12/09/09 Buckfastleigh Rangers 3 -
3 Barnstaple Town AET
Barnstaple win 4-2 on penalties
Buckfastleigh looked to put last weeks dissappointing performance behind
them when they entertained Barnstaple Town reserves in the 1st round of
the Senior Cup.
The game started at a high tempo and it was clear from the outset that
this was going to be an evenly matched contest, but it was Rangers who
struck the first blow when Paul England fired a low shot from the corner
of the box that the Barnstaple keeper was unable to deal with and the
ball nestled into the bottom corner of the net.
Barnstaple looked dangerous on the break and Rangers were having to work
hard to keep their lead and it was slightly against the run of play when
a moment of individual skill from Ryan Porter allowed him space to pull
the ball back for Arren De Young to tap the ball into an empty net to
give his side a 2-0 lead at the break.
Barnstaple came out all guns blazing in the second half and they quickly
pulled a goal back when a short corner caught the Bucks defence napping
and a low shot to the near post somehow found its way past the man on
the post and the Bucks goalkeeper and into the net.
The visitors were soon on level terms when their striker beat the offside
trap only to be denied by a good save from Buckfastleigh's keeper Ashley
Wood, luck was not on his side though as the rebound fell kindly for Barnstaple,
leaving a tap in from 10 yards for 2-2.
The remainder of the 2nd half was a thrilling encounter with nothing between
the two sides, England forced a good save from the Barnstaple keeper but
neither side could find a breakthrough and extra time was required.
after a goalless first period it was Barnstaple who struck first when
Stewart Mitchell committed a foul in his own area to gift Barnstaple a
goal from the penalty spot.
Rangers had 10 minutes left to find an equaliser and they carved a great
chance when an inswinging free kick from De Young was narrowly missed
by James Revell at the far post.
With just minutes remaining on the clock Rangers were awarded another
free kick in a dangerous position, it was Revell again who got on the
end of it, heading the ball back into the area for right back Rob Wotton
to hammer home an unstoppable half volley to take the game to penalties.
Neither side deserved to lose this game but it was Barnstaple who progressed
into the next round when their goalkeeper saved well from Porter and Revell,
penalties are all about luck and rangers luck had clearly run out as the
watched 1 Barnstaple penalty go in off the post and another just squirm
under the body of Wood and into the goal.
A thoroughly entertaining game for the spectators, excellently refereed
by Paul Allen. Best of luck to Barnstaple in the next round.
26/09/09 Beesands Rovers 1 - 3 Buckfastleigh Rangers
Having lost twice at Beesands last season Buckfastleigh knew they were
in for a tough match despite their opponents poor early form.
Rangers started brightly and missed a bunch of early chances, Ben Ritchie
pulled his shot wide after a great ball in from Nathan Isaac, Ryan Porter
hit the post after being put through by Kelvin Hambly and Paul England
headed over the bar from 6 yards after being picked out by Porter, Beesands
also had goalkeeper Andy Partridge to thank for 2 excellent first half
saves from Porter.
As Rangers grew more frustrated the home side started to find their feet
and they nearly took the lead, first from a goalmouth scramble that Bucks
somehow managed to clear and then from a thunderous strike from 12 yards
that rattled the post.
Midway through the first half Beesands did manage to find the net when
Rangers failed to clear their lines and the ball was smashed home from
close range. Their lead did not last long though and when Ben Ritchie
broke down the right wing and squared the ball to Isaac in the box he
made no mistake in slotting the ball past Partridge for the equaliser.
Rangers again started brightly in the second half and were soon 2-1 up
when full back Rob Wotton fired in an unstoppable shot from the corner
of the box. They then had further chances to increase their lead, but
a combination of good goalkeeping and the woodwork kept them at bay.
Beesands showed brief glimpses of attacking promise but Ashley Wood was
rarely troubled in goal and the away side wrapped up the points when Isaac
took on his marker and sent in a low cross for Porter to stab the ball
into the roof of the net for 3-1.
Rangers should have made more of their early chances in this game but
any result away to Beesands is a good result and confidence should be
on the up for next weeks visit of Langdon fc.
03/10/09 Buckfastleigh Rangers 3 - 2 Langdon FC
Rangers struggled to find any rythym in this game and it was not a pretty
game to watch by any means, but to play badly and win is never a bad thing.
