Five Goal Ford

LEE RANGERS 1-5 CHANDLERS FORD
24.03.07 – MID SOLENT 'B' LEAGUE

Chandlers Ford completed the double over Lee Rangers this morning to follow up their 4-1 home win early last month. It was a good performance all round and although the score was comfortable for CFY, they could have won by a few more perhaps.

Daniel Whitlocke, starting his first game for Ford, scored the opening goal with just over five minutes played. The ball came in from the right where Dan was on hand to calmly slot past the keeper.

Having gone a goal down, the Rangers got a lucky break to level the scores, coming up to midway through the half.

As the corner came in from the left, with good in-swing and pace, it struck Liam Godfrey in the head, who did his best to keep the ball out. It rebounded against the post though and stand in keeper Thorsten Tramischus - filling in for Karthik (out with tendonitis) between the sticks, could do nothing but watch as it crept over the line.

This seemed to spur the blues on even more and once again their dominance and pressure began to show.

Michael Sawbridge hit the post with Montigue and Harris also coming close on several occasions, the trio up front working the line superbly between them.

The lead was restored when Michael Wall hit a right foot volley that took a slight touch before finding the roof of the net. Josh Harragan's trademark long throw led to the goal, with Liam Godfrey touching the ball on, but Michael will take all the credit for picking his spot and bagging CFY's second goal.

Wall continued to play a key role in the game adding a third just minutes later with an absolute belter from 25 yards. Again Harragan was involved, who had been a part of every thing good about the visitors' play. Josh teed the ball up for Michael who fired a perfect curling effort into the top corner, leaving the keeper standing - another candidate for goal of the season!

As the half came to a close, Ford were now in complete control and perhaps unfortunate not to have had a few more goals to their name.

HALF TIME – Lee Rangers 1-3 CFY

It came as no surprise that Chandlers Ford continued to be much the better side with Rangers struggling to get out of their own half for long periods of time.

Throwing caution to the wind, Ford went all out attack camping in their opponents area with longs throws from Harragan and dangerous corners from Sawbridge coming thick and fast keeping the home side under the kosh.

David Harris got a deserved goal from a corner on the left hand side that flew past everyone and bounced over the line despite claims it had not crossed. There may have been a slight element of luck about the goal but in terms of the result it was important to extend the lead once more.

Apart from a few Rangers breakaways, CFY held the upper hand and soon went 5-1 up, through Harris once more. A long free kick up the park saw a whole host of red shirts cue up, staying on side with Montigue flicking it on nicely for David who did all the rest with a simple finish past the helpless keeper.

With the win now secure, Lee Rangers had nothing to lose and with better finishing could well have grabbed a consolation. One chance in particular saw the Rangers number ten take the ball past Thorsten but fire wide of an open goal.

More chances came for the Blues with Tom Pope coming close with a good half volley from a corner ball. Then lovely football saw Montigue win the ball tracking back before playing it to Harris down the right. The cross found Ryan Chinn unmarked at the back post who was unable to guide his effort into the net.

Seeing the game out fairly comfortably though, Ford picked up all three points with a near faultless performance.

Men of the match Josh Harragan and Michael Wall, just two of those doing themselves and the team proud with many others following closely behind with equally good performances.

FULL TIME –Lee Rangers 1-5 CFY

Match pictures by Neil Sawbridge

(Click images for larger size)

Lions Made To Strain In Cup

CHANDLERS FORD 2-4 LOCKSHEATH
17.03.07 – LEAGUE CUP 1/4 FINAL

A vastly improved performance from the last time these sides met, saw Chandlers Ford go out of the cup with their heads held high.

With the A Division side being the clear favourites to win, and their 7-1 defeat over CFY in a pre-season friendly, it was a surprise to see the home side take the lead.

Saying that, it was thoroughly deserved as Chandlers Ford took the game to the Lions early on to get their just rewards with a positive attacking, team move. Jozef Montigue finished it off with a cheeky flick over the keeper, who got a hand to it but couldn't stop it from going into the top corner.

Locksheath hit back however, with a well-taken goal to equalise, catching CFY off guard on the counter attack, but full credit to the Blues who did not get down about this and continued to play the better football.

Montigue had a couple of similar chances to the one he took, come his way, but the goalscorer couldn't repeat the result and then the woodwork was struck with CFY looking in good shape. The excellent David Harris received the ball from a throw in on the left and got past his marker with ease before lashing a belting shot that rattled the crossbar. It was a great effort and very unlucky not to have put CFY back in front.

Unfortunately, despite playing very well against better opponents, they conceded a second goal and went in at half time very unfortunate to be a goal behind, having dominated so much of the play.

HALF TIME – CFY 1-2 Locksheath Lions

After a very impressive first half, Chandlers Ford slipped slightly and Locksheath were able to put their foot down and find weaknesses to extend their lead.

