Monday 11th February 2008

Axminster Town 3 - 0 Buckfastleigh Rangers

BUCKFASTLEIGH Rangers could not follow up last week's victory with a similar display as they went down 3-0 at Axminster Town.

Rangers remain second-from-bottom and it must be a source of concern at the Duckspond that fellow strugglers Teignmouth and Crediton both picked up points over the weekend.

In 10 matches, Rangers have won just once and will need to repeat performances like last week's triumph over Appledore if they are to avoid relegation.

The home side took the lead in the fifth minute when Adam Skelton scored and 10 minutes later Sam Dibling doubled the lead.

The game was pretty much sealed for the home side when Richard Spiller added a third 10 minutes before the break.

The second-half was a more even contest but Rangers were unable to create any clear-cut chances although they can take heart from a clean sheet from the second 45 minutes.

Monday 4th February 2008

Buckfastleigh Rangers 3 - 1 Appledore

Buckfastleigh Rangers ended a run of seven straight defeats in manager Mark Nicholls' reign as they overcame Appledore 3-1 at Duckspond to ease their relegation worries.

Rangers remain third from bottom but have closed the gap on Okehampton, who are just one place and one point above them in the table."I've said for the seven games I've been in charge that the improvement has been gradual but we haven't had the luck," explained a delighted Nicholls.

"The boys didn't play as well this week but the points were justified.
"We now hope to build on this and move up the table to consolidate our position in this league for next season."

Rangers took a 15th minute lead when Steve Jenkin powerfully headed home Jamie Horn's corner and the lead was doubled on the half-hour when Will Warner was brought down in the box, allowing captain Horn to convert from 12 yards.

Aaron Stevens put the North Devon side back into the game five minutes from the break with a thunderbolt from 20 yards, giving the superb Bucks' keeper Ashley Wood no chance.

Wood had earlier produced a string of fine saves to keep his side in the game as Rangers weathered the second-half storm, however the home side sealed the victory 15 minutes from time when Eric Hayle came off the bench and provided a defence splitting pass for the returning Matt White, who hit a first time left footed drive past the Appledore keeper high into the roof of the net.

Rangers' celebrations at the end of the 90 minutes showed how much this victory means to the club, and the players' attitude on the field set the benchmark for the remaining games this season as Buckfastleigh look to prove their critics wrong and continue to battle to avoid relegation.

Monday 28th January 2008

Alphington 4 - 1 Buckfastleigh Rangers

Buckfastleigh's 4-1 defeat at Alphington made for a thoroughly misleading score-line, not least because the home side struck three times in the final eight minutes.

Rangers were forced to travel with only the bare 11 players due to injury and their luck worsened 12 minutes in when Neil Wickss had to go off injured. When the home side took a 32nd-minute lead, through Ryan Leverton, many in the ground would have expected Rangers to have folded but they showed commendable heart and resilience.

Five minutes before half-time a free-kick from James Horn brought a superb save from home goalkeeper Adrian Roberts as Rangers refused to cave in.

Fifteen minutes into the second-half they drew level when Horn outpaced home defender Stuart Smith before tucking the ball away.

As a first point in eight matches started to look a real possibility the hosts took an 82nd minute lead through Leverton's second of the match.

Two minutes later Will Warner was adjudged to have tripped Leverton allowing Leigh Atkins to convert the penalty.

Two minutes from time Jason Warren tapped home the fourth.

Monday 3rd December 2007

Okehampton Argyle 4-0 Buckfastleigh Rangers

Buckfastleigh Rangers went down to their fourth straight defeat as they came away from fellow strugglers Okehampton with a 4-0 hammering.

Worryingly for new manager Mark Nicholls the last four matches have seen Rangers ship 17 goals and score only once, leaving them just three points ahead of 16th-placed Teignmouth, who have a game in hand.

Despite a bright start Rangers fell behind in the ninth minute when Steve Williams ran through to score.

Rangers continued to press but the home side doubled their lead in the 29th minute, through Steve Kinsey, and the same pattern continued after the break when Rangers continued to look good in possession without supplying a cutting edge.

Seven minutes from time Darren Prouse struck Okey's third with Chris Wills completing the scoring from close-range two minutes later.

Monday 19th November 2007

Buckfastleigh Rangers 0-5 Newton Abbot

Buckfastleigh Rangers new manager Mark Nicholls will not have enjoyed his introduction to life at Duckspond.

The ex-Totnes & Dartington boss was preparing his new side for a visit from high-flying Newton Abbot when he was informed a roller was stuck on the pitch. Rangers were left with no other option but to ask that the game be moved to Newton Abbot, where Nicholls saw his new charges completely outplayed and well beaten 5-0.

Newton manager Tony Bowker felt that it was the correct decision to switch the game.

The opening goal came on the half-hour when Shane Shobbrook's cross was headed home by Steve Young. A minute before the break, Steve Mason doubled the lead, from the penalty spot, after Shobbrook had been brought down.

Shobbrook rifled home the third, on the hour, and five minutes later Liam Ford netted with a stunning 30-yard drive.

The scoring was completed 20 minutes from time when Mason converted his second spot-kick of the game.

Tuesday 21st August
Liverton United 2-2 Buckfastleigh Rangers

Buckfastleigh started the better of the 2 teams and had the majority of the play in the opening half an hour but Liverton took the lead when Joe Buschin beat the offside trap to lob the ball over Stu Furay in the Rangers goal.
Rangers struck back almost immediately though when Ryan Porter showed power and pace to beat the Liverton defence and sidefoot home a neat finish.

Liverton started the second half well putting Rangers under immediate pressure but Rangers took the lead against the run of play when Eric Hale headed home from a Nathan Isaac corner.
Rangers were forced to make changes after Chris Harper had to be carried off and Jamie Horn picked up an injury and Liverton pressed for an equaliser. Rangers defended well but Liverton finally got the breakthrough just minutes from time when the ball dropped for Buschin in the box for him to again lift the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net.

I think everyone agreed that the draw was a fair result and it was a very entertaining game to watch.

Both teams had good chances in the 1st half but were let down by poor finishing by their strikers, Ryan Porter had the best of the home sides chances when he turned brilliantly with his 1st touch to leave the defender for dead but couldn't produce the finish.
The game died a bit in the 2nd half with the players fading in the heat and Jason Kinsman had Buckfastleigh's best chance, heading just over the bar from a corner.

Axminster started to play some good football in the closing stages and, without the strength of the absent Warner and Jenkins up front, Rangers were unable to keep the ball and put themselves under pressure at the back.

Axminster scored in the 92nd minute when their left winger cut inside and curled a low shot onto the post, the ball rebounded straight to an Axminster player but he couldn't believe his eyes when Stu Furay produced a remarkable save to block his shot, Furay's save deserved a bit of luck but the ball once again fell straight to the feet of the visitor's striker who fired into the roof of the net from 6 yards.

Rangers deserved a point for their efforts but all credit to Axminster for their display, especially in the last 15 minutes.