Bucks have made a habit of conceding early goals of late and this game
was to be no different as Langdon broke with pace down the left wing and
a low cross was met by an unmarked player 8 yards out to sidefoot past
Wood in goal.
Buckfastleigh were back on level terms minutes later when James Revell
bundled the ball over the line from an Eric Hale corner.
Ryan Porter had a great chance to put the home side 2-1 up just before
half time but his shot was kept out by the Langdon keeper, although it
may have been going wide.
The second saw little improvemeny in quality but Rangers took the lead
when the ball was headed down in the box for Paul England to provide a
classy finish over the advancing goalkeeper.
Ryan Porter increased his sides lead when his cross from the right wing
looped over the keeper and into the back of the net and further chances
fell Rangers way, the best of them to Eric Hale who was denied by the
keeper at the near post.
Buckfastleigh stepped off the pace with ten minutes to go and langon squandered
three good chances from in and around the area but it wasn't until 2 minutes
from full time that they managed to pull a goal back when their striker
went clean through on goal to finish neatly.
The home side were glad to see the final whistle in the end as Langdon
pressed for an equaliser, but Rangers saw the game out for a deserved
3 points.
17/10//09 Kingsteignton Athletic 2 - 2 Buckfastleigh Rangers
Rangers went into this game looking to record their 3rd straight win
against a Kingsteignton team strengthened by a number of 1st team players.
Kingsteignton started the brighter of the two teams and almost took an
early lead but for Ryan Ritchie’s goal line clearance. Slowly Rangers
started to take control of the game with captain Andy Gulley leading by
example and it was Gulley who opened the scoring after Ryan Porter's cross
evaded everyone in the box only for Nathan Isaac to retrieve the ball
and pick out Gulley on the back post for him to hammer home.
Rangers were well on top now playing some great passing football and they
made it 2-0 five minutes later when great work from Porter saw him cut
in from the right and beat the keeper at his near post .
Kingsteignton had no answer as Rangers continued to dominate with both
Eric Hale and Paul England going close, at this stage there only looked
like one winner, but the game was to change.
Kingsteignton played a hopeful ball forward that both James Revell and
goalkeeper Ashley Wood came for, with no one taking control the kingsteignton
forward nipped in and rounded Wood to score.
The home team now had their tails up and two minutes from half time levelled
the match, a ball over the top was latched on to buy their striker who
lobbed the advancing Wood only for the ball to bounce up onto the bar
but unfortunately for Rangers the ball fell to a Kingsteignton player
who tapped the ball home.
The second half was a much more even affair with both sides having chances
keeper Wood made up for the earlier error with four top class saves to
deny the home side.
Porter went close and the home sides keeper turned Isaac’s header
from Substitute Neil Sargeant’s excellent cross round for a corner.
Both teams continued to press for the winner to no avail and the match
finished all square, leaving Rangers feeling very disappointed not to
have taking all 3 points after having a 2 goal lead.
23/10/09 Buckfastleigh Rangers 4 - 3 Totnes & Dartington
Sports Club (Herald Cup)
Division 2 side Buckfastleigh Rangers went into this cup match as underdogs
as they faced Premier Division outfit Totnes & Dartington reverves,
but in true cup style Rangers pulled off a shock defeat in a 7 goal thriller
at Duckspond.
Rangers started brightly and created the 1st good chance of the game
when Eric Hale played a great ball down the line for Ryan Porter to run
onto and flight in a pin point cross for Nathan Isaac at the far post,
Isaac met the ball with a powerful header which just flashed wide of the
post.
Slightly against the run of play it was the vistors who took the lead
after 15 minutes when a long throw in was flicked on by Darren Fisher
and the ball looped over the Bucks defence and keeper to finish up in
the back of the net, it was a freak goal to concede but Rangers did not
let their heads drop and were almost back on level terms straight away
when an acrobatic overhead kick from Hale rattled the crossbar.
Hale was again involved with Rangers' equaliser just before the break
when he released strike partner Paul England with a great through ball,
England made no mistake and supplied a classy finish past the T&D
goalkeeper for 1-1.
Rangers knew that the game was there for the taking and found thenselves
2 goals up within the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half, England added his
2nd of the game just 2 minutes in when the ball was set up for him, again
by Hale, to hammer the ball home and Porter then out-jumped the T&D
defence and goalkeeper to rifle a header into the net from Isaac's corner.
