EAST RIDING COUNTY FA CUP ROUND 2 U18’S
Sunday 7th November 2004.
BRID RANGERS V ARCTIC F.C
Graham Waters’s plumbing services and Osborne Building Services sponsored Brid Rangers where at home for this enthralling Cup tie. It was Arctic who started a little brighter than Brid today passing the ball around and making Brid chase the game. Rangers worked hard after an endless barrage of long balls rained down on their back four of Peter Jones, Tom Parr, Michael Train and Jamie Osborne. Parr and Jone’s cool heads helped play Rangers out of trouble and Jamie Osborne hard tackling made the Rangers left hand side difficult to attack on.
Rangers went close to opening the scoring but it was Arctic who did on 15mins. Rangers again, as they have in recent weeks battled hard on a very wet a slippery pitch, getting themselves back into the match. Andy clay and Adam Wright tried to control the midfield whilst Danny Gordon worked tirelessly down the right. Gordon’s injection of pace meant it was his one two with Jamie Brown to then lay on Waters who placed the opening goal for Rangers on 23mins.
The game was end to end, Arctic showing some good football at times but Rangers nearly went ahead but a break by Brown and shot just went wide of the upright. Rangers then struck the cross bar before having the rebound saved by Arctic’s keeper. HT 1-1.
It was then Arctic who took the lead again beating the Rangers keeper on the break netting their second of the game on 49mins. From the kick off Rangers passed the ball through Midgley, Wright, Clay and again the shot went close from Brown but it was just wide of the upright. A bright Rangers team got stronger as the half drew to a close, forcing a series of corners and it was a thunderous drive from Parr who then leveled the score on 54minutes for Rangers.
The second half continued at the fast and furious pace of the first , Rangers passed the ball well and created a chance for Waters to break but Arctic’s keeper was quick off the line and stopped the attack. Against the run of play Arctic netted their third when confusion in the Rangers defense saw the Arctic striker nip in between Rangers defense and keeper to make the score 3-2 on 58mins. Rangers still pressed on and with a re shuffle in the team put the pressure on Arctic to try and force the game. It was then Arctic who had the upper HAND and following a drive down the right and a low drive into the box they netted their fourth in the 66th minute. Brown then went off replaced by Alan Leyland and again a re-shuffle of the pack for Brid saw Jones into the midfield and Clay drop to center back, this gave Rangers the edge and a strong presence.
Arctic began to sit back as Rangers desperately tried to get themselves back into the game. A powerful shot from Rangers again rattled the cross bar but the possession and the game began to swing back their way when a Waters toe poke, from 10yards saw Rangers narrow the deficit on 77mins. Rangers then had much of the play but the final goal wouldn’t come, so with the last kick of the game Rangers keeper Stuart King went up for the corner and blasted the ball goal wards, to see it cleared off the line, straight to Clay who bundled the ball over the line to level the scores in the 90th minute.
Extra time saw Rangers looking the stronger, Ben Towers debut today worked well on the right, and again Rangers re shuffled moving Parr into the midfield and Gordon to right back. This again changed the game Rangers going close from Waters but on the 102minute Arctic took the lead again and went in 5-4 up after the first 15minutes. Arctic seemed to tire and Rangers started to dominate play as the half went on but again even switching to a 3-4-3 and putting all the Arctic team under the cosh for almost all the 15minutes Rangers again just couldn’t find a way through. As the minutes ticked away Rangers went closer and it was a rash challenge 25yards out by Arctic that gave Rangers the chance to draw level, Jones chipped the ball in and a scrambled shot saw Leyland level the scores again in the dying seconds of the second period of extra time. As a deflated Arctic FC kicked off the Ref blew for time.
Penalties where then to follow, Rangers where up first and scored through Gordon, Artic then leveled. Jones the blasted in Rangers second and Stuart King then got both hands to Arctic’s shot but could only push it into the side netting. Up stepped Parr and unluckily the Arctic keeper guessed the right way and saved the shot. King then put Rangers back in the match by saving the next Arctic penalty. Up stepped the cool as ever Andy Clay who swept the ball home, Arctic then had their fourth penalty saved again by King. So the game rested on Midgley’s wide shoulders, he calmly walked upto the ball, took a look up and blasted the ball goal wards netting Rangers fourth penalty and took Rangers U18’s into the quarter final’s of the ERCFA Cup.
FINAL SCORE:- BRID RANGERS 5 V 5 ARCTIC RANGERS (AET).
BRID RANGERS WIN 4-2 ON PENALTIES.
MANAGERS COMMENTS: What a cup tie, I’ve been involved with this team for ten years and that ranks near the top of any comeback we’ve ever had. 4-2 down and the game going against us the team showed great character to level the scores, take the game to extra time, level the scores again and ultimately go on to win the game. Well played everyone another great team effort. I would also like to thank the all the players for showing great sportsman ship after the game in some appalling conditions, and I was particularly proud to say we did ‘Win fairly’ its just a pitty the team we played ‘didn’t lose with honour’.
Man of the Match:- Whole team, need I say more.
