Rangers thump five past Ford

Lee Rangers 5-0 Chandlers Ford Youth

Mid Solent B League – 23rd February 2008

Richard had a bare 12 players available for this crunch game against the side Ford hammered by seven goals to one at the back-end of September 2007.

Included in the absentees were the likes of Daryl Winter and Josh Harrigan, both key members of the team, who were both missing along with injured goalkeeper Lee Robertson. This game proved to put a real dent in Chandlers Ford’s plans of picking up points to ease their way back up the table.

The first half was fairly even with the home side enjoying the early pressure on Liam Godfrey’s goal during the opening ten minutes or so but other than that the half belonged to Ford.

Michael Wall struck the woodwork at least twice with long range efforts and Alex Evens was clean through with just the goalkeeper to beat but the pressure got to him also distracted by the fact people were calling for an offside flag, which didn’t come making the miss all the more costly.

In this same fixture earlier in the season, Alex put four great strikes past the same opponents in by far his best game for the club but despite many opportunities in the return game just couldn’t quite find a way through.

Jozef Montigue did a good job in the right wing back role supplying sublime crosses from the flank though unfortunately, they were not put to good use by the forwards and attacking midfielders who should have been trying to get on the end of them.

Ford still looked the better side as the half neared it’s end but with the scores still level and the visitors becoming increasingly frustrated by coming so near, yet so far with their chances, there was always the possibility that Lee Rangers might just make them pay for not sticking one away.

This is exactly what happened. Against the run of play, Rangers took a 1-0 lead when the CFY defence let the ball bounce in front of goal instead of getting something on it. It was then chased down superbly by a Lee Rangers forward who went in fully committed and determined to win the ball, one which he never looked like getting to as he raced in from deep before sliding in on Godfrey (the ball was there to be challenged for), which he won before rolling into an empty net. A typical example of will to win and giving 110% effort for the cause, something perhaps that CFY did not show.

HALF TIME: Lee Rangers 1-0 CFY

Conceding the goal was very hard to take especially when they had been playing the better football and creating the most chances, and this took all the stuffing out of Ford who simply gave up in a dismal second half performance.

James Parsonage volunteered to go in goal to replace Liam, which was not the initial plan, but Richard was talked into go against what he would have liked to do in terms of changes and players playing in what position, something he feels definitely contributed to the manner of defeat and margin they eventually lost by.

As soon as the second and then third goals went in, it was the same story of losing faith and not bothering to try and change things around.

Michael Wall had hit the post earlier in the second half but this was the closest they were to come.

Two late goals resulted in a scoreline that well and truly flattered Lee Rangers and at the same time, humiliating Chandlers Ford who now have a goal difference of –10.

Men of the match – Jake Beattie and James Parsonage.

FULL TIME: Lee Rangers 5-0 CFY

CFY stumble past Stubb

Chandlers Ford Youth 4-2 Stubbington

Mid Solent B League – 17th February 2008

With several key figures from the side missing, including Michael Sawbridge (who scored five times in the same fixture earlier in the season in the 8-2 win), and goalkeeper Lee Robertson who is ruled out for the near future with a broken wrist, Chandlers Ford took on Stubbington.

This meant Liam Godfrey and Michael Wall shared the role of goalkeeper between them with Liam taking the gloves for the first half before coming on a striker in the second half. Wall started the game in the holding role just in front of the defence, where he won the man of the match award last week, and then found himself between the sticks for the whole of the second half.

Looking to end their run of league defeats, Richard’s team could not have had a better opportunity coming up against one of only two sides that they have managed to win against this season.

Ford started the game brightly creating several chances and attacking at every opportunity to keep themselves on the front foot.

Alex Evens broke the deadlock with a fine finish lofting over the head of the goalkeeper having out-sprinted the last defender, this following a great assist from Michael Wall’s inch perfect through ball.

It didn’t take too long for the hosts to double their advantage when Jozef Montigue ran through latching onto another great pass from Wall, to steer perfectly past the keeper with a cool lob to find the roof of the net.

2-0 up inside the opening ten minutes it was beginning to look like there was only going to be one outcome with the real possibility of Ford racing ahead and putting the game out of sight for Stubbington, who struggled to threaten.

The visitors fell further behind when Michael Wall’s corner from the right into a packed penalty area led to an own goal.

The score at half time remained 3-0 at the break, but it may well have been so much more for all the chances and possession. Montigue was unlucky with a couple of attempts that he rifled over the bar. Josh Harrigan was exceptional in defence leading the way with a captain’s performance. Not only this but the centre half also went on some breathtaking runs forward down the right.

HALF TIME: CFY 3-0 Stubbington

The cliché ‘it’s a game of two halves’ just about sums up the way CFY’s recent performances have gone. Whether it has been playing exceptionally well in the first half and losing the game in the second, or the opposite – performing dismally to begin with, and despite big improvements in the half that followed, left it too late to get the right result.

Today’s game was the first of those two scenarios, but thankfully they turned the tables by managing to hold on, something they have not managed for the majority of this season.

Stubbington came out in the second half with an excellent attitude, perhaps feeling they had nothing to lose and that maybe if they got one back anything could be possible.

A long ball forward caught an unusually static CFY defence off guard and the Stubbington number 9 made them pay for the mistake with a crisp finish across goal into the bottom left hand corner past Michael Wall.

With around fifteen minutes to play, the same goalscorer found the back of the net once more with an equally impressive finish from the edge of the penalty area with a powerfully struck lob.

