Gorleston Rangers FC

Match report by "mitchel98"

Firsty, it was nice to be back and seeing some amazing new Christmas presents which were on show.................the ladies - new coats, knee high leather boots, designer flask and some Russian hats! Now over to the men - nothing really as we spend all our money on the women!......the only new items I saw was from Fabio (it had to be him!) Father Christmas thought you had been good and bought you a new "enclosed" green clipboard and matching pens and hat! I did see a glimpse of the clipboard and have to say Andy Gray sky sports have nothing on you now..........I cannot reveal everything which was on the clipboard on my first report of 2011 - oh and Delia also had a new FRED PERRY jacket which I can say was original and not a fake, like some of the team said - don't know what they were implying Matt your not a chav!. And over to the team - never seen so many loud and leery coloured football boots...at one point had to double check they were Rangers A boys and not a girls team as I've never seen so many pink boots and gloves on display!

This week we had our League Cup quarter final match against Blundeston Magpies at Lynn Grove with a meeting time of 1.30pm and a kick off time of 2.00pm. Again this week we were not at full strength with Matt missing through illness and Ben G unavailable because "the club is alive" or "one shot" (think about it??? - he was at a JLS concert! And no I am not a fan I asked Emma for the song names HONEST ) but we welcome back Mitch.

Fabio and Fergie call the boys in, while Delia collected the subs and went on selling the scratch card. Fergie started the team talk with some harsh but firm words from last weeks display, Fabio also went on about last weeks poor display and some players attitude had to change or the team formation will. Even at the start off this game a few boys thought the game ahead was going to be easy! This is not the attitude or the way to approach a cup game ask Alan Pardew of Newcastle United - Stevenage put them out! Fabio and Fergie then line the boys up for the warm up routine and drills which are rehearsed before each game. As kick off approaches Fabio names his starting 11, after consulting the new clipboard and Fergie. We start with a 4-4-2 and attack with the big blustery wind behind us ( now now Darren was on the sideline and not behind the goal! ) Straight from kick off we treat the ball like one of the 99p balls you buy from Gorleston seafront - we cant control or pass it, it goes everywhere! Then just what we don't want Blundeston have their first attack and yes go 1-0 up....boys things happen don't let you heads go down, do what you do best and play football the way Fergie, Fabio and Delia are teaching you! We are then camped in the Blundeston half for most of the half, not through skilful play but more to the fact they cannot clear the halfway line with the strong headwind. At times we just tried to play a long ball over the top and hoped one of our forwards connected - this is not what we are about! . Use the whole pitch, so what if you go back or across the pitch make the ball work and the opposition will tire. The centre of the pitch was very congestion at times I thought the ball was coated in honey (get this one?) look for your wide men! Then we do create a chance Ben H square to Spud who puts Zack through and strikes it only to see it saved, the ball lands to Mitch who makes no mistake and brings us back into the game. Then a matter of 8-9 further chances, but it was some poor finishing and good goalkeeping..............Lewis is then put through with another nice move and sure as you like places a nice shot into the back of the net giving us a 2-1 lead. The ref then blows for half time and Blundeston go in probably feeling the better of the two, knowing they have held us to a one goal gap and have the wind behind them for the second half.

Again Fabio and Fergie rally the boys for what was looking to be a difficult second half..............the second half starts much in the same way as the first, poor passing and no-one really grabbing the game full on. The two F's then change the formation around and make a few substitutions and the boys seem to step up their display and attitude towards a difficult and messy game. Then we attack and Zack receives the ball about 20 yards out back to goal, 2-3 blundeston boys around him, he turns them all and heads towards the goal putting us 3-1 up. Next up was Connor who also done a similar move and headed towards the goal and places the ball into the back of the net giving us a little more breathing space. Last up was Captain spud with some nice play on the left, he drills in a cross/shot from about 15 yards out hitting the net and surely giving us a 5-1 victory although Connor tried to claim it stating that the ball caught his "fringe!" The final whistle goes and we are into the semi-final of the league cup. Blundeston well played in difficult conditions you made us work hard and done yourselves proud well played. Well done boys not the most convincing display but a win never the less and the next round of the cup - special mention to Jack and Callum who both had good games today!

Fabio made a classic closing line........"next week all I can tell you it's a 2.00pm kick off but I am not sure what time!".................I think? He meant "Next week all I can tell you next week it's a 2.00pm kick off but Im not sure where or who we have got!"

Scratch card winner was Zoe - well done .

Attendance - 39 adults, 16 teenagers, 4 children, 1 baby and a partridge in a pear tree - sorry still thinking about Christmas! And A cyclist and YES 2 not 1 VIP Chairs!!!

I can confirm we will be playing Bungay A in the semi final at Bungay next week - boys I know you can perform a lot lot better than the last 2 games - lets hope we can get back to our league performances for what will be a very hard game next week and fingers crossed we should have a full strength squad!