Last seasons semi finalists were not giving this tie up that easily though
and Fisher pulled them back into contention with 2 well taken goals to
complete his hatrick.
But with 15 minutes left on the clock Porter burst down the right wing,
leaving his marker for dead, and had the composure to pull the ball back
to England 8 yards from goal, his goalbound effort was well saved by the
T&D keeper but the ball ended up at the feet of Isaac at the far post,
who cut inside and drilled his shot into the bottom corner to put his
side 4-3 up.
The final minutes were played at a high pace but Rangers dealt well with
everything that their opponents had to throw at them and saw the game
out for an impressive victory.
31st October 2009 Buckfastleigh Rangers 7 - 0 Moretonhampstead
After last week’s cup success it was back to league action against
Moretonhampstead.
Rangers took control of the game right from the start producing some great
passing football which resulted in them creating, but not taking, numerous
chances early in the game.
They finally took the lead when Eric Hale received the ball just outside
the box beat his man and chipped the visitors keeper, Hale was to have
the next chance but after scoring from 20 yards out somehow managed to
miss from 5 yards.
This was to be the story for the rest of the half as the chances kept
coming but Rangers continued not to take them, 5 minutes from half time
they finally got their second when Ryan Porter converted Nathan Isaac’s
cross at the far post.
The second half started well for the home side as they continued in the
same vain and they made it 3-0 early in the second half when Paul England
burst clear to slot past the visiting keeper, still the chances went begging
as Hale, England and Porter all wasted great opportunities.
Number 4 was to come when Porter tapped in after great work from Hale,
next it was Isaac to get in on the scoring act when he cut in from the
left and fired past the Moreton keeper.
Porter then completed his hat trick after running onto Arren De Young
excellent through ball and calmly beating the keeper .
De Young made it 7 when he bundled the ball home from an Isaac cross,
Porter then had a chance to score his 4th of the game from the penalty
spot after he was brought down but his weak spot kick was easily saved
rather summing up the day for Rangers who could have scored 15 or more
if they had took their chances
7th November 2009 Buckfastleigh Rangers 3 - 1 Meadowbrook
Rangers started very brightly but just like last week wasted a number
of opportunities in the early exchanges but this time the visitors made
them pay taking the lead when Ramsden latched on to a long through ball
and slotted past Bucks keeper Ashley Wood.
Ryan Porter had a great chance to level moments later after being put
through by strike partner Eric Hale but fired wide, more chances were
wasted with both Kelvin Hambly and Andy Gulley firing wide, but the best
chance of the half fell to Hale after controlling the ball from Gulley’s
great free kick he could only fire at the visitors keeper from 6yards.
Porter had a header turned over by the away keeper when he really should
have scored.
Buckfastleigh were almost made to pay for their poor finishing when Meadowbrook
broke down the right only for the cross to avoid their 2 waiting strikers
much to the relief of the home side.
Bucks play then became very sloppy giving the ball away on 2 many occasions
but with time running out in the first half they levelled Gareth Dagger
won the ball in defence then played it up to Hale who produced at great
piece of skill to beat his marker then smash the ball home from 25 yards
leaving the visiting keeper helpless.
After some stern words from managers Colin Hayman and Dave Scholz at half
time Rangers came out a different side and took control from the start
and they were rewarded 10 minutes into the second half when Nathan Isaac’s
corner was headed powerfully home by centre back James Revell.
Second half sub Will Warner went close from an Isaac cross as Rangers
continued to dominate and it was Warner who became provider for the 3rd
goal putting Porter clean trough and he made no mistake this time.
To Meadowbrook’s credit they never gave up but with Revell marshalling
the back four, keeper Wood was rarely troubled and Bucks saw out the later
stages of the game without alarm.
The win Moved Rangers up to 3rd in the table but they will need to up
their game next week when they travel to unbeaten league leaders Stoke
Grabiel.
21 November 2009 Buckfastleigh Rangers 12 - 0 Foxhole United
Ryan Porter 4
Paul England 4
Nathan Isaac 2
Chris Bailey
Matt Byford
Rangers cruised through to the next round of the Herald cup, destroying
a depleted Foxhole side at the Duckspond.
Foxhole started the game with just ten men and finished it with only 8
but Rangers showed no mercy, although the scorleine could have been a
lot higher.
