Dramatic late goal in local soccer derby

Press, 1 June 1981, Page 13

Dramatic late goal in local soccer derby

By DAVID LEGGAT A goal in the last minute by Michael Poole enabled Woolston W.M.C. to salvage one of the two points it should have got from its Rothmans -Soccer League match against Rangers at Rangers Park on Saturday. Or Rangers wretched fortunes of the 1981 league continued as their fighting display suffered a crushing blow right at the end; or both teams picked up a deserved point from the 1-1 draw, in which each made a positive contribution to a dramatic, action-packed local derbv. Any of these interpretations could be put on the match which had plenty of thrills, spills and twists to leave the disappointingly small crowd more than happy. Both could claim, with some justification, that they should have won; Rangers for their tenacious, bustling play which forced errors from Woolston: Woolston for its superior ability to create openings and its far greater share of possession. The game had a real derbyflavour about it. and the referee (Mr Neil Burt) had his hands full as tempers frayed and players niggled each other. Four players finished up being cautioned. Brian Chisholm. Goeff Taylor and Marcel Verweij from Rangers and Woolston's Josh te Kaat. Ironically, the Rangers trio received the yellow card for offences against Woolston's most dangerous attacker. Keith Francis. Chisholm and Verweij tripped him while Taylor retaliated after the little midfielder had originally fouled him. Te Kaat’s caution came after a solid body check on the hardworking Grant Hughes. The real battle took, place in the midfield, where there was an intense struggle for dominance. Some of the tackling was ferocious. lan Cowan, who replaced an injured John Stevens in the opening minutes, added strength and purpose for Rangers, while Paul Glasson. Hughes and Chisholm played their parts well, disrupting' Woolston’s midfield. However. Graham Storer relished the challenge, and together with Richard Mulligan and

Francis, did not budge an inch. The first half was fairly open, although the defences generally dominated. Rangers were led outstandingly by John Souter while Trevor Reece ably marshalled his defence after a couple of early errors. Rangers had four first half chances; Verweij had his header blocked. Tony Steers shot was defleeted, then turned onto the cross-bar by the Woolston defender. David Hendry. Chisholm capitalised on a Reece niistakeand had Peter Moot scrambling to block his left foot shot: and Grant Hughes headed the ball on to the top netting. But the closest chance went to Woolston. Graham Dacombe's 20 metre drive beat the Rangers goal-keeper. Mike Fulham, and hit the cross-bar. Then Storer volleyed the rebound against the post. Rangers goal, in the fiftyeighth minute, came when the ball lobbed over the Woolston defence after a block tackle. Chisholm pounced on it and nudged it past Moot. Two minutes later, Taylor put Hughes clear but te Kaat stopped his shot on the line. Then it was Woolston’s turn as an error by Cowan put Dacombe through, but his shot waS kicked off the line by a lunging Souter. While they clung tightly to their slender lead. Rangers also did enough to keep the Woolston defence alert. Taylor. Glasson and Cowan all had chances anti on one occasion Rangers should have wrapped up the match, when they had five players at - tacking two defenders,' leaving > Woolston's defence in tatters. But, the chance was wasted. ’ But mostly it was the yellow 1 shirts of Woolston pressing for-: ward like waves, and being pushed back by the gallant ■ Rangers defence.' Reece and Mulligan pushed. shots narrowly wide and Poole, had the ball in the net. only for itj to be ruled out for an off-side i infringement. j Francis drove the ball into the i side netting after a blunder by Chisholm. before Mulligan crossed the ball to Poole who turned it past Fulham into the far corner to produce the final, decisive turning in an absorbing match.