Southern Rangers,
With only three games left and two wins required to win the league this was another massive game for us, especially as we nearly lost too Rangers in the cup semi final.
Again we were missing players with Jay still suspended, Pete and Robbie unavailable it was important to be able to welcome back Shane after a long absence.
The game stared well as was expected with View playing mostly in the Ranges half Alex causing massive amounts of trouble on the right wing and Sharpy and Philippe combing well up top to make space, despite his however Vew caused the dodgy Rangers keeper little trouble and the few shots that were taken were off target.
Southern Rangers on the other hand were not having so much of the ball but were getting it in to good areas when able to play it around on the deck and only lacking the final ball to unlock the door. Matt King and Shane had a strong game in the centre of the park and done well battling and finding passes to set us moving forward, and there efforts largely stifled the Rangers effort to play the ball around.
Antony won his areal battle thought out the first half before injury to his ass! (Take that how you will and excuse the pun) meant he was forced off at half time and was covered well by Levi when the ball was well over hit by the rangers lumpy centre half. Stuart was also very comfortable in the first half and managed to get in to the face of the ranger clumsy winger who continuously knocked the ball off the pitch. Michael had little to do defensively in the first half as he easily had the fattest slowest oldest winger known to man up against him, he did however contribute by picking up this forth of the season with a beautifully curled free kick from about 25 yards, Mike swung the ball with his right foot around the wall to the keepers left and in to the bottom corner, after Alex had been brutally brought down again!
View should have been up ten minuets before after Shane released Alex with a sublime ball in to the channel, Alex ten danced passed the defence as he cut across the box and chipped the keeper only to see his effort float over the bar.
Philippe also missed a chance or two but the worst had to be when he was played in behind the Rangers aged defence only to trip on the grass!! And go down like one of John Terry’s mistresses.
The second half was different matter as rangers used he win to there advantage and pumped the ball behind View to stretch us and keep us camped in our own half, this forced us to play on the break which in some ways suited us better as it gave space to play the bal in to. Stuart had a excellent half and many an occasions when the shoddy defensive line was breached Stuart managed to cover around and provide the last ditch challenge.
The big talking point was when Alex tied to hurdle the fouling bastard Rangers defender after skinning him twice ad was adjudged to have stamped on him in mid air and was duly sent off after the ref conferred with their linesman. Fortunately for Rangers the ref didn’t see the attack on Alex that followed as punches were thrown by Rangers team…
The final 25 minuets played were very difficult with Rangers continually finding space in front of the View defence only to have the final ball cut out or see it land on the keepers hands, the best chance Rangers had was from a free kick when the cross was headed home only for the goal to be disallowed for off side one of the refs only good calls of the match.
Aaron and Dan’s fresh legs made the difference in the last moments of the game as they made good clearances and important tackles, this was a day when our squad was really called in to play and delivered expertly and this is the reason we are going to win the title and shove it down the Vista’s neck once we win the cup final.
Well done lads.
Notable Mentions:
Boco: winning everything that came you way.
Darren: some good saves and catches and even some communication at times J
Stuart: done really well to cover round in the second half especially and stopped them scoring as well as important communication and organising at times.
Well done lads, one more win and its ours.
