Match Review: 1TM Latini FC vs TGA Rangers FC

• GK Mohammad Bin Ismail
• DF Andrew Mollitt
• DF Jonathan Baker
• MD Jamie Townsend
• ST Luke Townsend
• -- Jake Gottlieb
• -- Ben Morley
• -- Lewis Wood
• -- Darren Wareing
• -- Mathieu Harding
• -- Mark Raven

• DF Lee Bradshaw
• -- Jon Kelly
• -- Matthew Pardo
• -- Dominic Mooney

El Scorchio over turf at 3pm for the big game versus last season champs Rangers. Coach Price dropped the 4-4-2 formation and after considering the ‘flying V’ and the ‘Christmas pud’ he opted for the 3-5-2 utilising Latini’s never ending list of center half’s. Latini started well and kept the ball for the opening encounters without creating much in the way of chances. It was Rangers who opened the scoring with their 1st real attack after 20 mins. A cleared corner and a scuffed shot from 30 yards was stabbed home by the Italian Randall Weems. 1-0 Rangers at the water break. Rangers came out much stronger after the water break and dominated proceedings until the HT whistle. They took a 2 goal lead following a mix up in the Latini midfield. Sharple’s first look on goal and he made no mistake in tucking the ball in from an acute angle. The big center forward then had a great chance to put the game out of reach for Latini from the penalty spot after Captain Eyebrows was penalized for a harsh handball in the box. Stand in Keeper Min made a good save and the cushion remained just 2 at the break. HT 2-0 Rangers. Mooney entered the game for 2nd half as Latini looked for a way back in and switched back to the more conventional 4-4-2. The move seemed to be working for Latini and were unlucky not to get off the mark when Duplo rattled the nearside post following some good link up play with his new strike partner. Still 2-0 at the water break Latini knew they were still in the contest after scoring 4 in the last 20 mins the previous weekend versus OG. The comeback began ironically from a long ball pumped into the Rangers box and uncharacteristically not dealt with by the resolute rangers back line. Mooney was on hand to ruthlessly dispatch the loose ball and to give Latini hope. 2-1. In a blink of an eye 1 became 2 after Latini were awarded a penalty of their own after JC got himself into a bit of a pickle and managed to handle in his own box. Pet Shop stepped up and slotted firmly into the bottom right. 2-2 with 10 to play and there was only going to be 1 winner from here on in right…? To be fair Latini had a couple of chances to take command and the 3 points, but Nick Nack was denied by the outrushing Rowan and Duplo blazed a half volley over the bar. Heartbreak would ensue shortly after when Sharples was found on the edge of the box after some slack defending from Latini. A left footstrike found its way past Min and Rangers retook the lead 3-2. Sharples then added a fourth with what was the goal of the game in stoppage time; with Latini committing players forward in search of an equaliser a thunderous drive from Sharples meant it was 2 v 4 final score and heartache for the red, white and blues. A difficult result to take for Latini given the quality of performance. Great football played for the majority and on a different day things could have panned out differently. Congratulations to Rangers who were far from their best, but still managed to get the job done…. That’s why their champions! Kit and Drinks: - Arthur Thx to POB, Bazza, Tom and Shaun for coming down to support MOM Latini – Pet Shop for a controlled performance in the middle and goal. MOM Rangers – Sharples for ruthlessly banging a hattrick from what little scraps he was allowed

• Hiromitsu Nakaue DF
• Jonathan Cloak DF
• Nathan Bryer MD
• Stephen McLaughlin MD
• Paddy Sutton MD
• Salvatore Adaldo ST
• Mike Sharples ST
• Rowan Anders --
• Nick Lenicheck --
• Jun Liang Yap --
• Oliver Wright --

• Bernd Schiele GK
• Chris Jones DF
• Elliot Jackson MD
• Todd Koning ST
• Hayden James Ng --

Late Show

Time for the customary opening lines about how hot it was on Saturday at 3pm. It was hot. Very very hot. Rangers were pretty much at full strength for the first time this season and the deep bench was going to be required if we were to get anything from the game. Latini looked like they were missing a few players but started the brighter of the teams, keeping the ball and were generally sharper all over the park. However, it was Rangers who took the lead after a cleared corner was stabbed goalward by JL and Salvo diverted beyond the keeper. This goal seemed to energise Rangers and we started to get in to the game and play some nice stuff of our own. The full backs were enjoying their day with lots of space in front of them and we soon took a 2-0 lead when JL fed Sharples who finished past the keeper from a tight angle. We could’ve taken a 3-0 lead at half time, which would’ve been flattering, when Daz was harshly penalized for handball in the box, but Sharples had his tame penalty saved. Half time brought a well-earned breather and we talked about not letting Latini back into the game and to kill it off. However, halftime sub Mooney and Duplo started to cause a few problems with their movement and Latini kept possession of the ball, creating a couple of half chances in the process. After the second water break Rangers’ resistance finally broke when a bouncing ball in the box wasn’t dealt with and Mooney finished expertly. Latini were chipper and didn’t have to wait long to equalize. Big JC handled in the area and Raver slotted the penalty, Latini cock-a-hoop. From here it looked like Latini would go on and win the game and they had an opportunity when the sub-striker nipped in front of the Rangers defence but Rowan saved smartly right on the edge of the box. Rangers then sought the goal threat of old-timer Toddy from the bench in the last 10 minutes and he immediately linked up with sharples sending him running toward the penalty and he unleashed a left foot shot that beat the keeper from 25 yards with his weaker foot. This let Rangers off the hook but he hadn’t finished and in the last minute he added further gloss to the scoreline with an almost identical shot that flew into the top corner. A great 3 points for us, even if we did make tough work of it. Latini played well and will feel aggrieved to not get anything from the game after fighting back so well. Ultimately it was 2 moments of quality in the last 5 minutes that won the game for us, so Sharpy gets MoM. Thats 12 goals in his last 3 games! MoM for Latini to Raver despite spending most of the game on the deck with rubber pellets coming out of his mouth.