Porthleven Rangers v Ruan Minor (Terry Jennings Cup)

This week Rangers entertained Ruan Minor in the Terry Jennings Cup starting the game as the under dogs having been beaten by Ruan twice in the league this season already.

This game started with both sides having to reshuffle their sides with several players missing Rangers brought young guns Sniff Bray and Scot to tall Eastwood into the team and they both gave their all to the cause this week.

The game eventually got under way after the Referee was satisfied that the lines were visible and not just a figment of everybody's imagination. This was always going to be a close run affair, if either of the previous games were anything to go by and that is exactly how it turned out. The early stages were a case of both sides spoiling each others play and neither team dominating. The Referee himself soon settled into the game and once he got to tired to blow up and fed up with calling players over for a chat the game started to flow. Rangers had the best of the play in the first half and created several chances to take the lead. Young Sniff Bray on two or three occasions managed to get beyond the defence and on one occasion he even managed to hit the target but couldn't beat the keeper. Shame about the complete air shot that followed later, enough said.

The first half ended with Rangers on top but the score line hadn't been troubled. Ruan had by now realised that they were not just going to turn up and roll Rangers over in this one.

The second half started as the first the had finished with Rangers on top and when early on front man Neal Cash Customer Bartlett managed to get past the keeper it looked like a goal would come but somehow the ball got stuck under his feet and the keeper grabbed the opportunity and the ball with both hands. This was followed by chances for Wortley, Hichens, Hughes and Hubbard but none could find the back of the net and when needed the Ruan keeper kept his side in it. Then on seventy minutes young Johnny Ice latched on to a back pass rounded the keeper and with just a defender on the line to beat he somehow managed to pull the ball wide of the near post. A moment to earn him the much coveted DOTD pink shirt for the second week running.

Then came that killer blow that was to settle the game for once and for all. A quick freekick a good one two and a magnificent toe punt into the bottom corner. Gooooooooal and what a goal, a heart breaking goal completely against the run of play but neither the less a goal. The only real shot on goal for the entire ninety minutes and yet somehow Ruan were one up. Rangers for all their efforts and attempts were now one down and with only ten to play.

Rangers continued to fight on but the clock was now against them and with time running out the goal gave Ruan fresh heart and fresh legs. Then came a real heart stopping moment as Ruan pushed forward light weight defender Steve Chips for Tea Wortley rushed out to challenge for a fifty fifty ball but as it turned sixty forty a full hearted challenge saw a clash of knees and the Ruan man go down clutching his leg. Everyone thought that he must surely have broken it from the noise he was making. This tackle brought Managers, Fans and players alike all into very close contact and for a minute or two this game could have turned ugly. However once the blood pressure and testosterone had fallen some sanity returned both players were helped of the pitch. The Referee produced a yellow for the Rangers light weight defender. There had however been more cynical challenges that had gone unpunished but some you win some you lose.

The Referee wasn't long in bringing the game to a close and blew up shortly after restarting the game. Ruan move on to the next round and Rangers must reflect on missed chances they can however take heart from the performance. Rangers had in all honesty had done more than enough to win this game and several Ruan players remarked on how they got out of jail in this one.

Match Report By Cozy Powell

Porthleven Rangers 2 v Falmouth Albion 2

This week saw Rangers travel on an away day to Falmouth Albion. This was always going to be a tough fixture with Albion still having title and promotion on their minds.
After full use of the somewhat crude changing facilities the Rangers players only had to make the quick car journey to the pitch for the game to start. An away game at the away game. The pitch looked good for a game of football and as soon as the ref had finished marking it out play could begin. Not the best advert for a league which is supposed to be looking to improve standards. Not the Clubs fault this time I mean the School only wanted £90 a game for the pitch and its changing facilities, not a bad deal if you ask me. Not.....
Rangers line up as per usual saw several changes after three of the clubs stalwarts became unavailable. One of them decided he couldn't play because his better half had given birth and the Baby was coming home. What a pitiful excuse, he'll learn in a few weeks he will be begging to get out and play. Seriously congrats go to Tom Layzell and Donna on the birth of a potential Ranger.
Rangers started this game somewhat slowly and failed to score within the first two minutes. The last two games had seen the ball in the net before the sound of the Refs whistle had finished ringing in the ears. A solid start turned into a midfield battle and with TT Hichens and Ricky Williams giving as good as they got. Not a bad effort for a couple of old heads who had recovered well from their bout of dehydration on Friday evening.
Rangers new look team was working hard this week and ensuring that they played for each other and showed some spirit that had been lost in recent weeks. Then after 25 minutes a freekick on the edge of the box gave Rangers their first scare. With the wall formed and the line held a great strike looked like all the hard work was about to be undone. Keeper Tiddles Pawley however had other ideas and flew across his goal to make a finger tip save. Then on thirty Minutes Rangers were undone when a miss hit corner was flicked on and an unmarked Albion player pounced. This goal seemed to give Albion a lift and when Five minutes later a second corner brought about similar result. They though they had this game won before the half was up.
Rangers at half time needed to find in themselves some believe and had to focus on the fact that this game was not over yet. It had been an even contest and at times Rangers had played the better Football.
Albion started as if they thought this game was in the bag. Rangers however had the wind at their back and other ideas. Albions believe suddenly started to fade. Then after a corner the ball found its way to a wrong footed Rangers Pensioner Andy Wortley at the back stick but he was on his best side and neatly put it round the post. This did however serve warning of things to come and five minutes later another corner saw the ball fall to a sobering Hichens who volleyed home. Now Albion where rocking and Rangers spirit started to show its self big style. The Ref took acceptation to this and junior Wortley Bart found himself being shown something from the Refs pocket.
Albion now on the ropes started to just bang the ball forward and found A.N Other Wortley Steve a bit to big to get the ball over. He won header after header and proved to be a rock at the back all day. With Ten to go Player Manager Powell introduced himself to the game, with the Ginger Winger Ryan quite night in Hughes making way. After giving the keeper something to worry about from a cross he spilled the ball and it went for what was clearly a corner. The Albion Linesman must however have been unsighted (Blind) and gave nothing. The keeper found himself being questioned over the incident by the Spaniard and as the Red mist came down he promptly kick the ball straight at the somewhat disbelieving Manager and it flew straight back towards the goal with Powell in pursuit. The Ref however took a different view on proceeding and blew up stating that the player shouldn't have been stood their. Must be a new Rule this year, no player Shall be seen to stand on the field in front of the keeper whilst he kicks the ball at you.
With the clock now beginning to Run down Rangers pushed for the equaliser and when Bart Wortley found himself in front of the nets he didn't disappoint and fire the ball into the bottom corner. Albion by now were ready for the taking and Rangers pushed for the winner. It came so close when after another attack Rangers struck the bar when it looked like the goal was at their mercy. Then after a second long range effort from the pensioner struck the bar for a second time the ball fell to a young Johnny Ice who with the keeper scrambling missed what was a golden opportunity to snatch the win. A pink T-shirt moment and a one he wont forget for a while. To be fair the young man as with all the other Rangers players had worked their socks off. The Refs sundial by now appeared to find some light from somewhere and he finally blew up and the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Albion may look at this game as three points lost. In truth they should consider their selves as lucky to have walked away with anything. Rangers may not be at the top of this league but make no mistake they will have a big say in who does go up this year. If they play with this same attitude and desire for the rest of this season then they will give every team a run for their money and you can bet Albion wont be looking forward to the return fixture in a few weeks time.


Match Report By Cozy Powell