Despite showing marked improvement from the previous week's season opener against Bridgetown, the Rangers were dreadfully unlucky to not earn a point with Blue Monk in the April 23rd derby match at the Montessori Earth School. In a typically hard-fought but fairly played match, 'Gers battled back from a goal down at halftime to equalize midway through the second period and repeatedly threaten to find the match winner...only to lose at the death on quite literally the last kick of the match.
Rangers welcomed back Matt Muralt and Ron King to the squad. A complement of fourteen suited up under Brian Bauman's canopy tent as cold, wet skies made for brisk warm-ups and kick arounds. Junior Ranger Kendall Ingersoll dutifully assisted the Yellow and Black with passing drills despite her water-logged boots. To our credit, Rangers assisted the visitors with net set up to get the game started at 6:30. In a first for O-30 Division 3 spring soccer, the derby was officiated by both a referee and a linesman and I have to admit, it was just a little bit more satisfying to watch the flag actually go up on our expertly executed offsides traps.
From the opening kick-off it was obvious we weren't the same team that struggled the previous week. King started up front with James McConnachie, supported by Sean Ingersoll, Jim Snyder, Aaron Radigan and Gary Foubister in the midfield and bolstered in the back by Jim Seaton, Dan Calkins, Bauman, and Mark Vogel. Steve Berg took his usual place between the posts. The opening few minutes saw Rangers keep possession in the attacking half and threaten early. The manager's encouragement to shoot often and from distance was heeded and the Monk keeper was kept honest from attacking wing runs on both sides and corner kicks. King's right side cross/shot nicked the crossbar and Ingersoll had an encouraging left side run cleared by the sliding keeper. With Muralt, Thomas Fahrbach and David Hayden subbing in regularly, our side managed to keep tempo and look lively throughout the first 45 minutes. Monk's goal, which came against the run of play, only served to redouble our efforts and the first half ended with a unanimous feeling that we had a goal coming.
Indeed we did. Ranger's characteristic scrappy, physical play served to turn up the match a notch with a couple of forceful shoulder charges and slide tackles getting Monk's attention. The center backs worked hard at shutting down the opposition's through game and chasing down their strikers when they broke free. The midfielders were also very mindful of getting back on defense when the situation merited. Berg, as always, was everywhere and blocked those relatively few shots that got through. Finally, around the seventieth minute, after a few close calls and near misses, Radigan took a pass from McConnachie inside the box and hammered it home. The snap of the net never looked so good and with a triumphant roar, the match was back on level terms. Not content to just draw, Rangers went hunting for a second goal and blitzed the wings frequently for the last twenty minutes, earning a couple of corners and shots on goal. With the pitch growing dark and both sides waiting for the final whistle, Blue Monk found a quick pass and got a lucky opening at the top of the box. Their last shot was an arcing lob to the upper right corner that nobody could have defended. Everybody did everything they were supposed to do. It just wasn't meant to be. Rangers lined up for a quick restart but as soon as we touched the ball, the referee gave the final three blasts of his whistle.
With little time to dwell on this heartbreaking loss, Match Day Three finds Rangers playing the Azzuri. After the controversial 1-1 tie last fall, the manager is quite confident our side will find the necessary motivation to rise to the challenge.
Non dia mai in su!
Sean-Scott Ingersoll
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