Porthleven Rangers 5 - Cury 4

OG Saves Rangers Blushes!



Before I start my ramblings this week I must clear up one point from last week that appears to have got me in trouble with the League committee. I offer my apologies to anyone called Wayne Quinn who was not playing for Hayle last weekend I didn't mean to offend you. Still its nice to know that some Committee members read the reports and judging by the feed back I receive plenty of other people do as well. The light hearted approach we take seems to keep them amused, if not those on the Committee.

Now down to the not so serious stuff. This week Rangers entertained Cury in a local derby match, seeking for revenge after beating them 6 - 0 earlier in the season and having the points deducted for a clerical error.

This week was clearly a famine week for the selectors and with only 13 available players Rangers were forced to make changes in last weeks winning side. The game started poorly for Rangers and it looked to all like a real Div 3 contest, something more akin to the school play ground than a football league. It was no surprise when the first goal came Curys way after some poor Rangers defending and to be fair, although they had been on the back foot Cury did look the more likely to score. After this goal however Rangers seemed to wake up to the fact, that this would be no stroll in the park and started to knuckle down. Within Ten minutes they pulled level after a corner wasn't cleared and a quick toe poke from Dave Tax dodger Pollard found the net.

With a semblance of control now applied to the came Rangers entered into a period of dominance and when Tom Layzell skipped by his brother and tried to cross into the box a Cury defender was seen to do a star jump and blocked the ball with his arm. To no ones surprise other than the Cury skipper and the defender the whistle blew for a penalty. Up stepped young Iceman Jonny Leach who with the aid of his very fancy sweat top, sorry personalised sweat top coolly slotted home. This was soon followed by a third when the young man now positively chilled beat the keeper on a one on one chance that never looked in doubt. He, may be cool but the teams top scorer Nicholas Hichens is starting to sweat the golden Boot race is back on.

As the half went on Rangers were forced into more changes when Brum Willets was forced to retire after pulling a hamstring. The poor things aren't designed to carry that amount of weight, who knows what could happen after the Turkey season is through. With the big Tax dodger enlisted into the defence the whistle blew for half time with Rangers 3-1 to the good.

The second half was barely 5 minutes old when Rangers scored their fourth, again the result of a corner and this time however it was Tom pay your subs Layzell who benefited from some poor defending and shot home.

With Rangers now 4 - 1 up the game should have been dead and buried but there followed a mad ten minutes that saw Cury pull level. First a poor tackle on the edge of the box saw a free kick spooned by the Rangers Keeper and slotted home. This was then followed by a spilled ball after a poor shot and a third Cury goal. Life's tough as a keeper as soon as you start thinking and stop reacting your in trouble. The final nail came when a well struck clearance hit a Cury player full on and broke into his path and he slotted home. From 4-1 to 4-4 in ten minutes madness, Rangers players deflated and Cury players elated.

Rangers after raising themselves did now start to press Cury and with several good chances to score they started to dominate again. The Cury keeper was however living a charmed and brave life and was proving difficult to beat. After making several brave stops, seeing the ball cleared of the line no less than three times the cross bar struck as well, surely it was a matter of time, for a Rangers fifth.

The final twist in this game came from yet another corner which was well delivered into the box and a solid header from Layzell found the back of the net with the keeper stranded. The only problem being that this time it was James Layzell from Cury and his own net. At this stage Rangers were more than glad to except this early Christmas Present and at 5-4 up would not make the same mistakes as earlier. As the clock ticked down Rangers now had control of the game and never really looked likely to concede a fifth.

When the final whistle did blow it was a relief for Rangers and a gut wrench for Cury. This was a fair and honest contest from whistle to whistle it may have been school boy at times but it did entertain. Cury may feel robbed of a point but Rangers know that feeling ho so well having been their all last season. Unlucky boys and well played.

Next week Rangers entertain Ruan Minor who look like they intend to be in the running come the end of this season. Lets hope the conditions are good and we see a good game of football.

Match Report By Cozy Powell