the kick however was taken Tiddles made a superb stop right in the bottom right corner, only to have the ball strike the post, hit him in the back and sit spinning in the mud on the line from where the on rushing forward dully smacked it home.

As time ticked by Rangers rang the changes and on came more of the young Guns in the shape of Johnny Leach, Scott Eastwood and not quite so young Cozy Powell. With Rangers pushing forward at every opportunity and pressure mounting on the Troon defence a chance came for the Ref to make amends when Si Hubbard was clattered in the box. The hapless defender knew what he had just done the game almost came to a stop, but the last word was with the Ref, what was it he said, fifty fifty play on. This time however his long sight must have let him down by being to close to the incident.

There was still time however for one last effort from Rangers and after throwing everyone forward for a corner, the ball broke to Bart Wortley who went for the over head strike on goal only to see it cleared of the line.

When the final whistle went its fair to say the Troon players were more than pleased with the win. Rangers however felt somewhat robbed. Words where exchanged between the Rangers management and the Referee at the end who tried to justify his decisions. He was told in no uncertain terms that he had been given the benefit of the doubt today and that he had let himself down. In truth we wish him well and hope that he continues to get Troon the home results they deserve.

Next week Rangers entertain Camborne Park at home in the Cup, we do hope that their Management saw all they wanted on Saturday, but rest easy there are still players to come back in for Rangers yet.

Match Report by Cozy Powell

Porthleven Rangers 1 - Falmouth Athletic 4

This week Rangers entertained Falmouth Athletic at Gala Park after a real struggle. The game was lucky to be played at all, after yet another week without an appointed referee. That's 8 out of our 10 league games this year, we are starting to believe someone don't like us. However having located a listed Ref in the Shape of Mark Greet, who is now making strides in his come back, it was game on.

Some of Falmouth's players had no trouble in finding the ground having played there the week before in the Division one clash with Porthleven, hum, strange!

The game started well with both teams playing good football and Rangers probably creating the best of the chances. With good work down the flanks by Scot don't touch my hair Eastwood and the ever green veteran The Spaniard, L Powell on one side, and the deadly young Duo of Dan the Man and the third Wortley Bart on the other, the visitors were pegged back. Rangers however failed to capitalise on the chances and were unlucky when striking the woodwork twice in short succession.

Luckless forward Rob T T Hitchens could only manage to find the bar, even with the keeper gone on a short sabbatical. Then his partner in crime Gary stitch Richards hit the bar with a great strike and Falmouth survived again. A third chance went begging after a low corner went right across the Falmouth goal line and two of Rangers defenders were left lying on their backs having both just failed to make contact with the ball.

It was at this point someone said, if we are not careful well pay for this. How true that was when on Falmouth's first real attack on goal, Rangers found themselves one down after failing to clear the ball to safety and getting caught in possession deep in their own half. Just to make sure that Rangers could not find away back into the game some poor defending and a very large lack of Luck saw Falmouth slot two more in quick succession and they finished the half 3 up.

The Rangers dressing room turned a little blue at half time and Management, Captain and assistants asked the players to have a look at themselves and find a little more.

The second half got under way and Rangers pushed hard to get back into the game. With players committed into the attack it was Falmouth who started to miss their chances and when Rangers were awarded a penalty after T T Hichens was dived down, sorry scythed down outside the box, sorry inside the box it was game on. He slotted the Penalty away with ease and remains in the hunt for his golden boot.

As Rangers pushed on another piece of luck ensured that the gap went back to 3 when a miss hit low corner deflected of three players and a Falmouth player stuck out a foot and in it went. Rangers failed to create any real chances after that and in all honesty could have gone down by more but for some poor Falmouth finishing.

The final whistle blew and the only positives Rangers could take from this game were some good performances from their new young guns Scot, Dan, Bart and Johnny who all showed that given time could develop into good players and that can only be a good thing for Rangers and Porthleven alike. Well, played Lads.............

The final word must however go to the Referee whom without the game would not have been possible. We wish him all the best in his come back and for the future, Cheers Skippy..........

Percy Stephens Cup: Trevenson 4 v Port Rangers 1

This week Rangers travelled to the depths of Camborne for last weeks postponed Percy Stephen's cup game against Trevenson, and can now concentrate on the league again. This season has not been good for Rangers in the cups having gone out of three so far this season, at the first time of asking.

This game started brightly for Rangers who made all the early running playing some good football.

Then came another mad moment like last week which gifted Trevenson the lead. Rangers keeper rolled a ball out to his centre half who for some reason let it go past him straight to a Trevenson forward who could not believe his luck finding the ball at his feet the goal at his mercy. All he had to do was hit the target which he duly did and gave his side the lead. This gave Trevenson a hugh lift and they started to upset the Rangers rhythm and the tackles started to fly in.

The green haired referee certainly allowed the game to flow this week and was asked on more than one occasion if he had a whistle. Its fair to say this was becoming a feisty affair and Trevenson definitely had the upper hand in that area.

The second Trevenson goal came out of poor defensive football from Rangers who failed to clear a corner after several bites of the cherry. Now with two goals in the bag and all the believe in the world this game was going to take some turning round for Rangers.

The second half started well for Rangers and the games best move saw them pull one back in the first five minutes. After three great passes down the right left the Trevenson side all at sea Rangers top marksman There's no T in Hitchens, Hichens found the back of the net to put Rangers right back in the game. Even the opposition Manager was heard to say "ho sugar" as he knew, as we all did that this game was not dead yet. Still he had no need to worry when with the refs new found whistle still sounding from the restart a well struck free kick found the top corner to re-establish the two goal cushion.

With time ticking by and Rangers throwing all they could at the Trevenson side it was a break away move from the home side which finally settled this tie. After the Trevenson forward played a well struck one two of Rangers Keeper The Third Wortley before finally slotting home their fourth goal. As if that was not bad enough for Rangers there was still time for the referee to not only discover his whistle again but his note book and pen as well, and the FA will be £7 better of this week thanks to Rangers action man, Banned Brand ask if the Ref was sure of his decision.

It is fair to say that Trevenson deserved this win and played to their strengths, as for Rangers they will need to be in much better form next week when they face Trevenson, in the League. We all know how back to back games can get a little ugly at times, lets hope that this won't be one of them and Rangers can just keep playing Football and don't get drawn into a battle.

There will have to be changes in the Rangers line up for next week especially after having reports that Mid fielder, my shirts to big! Ricky Williams broke his forelock on Sunday, having a kick about.

We all wish him a speedy recovery and hope he is up and about again soon.