Terry Jennings Cup 1st Round, Porthleven Rangers 3 - Camborne Park 2

This week Rangers entertained Camborne Park in the first round of the Terry Jennings Cup a game which they badly needed to win.

Rangers fielded a very youthful side this week with a starts being given to 4 of Rangers young guns, Scott, Johnny, Dan , and Martin, all of which showed no quarter to a much bigger and Older Camborne side.

With this youthful line up giving their all and the old brigade passing on their words wisdom it was going to be a long afternoon for the older larger Park side.

The game started brightly again this week for Rangers and whilst playing into a strong wind they dominated the early proceedings. Rangers Passed the ball and made the older Camborne players work hard to keep up, something their legs would pay for later. It was however Park who took the lead when from their first real venture into Rangers half saw them gain a corner. With management, crowd and all on sundry, shouting at the defence to pick up, a deep ball in found the Camborne skipper a good ten yards out and he headed goal ward. Rangers giant dwarf of a keeper Tiddles Pawley was seen to stand taller than he jumped and the ball arced over him and into the net.

One down Rangers and with previous losses on their minds it could all so easily have gone wrong from here. The goal for once however didn't seem to phase Rangers and when they pulled the score level within 5 minutes it was no surprise. After some good work on the flank by Mr whippy Johnny Leech a ball to into the corner found an open Mike Digger Donnington who beat the next man with ease and drove a low ball across the face to the unmarked Vorsprung durch technik Hichens who slotted it home.

This game was always going to be a contest and the bigger Camborne side made good use of the wind at times, always having the opportunity to clear the ball down field when needed. From one of their breaks a ball to their front man on the edge of the box was wasted when he struck a weak shot. It was at this point however that we had a Paul Robinson moment. As Tiddles got behind the ball ready to pick it up, it suddenly jumped and hit his shoulder this lucky touch deflected it wide of the mark and everyone breathed again.

As the clock ran down there was still time for Rangers to try to snatch defeat from Victory when a long kick from the keeper sailed over the hapless defence, where a clear shout of Over Me was detected, 'well, you don't say." The on rushing forward latched on to the ball and beat the keeper at his near post, yes I said near post. With barely time to restart the game Rangers were going in a goal down.

The second half saw a quick start from Camborne and an early opportunity missed after a poor roll out from Tiddles put the back four into trouble but a poor shot sailed high and wide. This was as close as Park would come this half. The younger legs of Rangers pushed Park back and with no long ball get out clause, Park started to look ready for the taking.
With pressure mounting it was another good passing move which opened up the defence and a lead to the equaliser for Johnny Nauti Leach. It was young right back Dan I need a medium shirt Thomas and midfield keeper Bart Wortley who started the move and after delivering the ball into the box Two scopes and a flake slotted home. His first for the Club and no more than his work had deserved.

As the half went on Rangers dominance was starting to tell and those older legs were beginning to tire. It was surely only a matter of time before Rangers would score again. With Ten minutes left on the clock Dave Banned Brand struck a fearsome shot from outside the area it looked like the winner all the way but it only smacked off the cross bar with the keeper well beaten. Then two scopes somehow managed to hit the bar with the goal at his mercy from a yard out after some good work by the Rangers front line. Young Scott my hair eastwood drove a ball just wide of the mark with five to go and Park survived again.

With only minutes on the clock left Park dropped another body into the defence and looked to be playing for extra time. Rangers however would not be deterred and when Mike Donnington found the old Quattro a yard out he coolly headed home what was to prove to be the winner. As time expired it was Rangers cheers that could be heard and for once they had the win there play deserved.

This was a much needed win for Rangers and with some good young talent now starting to look the part, and some older wiser heads keeping their feet on the ground this is a club on the up again.

The final words from me go to the opposition and Ref. This week I can say well played Ref, even with the assessor looking on you had a good one.
As for Camborne Park well played it was a good game played in the right spirit and we look forward to our up and coming league games.

Match Report By Cozy Powell