FC77 Rangers 4, No Subs 1

(Scorers: Radigan 5', Snyder 55', Sibanda 65', Foubister 80')

 

A gloriously beautiful afternoon, the long-awaited return of one of our own, an undermanned opponent and a non-psychotic referee were all the necessary components for a workmanlike Rangers victory on Match Day Four of the GPSD O-30 Rose City Third Division.  Proving the Yellow and Black are more than just a one-striker team, the home side used balanced scoring, patient possession play, and opportunistic attacks to assume control of the match in the second half and come away with all three points.  The victory was not without cost, however, as midfielder Bullie Sibanda was sent to the hospital with a wrist fracture around the 70th minute and central defender Brian Bauman picked up an ankle sprain that could keep him on the sidelines next week.

Playing with just twelve players due to a wedding, hunting season, and various work commitments, 'Gers still held a three person advantage over the aptly named No Subs.  Referee Osama Qutub started the match around 4:15 after waiting for the away side to field a full complement.  Ingersoll was the lone reserve and the starting XI consisted of Calkins (keeper); Pullen-Bauman-Snyder-Seaton (defenders); Sibanda-Radigan-Vogel-Burden (midfielders); and the strike force of Foubister and recently unsuspended Ron King played up top.  Kendall Ingersoll was the sole Junior Ranger for the afternoon.

Outnumbered by two players, 'Gers anticipated No Subs to huddle up and play the long ball while trying not to stretch their lines too thin.  The home side immediately pressed their numbers and found the back of the net just five or so minutes into the match.  Burden (I believe) offered up a tasty cross from the far corner that bounded through the middle of the box.  Foubister (aka "The Flying Scotsman") lunged with a dynamic overhead kick that was unlucky not to connect, but Radigan collected the ball and dropped the hammer with a blast to the inside of the left post.  1-0 just like that.  Not content to let that be the sign of things to come, No Subs (to their credit) played a muscular, aggressive defense for the rest of the half.  Rangers countered by taking the play to the outside touchlines in hopes of spreading them out and tiring them.  Ingersoll had several forays along the near sideline to the corner, often sidestepping and leaping two and three incoming slide tackles.  The second goal, despite many good efforts from mid- to long range, just wouldn't go and it was quite against the run of play that No Subs (most offsidedly) got behind the defense, isolated Calkins one on one, and tied it up around minute 35.  The fullback's protestations were dismissed by the official and the team summarily decided to drop the offside trap for the rest of the match.

Come half-time, the mood on the Ranger sideline was calm and (befitting our high level of awesomeness) good-natured.  The team decided to play possession and patient build-up in lieu of the fast sideline/cross/Route One attacks from the first half and from the opening second half kick-off, it was obvious everybody was on the same page.  A series of fourteen consecutive passes (I counted) took the ball from the center circle, to the right, back to the middle, back to the right, and slowly up the field.  Pullen, Seaton, Bauman (nursing the ankle injury by this time), and Snyder all kept their form and broke down any hurried No Subs counters.  Our collective patience was rewarded just ten minutes in when the ball was crossed back across the center of the box from the east sideline, allowing Snyder to run on virtually unopposed and, cool as you like, bury the ball into the net from the top of the box.  Even with the keeper caught out of position, Jim showed great control to keep his knee over the ball and double the scoreline.  Not to be outdone, Sibanda found his second goal of the year from the outside left corner of the box some ten minutes after Snyder's strike.  Rangers reset the ball back to the midfielder after a sideline series of passes and he obliged by deftly chipping it over the keeper and just under the crossbar.  Unfortunately, tragedy would befall the goal scorer just a few minutes later when a collision near midfield sent him down.  The No Subs defender yelled to put the ball out of play and noted that he heard something crack when Sibanda hit the ground.  Play was stopped for approximately ten minutes as the collective medical wisdom of the twenty players was put to use and a makeshift soft splint, sling, and protective wrap were jury-rigged together.  While the Ingersolls drove him to the hospital, play continued and Foubister completed the scoring with a goal at the death, thus allowing us to achieve maximum goal differential for the match.

While the win was great and the smart, methodical play was also well-conceived, the true measure of our team's character was most evident in the organized response to the injury.  Without a real doctor (as near as I can tell) to assist, our squad calmly got the necessary first aid supplies out and put them into use, transported our teammate to the ER, and locked up the field with ease.  Granted, none of these things in and of itself is extraordinarily difficult, but I look at some of the teams we have played in the past and, well, let's just say I'm glad you guys are on my side.  Special thanks to everyone who helped collect the kits, lock up the gates, tear down the nets, return the cards, and get me at the hospital after I sent my girls home.  

Finally, the entire squad wishes Bullie a quick recovery.  We look forward to seeing you in a Ranger kit as soon as you are up cleared to play.  Get well soon!

Next match:

FC77 Rangers vs. Petro Kickers

Saturday, October 11, 2008

4:00 KO

Montessori Earth School