| Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jan 2012 | U9s Rangers | 3-0 | Heybridge Swifts Pumas | Spring League |
U8's RANGERS WEEKEND DOUBLE
The Rangers U8’s welcomed Heybridge Swifts to Elmwood this week for their first encounter of the new Spring League. Having blown away the Christmas cobwebs with a comfortable win against the Maldon Dragons the day before, the Blues were revved up and ready for action...
The first half saw the crowd treated to a wonderful game of football. It was clear that Heybridge knew how to pass the ball, playing a style of football which complimented the Rangers game. A mix of tough but fair challenges coupled by good movement and passing made for probably the best performance to date from this Focus Ferrers side.
All three goals in this game were scored by the blues in the first 20 minutes. The first, following a series of passes along the left flank, a trade mark Jack Allen mazy run and sublime finish. The second, as a result of Harry Haneman muscling through the defence and drilling past the opposing goal keeper. The third, another poachers goal from Joshua Hewes, on hand to pick up the scraps and put Rangers out of sight. But the goals were only part of the story; awesome tackling by Haydn Davies and Teddie Bettis, relentless and tirless midfield work from Dan Caples and Jack Camfield, and as ever the skill and creativity of Benjamin Conway meant that the Swifts found it too difficult to overcome Rangers' superiority. On the occasion that Heybridge managed to break through, there was the small matter of Marcus “Number One” Bunn to overcome, and the Blues keeper was again in fantastic form, pulling off a great diving save and dominating the Rangers goal mouth.
Whilst the second half was devoid of any goals, it was equally as eventful as the first. An early penalty award for Heybridge gave the visitors hope. Up stepped the Swifts centre forward to thump the ball goal-wards with a firm strike, but ‘clean sheet’ Bunn wasn’t about to let the small matter of a spot kick breach his defence, and so Marcus stood firm to save comfortably to the delight of his team mates.
Another penalty award, this time in favour of the Rangers and deemed somewhat controversial by the opposing fans, was given as Jack Allen hit the deck at full speed and about to unleash a right footed rocket. Ignoring the furore, Jack stepped up to take responsibility for the penalty and despite a clean strike, was unlucky to see the ball go just wide.
A pleasing 3-0 win but it was the performance that put the biggest smile on our faces – come on you blues!
Man Of The Match – Haydn Davies: Great tackles across both games this weekend Haydn; those new boots are working a treat!