First Team
Matches
Sat 09 Apr 2022  ·  Premier Division
Leverstock Green
0
3
Risborough Rangers
First Team
M Wyllie (62'), A Kedzierski (74'), J Read (84')
Game Of Patience Pays Off

Game Of Patience Pays Off

Rob Cairney10 Apr 2022 - 17:36
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Three goal win at Leverstock Green, despite two missed penalties

GAME OF PATIENCE PAYS OFF

Three goal win at Leverstock Green, despite two missed penalties

Bob Rayner reporting

Rangers travelled to the quaintly named Pancake Lane ground on Saturday and came away with a valuable three points following a comfortable win in what looked a tricky fixture against eighth placed Leverstock Green. Manager Mark Eaton made nine changes from his starting line up from Thursday night's cup defeat at Ardley United, only goalkeeper Jack Brooker and Joel Read in Saturday's starting eleven, clearly showing a priority for the league. It proved a wise decision as Rangers, having played Tuesday night at Dunstable as well as Thursday, looked very good value for the win with a dominant performance. The first chance for the visitors fell to Ben Sturgess who fired over after being set up by the impressive Gavin James. Green's Seale then shot wide of the post from the edge of the area at the other end. Keiron Schmidt was next with a decent strike straight at the Leverstock keeper, Bonfield. Some neat play involving James, Lewis Patrick and Alex Kedzierski saw Sean Coles' effort blocked with a timely challenge at the expense of a corner. The subsequent kick found Marcus Wyllie and a neat one-two saw James force another a save from the keeper. Wyllie then went on a clever run, denied by a great tackle as he prepared to shoot, another corner the result; Wyllie took it and a back heel by Coles was cleared off the line at the near post as Green hang on. Another great tackle denied James in front of goal as the game reached the half hour mark. A few minutes later and James did well to win the ball back in the Leverstock area, laying the ball back to Joel Read, his cross-shoot met by the head of a diving Coles who glanced just wide. Rangers then forced a series of corners with the home side struggling to clear their lines, Read and Coles both going close. Five minutes from the break another Rangers corner and a great save off James' header, the ball falling to Asher Yearwood who somehow hit the post from a yard out. Despite their dominance Rangers had to be content to go in goalless at the break.

The second half began with Schmidt shooting wide from the edge of the box. Ten minutes in and Schmidt set up Kedzierski whose shot was handled and a penalty awarded. Up stepped Wyllie, placing his shot low to Bonfield's right. The keeper guessed correctly and dived to push the ball away. It was a moment when the Rangers faithful must have thought it was going to be one of those days! A rare break by the home side and Seale again, this time firing well over in what was probably the home side's only chance of the half. Two minutes later and Wyllie made up for the missed penalty when he was set up by James for a well placed shot that found the net via the hand of Bonfield. The goal gave Rangers a boost and it was all one way traffic from then on apart from a long free kick, high over the Risborough crossbar. Rangers had the ball in the net again after Schmidt's free kick was flicked on by Read but the flag was up. In the 75th minute a spectacular overhead kick from Coles crashed against the underside of the Green crossbar and bounced away to safety. A tricky run by Schmidt followed, the skilful midfielder slicing his shot when through. A couple of Leverstock long throws were dealt with by the Rangers defence, the second at the expense of a corner. James cleared to Wyllie who ran the length of the pitch before squaring to Kedzierski just inside the area, to coolly stroke the ball home to double Rangers' lead. Soon after, Yearwood and Kedzierski both fired wide as Rangers looked for another. Liam Enver-Marum entered the fray and his first action was a good turn and shot just over. Wyllie produced an entertaining 'nutmeg' before shooting into the side netting. With a couple of minutes remaining Wyllie squared to Enver-Marum, his fierce drive well saved by Bonfield, the loose ball falling to Read who smashed home from 12 yards to make it three-nil. An injury time foul on Enver-Marum in the area earned Rangers another penalty, the aggrieved player taking the spot kick himself, and again Bonfield dived to his right to make another fine save. Three points well earned, though the score-line could have been far greater. With a backlog of fixtures, Rangers have another game Tuesday when they entertain Harefield United in the league at the BEP Stadium. They are again at home on Thursday in the Premier Division Cup, versus Hadley (who play title rivals New Salamis just two days later!). Both games kick off at 7.45pm. Next Saturday Rangers face Holmer Green at home, kick off 3pm. No doubt manager Mark Eaton will again use his squad wisely.

Rangers Man of the Match: Alex Kedzierski. Plenty of players were on top of their game today, making it a very difficult decision, but AK gets the nod with a great performance, defensively and in attack. Such a good all round player, his ability equally matched by his fitness and hard yards he puts in, not to mention his competitive nature. Capped it off with a fine finish.

Match details

Match date

Sat 09 Apr 2022

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

70

Competition

Premier Division

League position

2
Risborough Rangers
8
Leverstock Green
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