Strikers Ryan Porter and Paul England topped the scoring for the home
side with 4 each, Nathan Isaac continued his good goalscoring form this
season with a brace, the second of his 2 goals, a 20 yard scorcher, being
the goal of the match.
There was also a rare goal from Chris Bailey from close range and a late
effort from second half substitute Matt Byford who impressed on his 1st
team debut.
05 December 2009 Stoke Gabriel 5 - 2 Buckfastleigh Rangers
Eric Hale
Matt Byford
Rangers' poor second half performance cost them dearly in this top of
the table clash against unbeaten Stoke Gabriel reserves.
The home side started the game brightly and soon found themselves a goal
up when their midfielder burst through the Bucks defence to fire a low
shot past Wood in the Buck's goal.
Wood was called into action again to pull off 2 good saves before his
side started to get a foothold in the game - Sean Kavannagh almost brought
Rangers back on level terms when he hit the bar with a looping effort,
then it was Paul Englands turn to hit the woodwork.
England had another good chance but saw his shot fly over the bar before
midfield playmaker Eric Hale found the back of the net with a bullet header
from a Nathan Isaac's corner to bring the 2 sides level.
Rangers' good work in the 1st half was soon undone though as the home
side scored 2 early 2nd half goals after some very shakey defending from
Buckfastleigh.
Matt Byford gave the away side brief hope when his cross/shot looped over
the Stoke keeper into the corner of the net, but Rangers gave away another
soft goal and a gift from the penalty spot to hand the league leaders
an impressive looking scoreline.
12 December 2009 Buckfastleigh Rangers 3 - 2 Newton United
Ryan Porter 2
Eric Hale
Buckfastleigh started the game well and the 1st real move of the match
put together down the right had Utd scratching their heads. Rob Wotton
played a one two with Porter who laid it off to Hale to set Porter away
down the flank.
There were other glimpses of some good two touch football from Bucks but
they failed to capitalise on the amount of possession they were enjoying.
Utd had a couple of breaks but their final ball was often too heavy and
Bucks should have gone in at half time at least three goals to the good
but it was just the one. Porter had a header in the six yard box saved
before then proceeding to dribble the ball along the goal line. Isaac
also managed to break clear down the left but fired into the side netting
rather than square it to Porter.
The Utd management team struggled to pick up that it was Porter working
the line well and combining with Hale that posed the biggest threat in
the 1st half. And it was Porter’s work ethic that resulted a harsh
booking for what was his 1st offence while Utd’s left back later
escaped unpunished after a callous foul prevented Bucks breaking clear.
The 2nd half soon saw Andrew Gulley go off with a hamstring injury and
was replaced by Kelvin Hambley. From half time onwards it was clear that
Bucks had lost there way and failed to take advantage of the pace and
trickery of Porter down the flank.
Luckily mid way through the half, Porter managed to bundle a 2nd in from
a corner before some sloppy play by the Bucks midfield led to Utd scoring
two goals on the break when Bucks got caught in possession.
Hale had his penalty attempt saved by a keeper but like other shots the
keeper struggled to keep hold of it and Hale tapped in the rebound to
make it 3-1.
The lessons to be learned are that Bucks need to stop toying with teams
and take their opportunities. The football is often some of the best played
in the South Devon league but there is a definitely a killer touch missing.
Top scorers in their league and Bucks are not exactly shipping goals at
the back it is more the case that they are guilty of letting teams back
into games after often starting brightly.
Solid performances from Hale up front who is proving to be Bucks kingpin
in the absence of Easterbrook, and Porter out wide were plus points. Lots
of others can turn it up a level and should help the team push for one
of the two promotion spots.
Report by Matt Wicks.
23 January 2010 Galmpton Gents 4 - 3 Buckfastleigh Rangers
Buckfastleigh went into this Herald cup tie against their Premier division
opponents knowing that they were underdogs and that they could just go
out and try to compete and maybe cause an upset.
They started the game really well, Galmpton looked the more nervous of
the 2 sides and Rangers took a deserved lead when Porter raced down the
right wing and pulled the ball back for Paul England who drilled a low
shot against the foot of the post, Eric Hale was 1st to react to the rebound
and he blasted the ball into the back of the net.
The home side responded well to going a goal behind and started to find
their way back into the game, they soon found an equaliser when a deep
corner was knocked back into the 6 yard box for a simple finish from close
reange.
