Big improvement for Under 12 Rangers

Matthew Hudson - Player of the Match

Harefirld United 4 – 3 PTGFC U12 Rangers

A great effort from the boys today. Especially considering we lost 1-6 at home to Harefield a few weeks ago. We conceded less goals and we scored more goals. An all round improvement. Eventual man of the match winner Matthew played in goal. Covering for Jack who had sprained his thumb. Big kicks, diving saves and total dominance of his own 18 yard area. Very good. Jack moved into a flat back four. Joining Alex, Callum Brown and George Tuck. Alex controlled the play in this area. Again dominating the central zone and reading the game well. George closed down too. Much sharper today. Callum Brown did a lot of running. As always, he smiled a lot too.

Midfield consisted of Luke Butler, Frank Keegan, Harry Pymm and Ben Waterhouse. Strong as ever. Passing and moving all the time. Putting in some really strong challenges. Harry and Luke were all over the opposition like a rash. Ben played some lovely passing football out on the left. Frank again fought hard out on the right. Zack Gladman and Kane Bradding up front, joining up well and causing their defence plenty of problems. Ryan Bowen came on for a bit in the second half and added another dimension to our style. Adam Coles came on for Callum and continued the fight at the back. Out on the left he was much more involved. Again timing his challenges well and passing the ball out of trouble.

First half we went in 2-1 down. Harefield scoring first then Zach hammered one passed their keeper for 1-1. Only for us to concede a second a few minutes later. Second half we dropped another 2 from long balls played over the top. But it was a forward run from Kane, sliding the ball passed their keeper on the floor that saw a fight back for Penn. Playing from right to left, Zach was tripped out on the far side just outside the 18 yard box. With the wind in his favour he struck the ball cleanly, over all the players in the 6 yard box, over the keeper’s outstretched arms and into the top left hand corner of the net. It was 4-3.

Penn continued to push forward until the final whistle. We simply ran out of time in the end. No shame in losing 4-3 today. Not against a side fighting for promotion. A brilliant effort from everyone today. We knew Harefield had the desire because of their place in the league. They got want they wanted but Harefield didn’t have it all their own way. Penn Rangers saw to that…

Well done boys! Great game, great attitude. Looking forward to next season already.