This set up an interesting close to the match, one that was especially nervy for Ford until that is, they could breath a sigh of relief thanks to a fourth goal that put the result beyond doubt.

Daryl Winter had a particularly superb second half performance with positive running down the left, excellent in possession of the ball to add to his solid defending. It was Winter who grabbed what proved to be the deciding goal, which was no more than he deserved.

Godfrey took on the Stubbington left back and managed to get in behind where he utilised the space by sending a great delivery into the area. Winter attacked it well to fire home CFY’s fourth.

FULL TIME: CFY 4-2 Stubbington

Failure to convert chances cost CFY the game

Chandlers Ford Youth 1-4 Crofton Saints

Mid Solent B League – 9th February 2008

Chandlers Ford set out to go one step further than they managed in their previous encounter with today’s visitors Crofton Saints.

At the time (back in November 2007), Crofton were flying high and had not lost a game or even dropped a point. A top drawer performance from Ford, arguably one of our best this season saw CFY 3-2 up with just a minute to go, but unfortunately drawing to a late goal when the three points looked likely.

This time around, the story didn’t quite follow on as Ford suffered their fourth consecutive defeat.

CFY switched to a 3-5-2 formation for this home game against second placed Crofton.

Josh Harrigan returned to the centre of defence and as captain with Jake Beattie and David Smith making up the rest of the back three. James Parsonage and Daryl Winter slotted in as the two wing backs with David Bromhead the forward player of the centre midfielders and Michael Wall being asked to play the holding role in front of the back three allowing Michael Sawbridge the free role between midfield and the two strikers Jozef Montigue and Alex Evens.

CFY started brightly with two or three chances being created before Crofton broke away against the run of play and scored with their first attack as the ball was crossed in from the right with their centre forward unmarked, taking advantage to find the back of the net.

CFY picked themselves up and with some fine interplay involving Daryl, David and Jozef ending with Michael Sawbridge bringing the scores level with one of his trade mark strikes.

The home side continued with the pressure on the Crofton goal with a series of corners and long throws from Josh, but unable to hit the target.

Crofton had a break-away just on half time but Lee made one of his best saves of the season diving low to his left and pushing the ball away for a corner, which was cleared.

HALF TIME: CFY 1-1 Crofton Saints

Ford continued their pressure again in the second half with Michael Sawbridge coming close on a few occasions and a lovely shot from Ryan Chinn, which dipped over the bar. Despite all the CFY pressure, Crofton were very lively on the counter attack and soon found themselves 3-1 up.

Following another corner, which were coming thick and fast, a Crofton player handled in the area, however Daryl blasted the spot kick over the bar.

To make things worse for Chandlers Ford, Crofton again broke free at good pace to secure a 4-1 victory.

A game where Crofton had maybe five or six chances, scoring four of those, and CFY having up to ten and only converting the one – that was the difference.

Daryl was nominated as one of the men of the match for his never say die attitude and effort. Michael Wall was the other to be rewarded with the trophy for his outstanding display in the unfamiliar role as the holding midfield player.

FULL TIME: CFY 1-4 Crofton Saints

Deja-vu? Warsash game, all over again!

East Lodge 4-3 Chandlers Ford Youth

Mid Solent B League – 2nd February 2008

For the second week running, Chandlers Ford made things hard for themselves by not taking their chances, conceding the first goal despite heavy early pressure, and leaving it too late (the second half), to put together a fight back.

CFY’s only league wins this season came in consecutive fixtures back in September against Stubbington and Lee Rangers. Since then, despite having the potential to do better things, Richard’s side are languishing in 7th place at present.

There were severe doubts that the overnight frost could put the game into jeopardy and sure enough the goal mouth was rock solid and deemed too dangerous to play initially. Thankfully after half an hours delay, the 40 minute journey was not entirely wasted as the game went ahead.

Daryl Winter, playing on the left of midfield had the best of Ford’s early opportunities as he combined neatly with Jozef Montigue on more than one occasion but failed to cause the giant of a goalkeeper any problems.

Ford had the better of the play and kept their attacking threat up for a good ten minutes straight, when there was only one team in it.

East Lodge against the run of play took a surprise lead, a corner kick bouncing wickedly off James Parsonage and on to the near post to set up a simple tap in from close range.

As is normally the case, all of the previous confidence and positive play seemed to be drained out of CFY with the goal leading them to drop their heads and allow the hosts to take full advantage as they kept up their momentum netting two more before the break.

HALF TIME: East Lodge 3-0 CFY

David Bromhead pulled a goal back early in the second half chasing down the goalkeeper to win possession in front of goal before finding the net with the finish to match with a cool chip into the roof of the net.

It looked like the game was heading the same way as the previous week when Ford scored a second goal to get right back in contention once more.

A hand ball led to a penalty kick being awarded, which Daryl stepped up to take making no mistake from 12 yards for his third goal of the season. 3-2.

The game became a little more open once more and East Lodge soon restored their two goal advantage.

Michael Sawbridge set up a tense finish as he beat the offside trap running through from the centre of the park to round the goalkeeper and finish well.

He might have levelled the game soon after as he once again burst forward, this time he was denied by the post.

Montigue was stopped by a splendid save when he turned the left back inside out from the edge of the penalty area to unleash a powerful right footed strike that was heading towards the top corner where the goalkeeper showed superb reactions and agility to keep it out, palming over the cross bar.

In the end, the improved second half performance from Ford was let down only by some costly first half mistakes.

Next up is an equally tough challenge as we take on Crofton Saints at home.

FULL TIME: East Lodge 4-3 CFY

Match pictures by Miles Hodge