Match Report – Goring Rangers v HFLFC

Worthing & Horsham District Sunday League – Vets Cup Sunday February 11th 2018 – Fernhurst Drive, Goring

Goring Rangers 4 (1) – Hills Farm Lane Vets 2 (2)

Manager – Mark Murphy

Hills Farm arrived in cold, windy Goring with a depleted side shorn of several regulars but confident of a result with a strong line up. Big D, Darron Mitchell, answered the call by taking his place at the centre of defence and with continental speed on the flanks with Tomek on the left and Diego on the right the away side looked strong enough to progress in the cup.

The pitch was, surprisingly in retrospect, deemed playable by the ref but there were no complaints from either side and the game kicked off with Hills Farm, having won the toss, playing with the strong wind at their backs. The plan was to score enough goals by half time and it looked a cunning plan as the away side went into a two goal lead with goals from Karim and Tomek but a soft goal before half time let Rangers back into the game and Hills Farm reached half time with only a slender lead.

The second half began with Hills Farm practically unable to get the ball over the half way line, with the increasingly stronger wind playing a bigger part. In a devastating spell the home side slammed three goals in 10 minutes to take a 4-2 lead whilst Hills Farm's isolated strikers looked on helplessly from the half way line!

Murph brought himself on at the back and released Darron into midfield to try to forge a link between defence and attack but the shockingly muddy, sticky pitch had taken its toll and legs were tired. The defence was shored up and no more gaols were surrendered but neither were any notable threats made on the opposition goal, apart from a hopeful penalty shout when Gavin went down easier than Oumar Niasse at Selhurst!

In the end, Rangers deserved their win – they played the better football and harnessed the power of the wind to greater effect, But Hills Farm can be confident that in future meetings, on a better surface and with additional strength, this opposition can be beaten.

M.O.M – Tommy Burnside – a Rock in defence.

Author: Murph