JEKYLL AND HYDE PERFORMANCE BY RANGERS

…and valuable away win by RCA

Boro Rangers 3 Newcastle University 1 – Ebac Northern League Division Two:

The race for the automatic promotion place in Division Two is hotting up.  Fresh on the heels of Horden’s win the previous night, it was time for Boro Rangers to step up to the plate.

It was no surprise that played like a very motivated team as they try to keep pace with their rivals.  But it was a Jekyll and Hyde performance by Rangers.

It’s the best that I’ve seen them play.  When they played football they looked very good indeed.  They certainly have a robust style but there’s a fine line between robust and being overly physical.  They crossed that line more than a couple of times during the game.  I’m not sure why they felt the need to do so – they were good for the win playing football, with some excellent goals.

They were well on top in the first half, although both teams had early shots:  Boro midfielder Thomas Bligh hitting an effort that spun over the bar and then his opposite number Ryan Redford’s first time shot forcing keeper Dan Horner into a diving save.

A clinical finish from distance by Boro No. 9 Stuart Rose gave the home team the lead as he took aim, picked his spot and placed it between keeper and post.  Within seconds of the re-start he could have doubled his tally; from a similar postion he curled a shot round the keeper but outside of the right post.  They kept applying the pressure:  Dan Lofts’ strike saved by Max Richardson in the University goal and then the No. 7 seeing another shot close to the post deflected into the side netting.

The pressure eventually paid dividends with two goals in quick succession.  On the half-hour a free kick was hit into the University six yard area and Matthew Lovatt applied a glancing header to steer the ball into the goal.  It was 3-0 within two minutes when Harry Williams knocked the ball back to Ben Turner who hit their second clinical strike into the net.  Rose came close to adding a fourth in the 43rd minute, pulling a shot across the University goal, with the ball hitting the outside of the left post.

University raised their game in the second half.  No. 9 Dominic Griffin almost got on the end on to a long ball, only for Horner to beat him to it after racing well out of his area.

They pegged a goal back in the 65th minute.  The ball was chipped into the Rangers area where it spun backwards off a defender into the path of Angus Mitchinson who latched on to the ball and knocked it past Horner.

In between those attacks Rangers came close to extending their lead. Bligh threaded a through ball through the University defence to Lofts but it was a couple of feet too far ahead of the No. 7 and Richardson was able to clear.  Rose then set Lofts up with a deft through ball.  Lofts tried to lob the keeper but couldn’t keep his effort down and on target.

As the half progressed, the game got more and more tetchy, with a couple of confrontations and “meaty” tackles.

And with 20 minutes to go Rangers suffered a self-inflicted blow that could have serious repercussions for their promotion ambitions with Rose shown a straight red for a challenge on Uni No. 8 Timothy Browne.  The No. 9 is facing suspension from crucial games in the run-in and possible play-off matches.

Up againt 10 men, University had more time and space to attack.  In the closing minutes Mitchinson and fellow sub Ben Long tried their luck to no avail and another couple of attacks were stopped by last man tackles by Rangers in their area and the hosts managed to hold on to their 3-1 lead and see out the game.

As a spectator left the ground he said:  “That was a battle.”  The game certainly had its moments that lived up to that description but there was plenty of decent football too.

Mike Snowdon

RCA MOVE CLOSER TO SAFETY

Thornaby 0-1 Sunderland RCA – Ebac Northern League Division One 

Sunderland RCA gained a crucial three points in the Ebac Northern League Division One relegation battle after a battling 1-0 win away to Thornaby.

The visitors had a great chance to give themselves the lead within 1 minute of kick off as Stephen Callen fired just wide from a cut back.

The opening 30 minutes didn’t excite apart from a few full-blooded challenges, as neither side were able to create any clear-cut chances.

The final five minutes of the half saw RCA take the lead. Robert Ene’s corner was met by Greg Swansbury who saw his header tipped wide. The resulting corner was spilled by Thornaby keeper Robert Dean, leaving Callen to tap home.

Ene almost doubled his sides lead just a minute before the break, when he saw his long-range free kick parried wide by Dean.

Thornaby came out battling in the second half and dominated the majority of possession, but were unable to create any clear chances.

RCA came close to adding a second on the counter attack 15 minutes from time – Kiegan Turns’ cross was met Cameron Fenton who headed straight at Dean.

Thornaby kept pushing and almost found an equaliser 5 minutes from time. They worked the ball well down the left before cutting back to Gary Mitchell who fired straight at Matthew Wilkinson.

RCA held on to secure a crucial three points in the fight to stay up. Thornaby host West Allotment Celtic in their next game, whilst Sunderland RCA welcome Pickering Town.

Adam Gill