Match Review: TGA Rangers FC vs Hotspurs FC

• DF Hiromitsu Nakaue
• DF Jonathan Cloak
• DF Fraser Anderson
• DF Jordan Laing
• MD Stephen McLaughlin
• MD Nathan Bryer
• MD Victor Felicia
• MD Paddy Sutton
• ST Mike Sharples
• -- Gianluca Franchetto
• -- Rob Whitworth

• DF Taishi Fukuda
• DF Chris Jones
• MD Sam Barrett
• ST Aaron Clancey-Agius

So here we were again, Turf City at 5pm, turned out it was a lot hotter than the clouds appeared to make it. Hey ho we started out the blocks again and were 2-0 very quickly against a Hotspurs side we knew would cause us some problems in this game. Firstly, Sharpy got his finest toe poke out after JC’s bullet header cannoned off the bar from Jordy’s corner. Next up Whitcoin’s delicious chipped pass flicked on by Bryer to the onrushing Sharpy to run clear and slide home. Other chances came and went but the Hotspurs keeper was having a blinder. Hotspurs got back into the game with a fine lob after being put through 1-on-1 against Gigi, who could only watch in amazement. After a little tooing and frowing Rangers extended their lead again with a fine solo goal for the Sharples hatrick (did everything on his own as usual) and then a slick attacking breakaway move finished off by Victor’s stretch to get on to Paddy’s fine first time ball. Was the first time Paddy has sprinted clear of anyone in his life. Half time 4-1. We wanted to keep it tight at the start of the second half but decided it would be more entertaining to let Hotspurs back in it. To their credit Josh scored two cracking goals, one a towering header to get in front of Gigi and Bryer, from a quickly taken right wing free kick, then the other soon after striking in off the post from the edge of the box when he was given acres of space. With Hotspurs tails up we knew we were now in a battle. With legs tiring from JCs Spartan adventure in the morning (apparently just chasing his Mrs around because they had a barny the night before about pizza toppings), a couple of fresh legs helped us restore the lead, Sharpy getting his 4th from Jordys through ball and Aaary (Aaron, but doesn’t like being called Aaary) bundled the ball home to score off the bench. Despite numerous other chances in the game we didn’t get any more and finished 6-3. Another really entertaining game, we wish Hotspurs all the best for the rest of the season. Thanks to Brad for a well officiated game when he eventually got there ;)

• Martyn U'ren GK
• James Keane DF
• Tom Hine DF
• Joshua Donavan MD
• Thomas Greene ST
• Jack Skinner ST
• Guy Turton --
• Mark Hadlow --
• Martin Lawrence --
• Barry McVeigh --
• Patrick Sheriff --

• Aaron Jones DF
• Nick Kouvaritakis ST
• Warren Rixon --

The Sharples Show

Another tough defeat this week for Hotspurs who found themseleves on the end of an inspired performance from Sharples (pretty sure he scored 4 and assisted 2?). Having said this though, Hotspurs didn't help themselves, particularly in the first half, and just weren't ready intensity-wise for the Rangers onslaught. Martyn pulled off some great saves between the sticks to at least keep his side in with a fighting chance. 4-1 at half time- Guy with a smart finish for the Hotspurs goal. The second half was much better for the most part from a Hotspurs perspective, and things genuinely looked like they might turn around when JD bagged a couple of good goals in quick succession, bringing it back to 4-3.With Hotspurs chasing the game though, Rangers added a couple more goals late on and things finished 6-3. Congratulations to Rangers- a well-deserved victory. We'll be looking to bounce back against the French next week- onwards and upwards!