Rangers recover some of old skills

Press, 23 April 1984, Page 16

Rangers recover some of old skills

A reorganised Rangers team bounced back from their heavy mid-week loss to Woolston W.M.C. by beating Christchurch United, 1-0, in the main Hertz Soccer League match at English Park on Saturday. The loss to Woolston was the first time Rangers have conceded four goals in the league since May 28 last year, when New Brighton was the opposition.

That scoreline, and performance, clearly left the Rangers coach, Bill McDonald, dissatisfied. So, he pushed the young central defender, Chris Smith, into the attack, moved Scott Dewar forward into the midfield and dropped the bustling midfielder, lan Cowan, back as the sweeper. The result was a display a notch above the Woolston performance, although United produced a workmanlike, if uninspired, effort. There were few highlights in the 90 minutes. Indeed, the first half produced the solitary goal. Eric Reiser took his chance well in the fifteenth minute, turning and volleying the ball beyond David White, United’s goal-keeper, from the edge of the penalty area. United was obliged to reshuffle its own pack when Scott Sinclair left the field with a nasty cut over his right eye after colliding with Grant Hughes. Only twice after half-time did it look like the scoreboard attendant would be obliged to leave his perch. Hughes forced White to get down smartly to turn a shot wide and Smith hit the cross-bar from 15 metres and the rebound was headed over the bar. “A lot happier," was Mr McDonald’s after-match summation. “We got back to the basics and played more simple football.” One coach who must be wishing his team would do the same is Woolston’s Kevin Mulgrew. After watching his side dish up some delightful stuff against Rangers, he had to endure a dismal display against Burndale United at Garrick Park, Burndale deserving a point from the 1-1 draw. Wayne Bath put Woolston ahead with a header from a corner seven minutes before half-time, but a defensive error enabled Peter Ross to equalise for Burndale 15 minutes from the end. Had it not been for Stephen Reeves making three notable saves after the interval, Woolston would have had its tail well and truly between its legs by the end. “We are not going to beat anybody playing like that,” said an unhappy Mr Mulgrew. “Burndale played to probably its fullest potential; they did very well and could have had three points. We think we have got a championship-winning side, but we haven’t. We might

have the best individuals, but not the best team. We are totally unprofessional and will need to get our thinking caps on again.” Woolston’s biggest worry this season has been compensating for the absence of its best marksman, Robbie Larter, through injury. Nomads United has no such difficulty, judging on its recent run of results, and its 4-2 win over New Brighton on Saturday lifts its goals tally to 13 from five matches. That is more than any other team, including Rangers and Woolston, which have had one extra match.

Gerard Kemp put Brighton ahead in the eighth minute, but Allan Carville equalised a minute later, and added his second soon after. Keith Bullion scored for Brighton just before the interval, levelling the scores.

For the second successive week, Nomads got a crucial advantage straight after halftime. It shook Woolston a week ago with a decisive goal a minute into the second spell and Brighton suffered when Mike FuUen scored from the penalty spot, also in the fortysixth minute after an infringement was spotted. Tim Pearson made the three points safe for Nomads with the fourth goal shortly before the finish.

South Canterbury United, invariably so difficult to beat at home in Timaru, will be comtemplating playing all its matches in Christchurch after its second loss in as many games at home on Saturday. It

has won all three in Christchurch to date, but went down, 2-1, to Cashmere-Wanderers at Aorangi Park. Graeme Jones put South Canterbury ahead with a header but Steve Bailey equalised before half-time and Drew Hendrie scored the winner in the eighty-fifth minute of an even match. Shamrock hammered Western, 4-0, at Riccarton Domain. John van Opzeeland scored twice, Tony Steer — direct from a free-kick — and Paul Sherratt once.

A full round of premier league matches was played on Saturday and Halswell took the opportunity to increase its lead at the top of the table by beating its closest rival, New Brighton, 2-1. The other matches resulted.—Shamrock 3, Cashmere 0; Rangiora 3, Western 2; Rangers 5, Riccarton 1; Technical 1, High School Old Boys 0.

HERTZ LEAGUE P W D L F A Pt Rangers 6 5 0 1 12 8 15 Nomads 5 4 0 1 13 7 12 Woolston 6 3 2 1 11 7 11 Sth Canty 5 3 0 2 9 3 9 Cashmere 5 3 0 2 9 6 9 Shamrock 5 2 0 3 8 7 6 Chch Utd 5 1 1 3 5 8 4 Brighton 5 1 1 3 9 13 4 Western 5 1 0 4 2 12 3 Burndale 5 0 2 3 2 8 2

PREMIER LEAGUE Pt P W D L F A Halswell 4 4 0 0 10 1 12 Rangers 4 3 1 0 12 3 10 Shamrock 4 3 1 0 10 5 10 Brighton 4 3 0 1 6 4 9 Cashmere 4 2 0 2 8 8 6 Rangiora 4 1 2 1 7 7 5 Technical 4 1 1 2 4 5 4 H.S.O.B. 4 0 1 3 1 8 1 Western 4 0 0 4 2 7 0 Riccarton 4 0 0 4 2 14 0