The joys of park football!!!!
Turning up at the car park and seeing the opposition waiting and looking up for the game, the news was filtering through the team that Cosham Park Rangers were going to be low on numbers for this 2nd game against Endy Re-United. Liz Hicks was pacing up and down while Dean was running a huge bill up trying to get people to turn up and giving directions to players who were lost. The signs were not looking good and if it was not for George Aldcroft kitting up we would have kicked off with 10 men but with the knowledge that Simon Ware was on the way we would have a sub.
First Half Action
The opening 20 minutes it was all Endy Re-United who were taking the game to Cosham Park Rangers but some woeful finishing and some solid defending from Alex Hobbs, George Aldcroft and Michael Critchett the kept Robert Pearson's goal intact. What was different from the last week is that Cosham Park Rangers battled away and with Dean Hicks stepping up from the youth team to take charge of 1st team duties while Kev was checking the local talent of Waterlooville out, Dean changing the formation from 4-4-2 to a 4-5-1 formation the centre midfield 3 of Norwich City fan Grant Allen, Craig Hicks and Mr Smooth Jason Tulpin they would be key to Cosham Park Rangers as they made some important tackles to restrict the Endy Re-United midfield from creating the chances for the strikers.
I've watched many games where one team has had all the possession of the ball but have been punished with a swift counter attack and to be in a team that this has happened to was great. The possession stats showed that Endy Re-United had 95% of the play but were punished by a well taken goal from Matt Turner with his 2nd of the season. Cosham Park Rangers had the ball in centre midfield with Mr Smooth Jason Tulpin and with a delightful lofted through ball this released Matt Turner who ran onto the ball and lifted the ball over the advancing keeper and into the back of the net to send the many people watching the game into stunned silence as Cosham Park Rangers had taken the lead.
The only real chance that Endy Re-United had was from a free kick from around 25 yards but Robert Pearson tipped the ball over the bar.
It could and maybe should have be worse for Endy Re-United as Cosham Park Rangers had another chance against the run of play to extend their lead. Lewis Clarke is not known for his goalscoring skills and even in warm up the people behind the goal are more at risk with his finishing.
Today was no different as he had a chance to make it 2-0 as he used his strength to muscle past an Endy Re-United player and will time to pick his spot to sent an absolute rockets past the far post, past the corner flag and into the bushes from 10 yards out. Would this miss prove costly?
The answer was yes as with 5 minutes of the 1st half left Endy Re-United scored. The ball was played forward and an Endy Re-United players turned a Cosham Park Rangers player (Can't remember who) and sent a low drive into the corner of Robert Pearson's net to make the score 1-1.
Half Time:- Cosham Park Rangers 1 Endy Re-United 1
Early in the 2nd half it was all Endy Re-United as they continued to attack Cosham Park Rangers but they were denied by a great save from Robert Pearson. The Endy Re-United player collected the ball and sent a dipping effort towards goal. For a big man, Robert Pearson floated through the air like a butterfly and tipped the ball over the bar and out for a corner. The growing crowd were on their feet clapping along with many of the Cosham Park Rangers players and Endy Re-United players. Liz Hicks said it was a camera save and despite holding a camera she failed to take a picture of it.
Some teams try to play pretty football while Cosham Park Rangers like the long ball as it shows we can kick the ball far and this has helped Cosham Park Rangers score many goals over the years and today was no different. Michael Crichett collected a ball in the left back position and then advanced down the wing like a freight train out of control before pinging a 50 yard ball to the back post to a waiting Marty Tyrrell. With Endy Re-United thinking the danger was clear Marty Tyrrell wrapped his size 6 boot around the ball and sent the ball back across goal and into the back of the net to make the score 2-1.
Could Cosham Park Rangers really complete a smash and grab win?
Last week when we played Endy Re-United the mighty Cosham Park Rangers were done by some long throws into the box which resulted in a couple of goals last week and again today Cosham Park Rangers were done with another log throw. The ball came in and bounced to the centre of the goal where an Endy Re-United player hooked the ball into draw the team’s level.
Endy Re-United came close again to scoring the 3rd goal but were denied by a great block by an already injured Norwich City Fan Grant Allen. The ball was played into the box to an Endy Re-United player who tied his mate up for a short around 10 yards out and with Robert Pearson already going across goal the ball was fired goal wards but out of nowhere Grant Allen also running in the same direction as Robert Pearson got his 50p head in the way and diverted the ball over the cross bar to the relief of the Cosham Park Rangers team. Obviously Grant was laid out on the pitch wondering what had hit him.
Cosham Park Rangers had to dig very deep as Grant Allen was taken off with a leg injury and with Cosham Park Rangers down to 10 men they knew it was going to be a long 10 minutes but things could have been different though. A long clearance down field say Matt Turner win a flick on which released Danny Jafkin who sent a belting effort towards goal and in via the underside of the bar but his excitement was short lived as the linesman flag had denied him and Cosham Park Rangers a 3rd goal.
Cosham Park Rangers were tiring and with players going down injured and players looking like they had hit the wall then needed to hold firm for the last 5 minutes of the game to pick up a valuable point.
It was backs against the wall time for Cosham Park Rangers as waves and waves of blue shirts kept piling forward looking to find the all important goal that would win the game for them but the Cosham Park Rangers team all put in a double shift to deny them on several occasions and with one last effort for Endy Re-United being easily saved by Robert "The Cat" Pearson the game was over. For many Cosham Park Rangers players this point felt more like 3 points and what made this point even better was we never gave up and there was no arguing between the team.
Full Time:- Cosham Park Rangers 2 (Turner and Tyrell) Endy Re-United 2
Next Up:- Cosham Park Rangers vs Horndean Hawks should be a good game and I think if we get some missing players back and then put in the effort like we did today I think we could get a win from the game. Missing a number of players was tough on the team and with Ipswich Town fan Grant Allen out injured and Lewis Clarke carrying injuries, these extra players will be important to Cosham Park Rangers.
