Saints Deliver A Shock

Chalfont St Peter arrived at the Kamtech Stadium on Saturday sitting second bottom in the table following a run of 11 games without a win. Rangers on the other hand, had won their last three, scoring 12 goals in the process and could have been forgiven for thinking that this was a mere formality. Football though, is a funny old game and the visitors were thoroughly worth their one nil lead at half time before digging their heels in during the second period with a determined and sometimes desperate defensive display to hang on for a narrow victory. Rangers welcomed Alison Keyworth and her Risborough Rangers Under 8's team as guard of honour for the match and could have done with some of their shooting prowess, as shown in the half-time penalty shoot-out. Following a slow start Chalfont showed their intentions with a decent shot, tipped over by Rangers' Craig Hill on 10 minutes. Rangers countered when Greg Hackett's strike was also tipped over at the other end. Both sides had half chances following this before in the 26th minute a long ball over the top caught Rangers napping and Hill made a good save off Chalfont's Spinks. A series of corners for the visitors followed with Hill dealing well the high ball. On the half hour mark a neat build up by Rangers ended with Owen James firing over. Another good move from the home side soon followed with Lewis Toomey picking out James, who fizzed one over the angle of bar and post. Soon after and Ben Sturgess' dangerous ball was nicked off Toomey's foot in front of goal. Chalfont hit back and Rangers' Matt Peake-Pijnen did well to block a goal-bound effort. With several injuries halting the flow of the game it was close to half time when Saints grabbed what proved to be the winner. A neat build up down the Rangers left flank opened up space for a low cross that evaded everyone except Spinks at the far post, who had a simple tap in from a yard. It was a poor goal defensively for the home side to concede and one that spurred them into action as they finished the extended first period with a series of chances fell to Toomey, Hackett and Peake-Pijnen who were all left frustrated.

The second period was all Rangers as Chalfont put up a wall of defence, and with free-kicks a frequent occurrence and it was sometimes a scrappy affair. Dan West fired over early on before Toomey forced a good save from the keeper. Chalfont's keeper then palmed James' cross into the dangers area but somehow got away with it after some pin-ball in the 18 yard box was finally hacked clear. With the visitors sitting deep Rangers piled on the pressure but could not find a way through as the ball was continuously punted back up-field. 18 minutes in and Toomey headed wide from a corner. Gary Connelly's low near post cross-shot was well taken by the keeper soon after. Good work from Alex Kedzierski and Hackett set up James who shot over from the angle. Another James effort followed soon after, again just over the bar. For every cross into the box there was a Chalfont player there, to hook or head the ball clear and back to Rangers to start another attack. With 15 minutes to go, Alfie Branwhite's far post header was well held by the overworked Chalfont keeper. Then good play from Hackett presented West with a great chance to draw Rangers level, but the Rangers' midfielder headed over when he really should have done better. A rare foray from Chalfont ended with a free-kick straight into the Rangers wall. With five minutes to go West was almost in before being denied by a well timed tackle. A couple of minutes from the end there was a moment of almost comedic quality as three or four chances right in front of the Chalfont goal were somehow kept out by some desperate blocks, saves and tackles before finally a firm boot cleared the danger. The last chance fell to Toomey in injury time, his header taken low down by the keeper. The final whistle brought celebrations from the visitors, and rightly so after their recent form, gaining revenge for the five nil drubbing dished out by Rangers during the away fixture. As for Rangers, they will need to find their shooting boots again if they are to win at Burnham on Wednesday night. Next Saturday Rangers are at home to Virginia Waters. Kick off at the Kamtech Stadium is 3pm.