William Ellis Sports Field, Sunday 11 January 2015, 10:30 KO
2015 is quickly becoming the year of the 5-3 scoreline. If we’d thought of it at the time, we should have reminded all the Chelsea-supporting boys in the team that they lost to Spurs by the same scoreline on New Year’s Day! And just like the Spurs-Chelsea match, Rangers fully deserved to win! They worked very hard and played some superb passing football.
On a small and sloping pitch, the first half was quite even. Belmont took the lead in the tenth minute but Rangers bounced back minutes afterwards when Tre Holmes calmly tucked the ball away following a move down the right. Rangers took the lead in the 25th minute. Put through by Mark Roche, substitute Jerome Francis calmly put the ball past the keeper with his first touch of the game. Belmont never give up though and they equalised before the end of the half.
Rangers were the better team in the second half thanks in part to strong performances by second half subs Josh Moran, Charlie Hanson and Daniel Stevens. Rangers played some exceptional passing football. One brilliant first-touch passing move down the right lead to the third goal which was converted by Mark Roche when he lobbed the keeper from the edge of the area. Rangers went 4-2 ahead minutes later when Niall converted another mesmerising pattern of passing play. A lapse of concentration lead to Belmont getting back in the game. It was nervy until 5 minutes to go when Josh Moran made the game safe with an unstoppable low shot to the corner from the left hand side.
A special mention should go to the defence and Conor who were very solid and calm, particularly in the second half.
Team
- Conor Forkin
- James Wright
- Connor Thomas
- Cian Donovan
- Niall Haynes
- Kamaal Patrick-Ibrahim
- Tre Holmes
- Mark Roche (captain)
- Daniel Mullin
Subs
- Daniel Stevens
- Charlie Hanson
- Josh Moran
- Jerome Francis
Scorers
- Tre Holmes
- Jerome Francis
- Mark Roche
- Niall Haynes
- Josh Moran