Galmpton took a 2-1 lead with a diving header at the far post and then
increased their advantage to 3-1 in 1st half stoppage time, a scoreline
which slightly flattered the Premier division side at the break.
Rangers knew they had to start the 2nd half well to be in with a chance
of clawing their way back, but it was the home side that looked more dangerous
going forward in the early exchanges, Buck's keeper Ashley Wood was called
into action to pull off some good saves and the rearguard of Hobbs, Revell,
Bailey and Wotton had to be at their best to keep the scoreline down.
Rangers made some changes, bringing on Warner and Hambly for England and
Gulley and Warner had an immediate impact when he rose high above the
Galmpton defence to head home from an excellent Isaac's corner.
This goal gave the visitors the boost they needed and as the game was
entering the closing stages they found the equaliser that their hard work
deserved, another dangerous corner from Isaac was only partially cleared
and found its way back into the feet of Hale who turned and curled a sublime
effort into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.
It looked as though the tie was heading to extra time but there was to
be one last twist at the death. After having a goal dissallowed for offside
Galmpton threw everything forward and won themselves a corner which was
whipped in towards the far post and met with a thumping header
which flew into the net, Rangers felt that their keeper may have been
impeded in the crowd of players but the referee allowed the goal to stand.
The drama was not over yet though, as a long clearance from the Buck's
defence cleared Galmptons back 4, the Galmpton goalie rushed out of his
area to clear the danger, the bounce of the ball appeared to take him
by surprise and the ball struck him on the hand outside of his area, however
the referee was unable to spot the infringement, much to the dismay of
the Rangers' players and management, and blew the whistle for full time.
This was an epic cup tie and one where (despite losing) Buckfastleigh
can take a lot of positives and be proud of the way they played and the
charactor they showed on the day.
30 January 2010 Buckfastleigh Rangers 2 - 3 Beesands Rovers
Buckfastleigh Rangers crashed out of the Lidstone cup with a shock defeat
to Beesands Rovers at Duckspond.
Rangers started the game brightly and took an early lead when Andy Gulley
released Paul England down the right wing to cut inside and pull the ball
across the face of goal where Ryan Porter was on hand to score from close
range.
Beesands soon got themselves back in the game with a shot from 8 yards
that just crossed the line after cannoning down off of the crossbar.
Both sides looked dangerous on the break and went close to scoring but
it was Rangers who went into the break leading with a calm finish from
Eric Hale when one on one with the keeper.
The home side almost increased their lead in the second half when Porters
shot struck the base of the post, but the visitors looked the fitter of
the two sides and more importantly looked as though they wanted to win
this game more than their opponents.
Buckfastleigh's play became scrappy and Beesands took full advantage,
equalising midway through the second half. And it did not take long before
they took a 3-2 lead when their striker went clean through on goal to
finish neatly.
Both keepers were called upon to make some terrific saves in the closing
stages but Rangers could not find the equalising goal they needed and
Beesands progressed into the quarter finals.
13th February 2010 Buckfastleigh Rangers 4 - 1 Kingskerwell &
Chelston
Buckfastleigh were still hurting from their home cup defeat 2 weeks ago
at the hands of Beesands and went into this game with a determined attitude
to put things right with only the league now to concentrate on, and they
turned in an impressive performance against fellow promotion hopefuls
Kingskerswell & Chelston.
It was all Buckfastleigh in the early exchanges and it was no surprise
when they took the lead inside the first 15 minutes, the scorer was no
surprise either as leading scorer Ryan Porter found himself with time
and space to pick his spot from 6 yards.
The visitors responded well to going a goal behind though and they found
an equaliser with an unstoppable strike from 25 yards that gave Bucks
keeper Ashley Wood no chance.
Wood was never really troubled again in the remainder of this game though
as Rangers took control in what was to be one of their best performances
this season.
Nathan Isaac continued his impressive goalscoring form this season when
he robbed the full back of the ball and calmly slid the ball past the
keeper to give his side a 2-1 lead at the break.
The home side increased their lead in the 2nd half when the impressive
Stewart Mitchell volleyed home from a deep Paul England cross and they
were unlucky not to increase their lead further until the last ten minutes
when Porter burst through and rounded the keeper to put the game out of
site.
Substitute Dec Cowelly hit the post for Rangers in the dying minutes which
would have capped off a great display that lifts them to 3rd in the table
with 2 games in hand.
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