Karthik Basker, as always, put in an inspired performance between the sticks making some fantastically brave saves to not only give confidence to his defence but keep the scores fairly tight as well.

Ford held their opponents for a good 10-15 minutes before conceding a needless penalty when Robbie Hurst handled the bar inside the area. Locksheath failed to take advantage this time though and shot comfortably wide of goal.

They did go on to score two more shortly after this incident to effectively kill the game off. Their last goal in particular was a big disappointment from the home side who literally stood off and watched as the ball was struck, unchallenged, past the helpless Basker, who had no chance.

With time running out, CFY grabbed a late consolation through Michael Wall. Miles Hodge, who had come on and done very well with some nice touches, flicked the ball on perfectly out to the left for Michael Wall who controlled a looping shot that looked to be going over but dipped at just the right time. The goalkeeper tried to keep the strike out but it had already crossed the line.

A fantastic display from CFY, to build on two equally good performances in the league last weekend. There were a whole lot of positives to take from the game and despite the result everyone can be proud of their achievements.

FULL TIME –CFY 2-4 Locksheath Lions

4 out of 6 Points in Double Header

CHANDLERS FORD 2-2 PURBROOK YOUTH
10.03.07 – MID SOLENT B LEAGUE

After so many postponed fixtures due to bad weather, Chandlers Ford finally managed to play a game, the first time in over a month since they beat Lee Rangers 4-1 back in early February.

In fact, it was better than that, as it was two games in one go with 25 minutes each way.

In the first game at their new venue of Magpie Lane, CFY got off to a bright start with a couple of early chances.

Michael Sawbridge found his range with an excellent free kick that flew past a whole crowd of players at great speed and into the top corner of the net with the goalkeeper left standing.

The Blues should have been at least three or four goals up at half time as they dominated possession and looked comfortable at the back but 1-0 it stayed at the break.

HALF TIME – CFY 1-0 Purbrook Youth

Early in the second half, Thorsten Tramischus doubled our lead giving Chandlers Ford the best possible start. The goal came from an excellent through ball on the right hand side from Jozef Montigue with Tramishcus pouncing and slotting past the keeper with a good finish.

The game became very open all of a sudden and Purbrook came alive as they pulled back from 2-0 down to rescue a point. The visitors equalised midway through the half and then levelled the scores five minutes from the end showing that a lack of concentration can cost you.

There was still time for either side to pinch all three points with a chance falling to Montigue at one end and then the ball went straight up the other end with Purbrook coming so close of winning the game with the last kick.

FULL TIME –CFY 2-2 Purbrook Youth

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PURBROOK YOUTH 3-5 CHANDLERS FORD
10.03.07 – MID SOLENT B LEAGUE

In the second game of the double header, with both sides having a chance to get to know each others strength's and weaknesses briefly in their first encounter just moments before, it was Chandlers Ford who came out on top with a positive display.

Jozef Montigue put Ford into the lead when a penalty was awarded just minutes into the game. A blatant hand ball from a Purbrook defender, who found himself in the way of a Michael Sawbridge corner, was penalised and up stepped Montigue. The keeper made a good save to parry but couldn't hold on to the powerful shot and Jozef followed in quickly to fire his side into a 1-0 lead.

Just like the first game Chandlers Ford extended their advantage with a second goal, Thorsten scoring for the second time in the day as he bundled his way through the Purbrook defence before smashing into the roof of the net.

However, Purbrook showed good determination and bounced back the same way they did in the first game and with two quick fire goals, only this time CFY didn't let this get to them. David Harris restored the lead instantly as he buried an excellent cross from the left hand side by Michael Wall with a great strike.

HALF TIME – Purbrook Youth 2-3 CFY

Ending the first half on a positive, almost defintely helped the Blues to play confident football when the second half began.

Michael Sawbridge continued with his Matt Le Tissier impressions with an incredible inswinging corner that beat everybody and nestled perfectly in the back of the net, for yet another trademark special from Michael.

Things went from bad to worse for Purbrook as their opponents continued to play with great confidence. Liam Godfrey increased Ford's lead with a brilliant finish from the edge of the area. The ball bounced around the Purbrook penalty area, and Godfrey, who had been playing so well got a deserved goal and what a goal it was too.

As the ball landed at Liam's feet, there was only one thing on his mind and that was to pick out the top corner. This he did in style with a half volley struck with the outside of his boot.

Purbrook may have had the last say with a well taken goal, but it was too little too late meaning Chandlers Ford had done more than enough to pick up a well earned three points.

On the day, 4 out of 6 points picked up is a good achievement although a win instead of a draw in the first match would have seen us move up a couple of places in the table.

It was good to see David Phillips back playing again and well done to Karthik Basker for some more splendid saves winning man of the match in the second match, and to Michael Sawbridge who picked up the award for the first game. Well done to you all, we could do with some more results like these!

FULL TIME – Purbrook Youth 3-5 CFY