NEHYL League

20th December 2009

Curley Park Rangers v Cove

 Following three weeks of inactivity and hard training from our new coach, the boys were up for it today. Playing a different formation, Curley Park took the game to Pinewood right from the start and totally dominated the first 20 minutes, and were rewarded with a goal on 20 minutes, with a fine strike by James Headland. Pinewood came more into the match after this, but Curley Park were limiting their chances. Just before the beak, Prenay took the ball down the left and put across a greart ball which was met by Will Ellison, who finished in fine style.

In the 2nd half Pinewood raised their came and came at us more. They scored on the break and then for the final 15 minutes as we began to tire, they had a couple of chances, in which they could have 'nicked' an equaliser. Curley Park held firm and rightfully took all three points

A GREAT TEAM EFFORT

 Goal Scorers for season 2009 / 10

James HEADLAND: 4

Will ELLISON: 3

Lewis WALTERS: 2

Tom LANDRETH-SMITH: 1

Philip HODGKINSON:  1

 Curley Park Rangers: 0

Crookham Rovers: 7

This was always going to be a tricky fixture, having lost to Crookham only a few weeks earlier 5-1. With this in mind we started with a changed formation, but as ever we were missing key players.

A very disciplined performance in the first half finished with it level at 0-0. Granted Crookham were producing the chances, but Curley Park were playing well particularly so in defence.

The second half started much the way of the first and it was only a matter of time before Crookham scored, followed shortly by a second. This is when our heads dropped and it was clearly visable that all confidence drained out of the team - Crookham showed no mercy and clearly went about improving their goal difference 

We need to build on our 2nd half performance. But also, we have a large squad, but each week we are missing key players and only ever have 11 or 12 players available - why is this? 

Mike Shields has joined our squad.

Thankfully Sam has not broken his arm, but he has possibly suffered a cracked elbow and has to return to hospital to have this confirmed

Curley Park Rangers - Bears: 1

Badshot Lea: 1

Despite having a large squad of 17 players, we only had 12 players available today, due to injury and family commitments.

But boy did all these 12 players give their all today and battle for everything, so so different from last week's woeful performance against Crookham ( sorrry to keeping going on about last week's lads, but it was just so poor!)

Due to our keeper Alex Alexandre still being out through injury, we played Liam  Bourke in goal who was excellent throughout , clear communication and quick off his line being his forte. Mike Chiang, joined Sam in the central of defence and they kept Badshot Lea quiet for most of the first half. Then a clumsy challenge on Sam, in which he fell badly and hurt his elbow which resulted in him having to go to hospital.  We had to reshuffle our players, with JK dropping into defence and Tom Eden joining James Headland in midfield.

Half-time 0-0

Second half started with Badshot playing with more purpose and controlling the match, limiting Curley Park to break away chances. Lack of communication at the back allowed Badshot to attack and score a deserved goal. This though had a positive effect on Curley Park as they raised their game and took the fight to Badshot and scored the deserved equaliser, with good work, by Adi, and Lewis Walters, resulting in  a fine strike by Philip Hodgkinson.

Both sides had opportunities to win this match, with a Badshot player missing an open goal, when it seemed easier to score and Mike Shields having a fine strike which cannoned back off the crossbar - and so the match ended honours even.

Today saw great work from both wings from Lewis Walters and Philip Hodgkinson who showed great strenght and determination throughout this match.

Happy birthday to both Mike Chiang and Sam King, whose birthday it is today

 Crookham Rovers: 5 (or should it just be Jake Yarranton ?)

Curley Park Rangers: 1

A real lesson learnt today and so early in the season too. Praise to Crookham who fully deserved their win they moved the ball about well, first into the tackles and were deadly in front of goal, particularly so Jake Yarranton who scored all five of their goals I understand. Today he showed why in the past two season when he played for us, he won last season' s Managers Player of the Year Award. Good luck to Jake, he's a great player and will do well, as will Crookham this season, if they continue to play like they did today

What of ourselves? Well first half we played well and moved the ball about well and despite conceding an early goal, continued to battle and deservedly levelled through Tom Landreth-Smith, who had pushed up from defence. Good work from Lewis Walters was troubling Crookham, as was the work by Philip Hodgkinson, but we didn't utilise Philip enough, which was disappointing. But despite our good performance first half, we went in at the break 3-1 down, which was puzzling. Our downfall being silly mistakes.

In the second half we just didn't play at all - which was so frustrating. Jake scored two further goals for Crookham, and our reserve keeper JK was kept busy, pulling of a couple of fine stops, but more importantly being quick off his line and clearing the ball.

A question for you all - What did the Crookham goalkeeper do in the 2nd half? Answer is nothing as we didn't test him.

So we lost to a good team today and must learn from this to move forward. What is the most disappointing though  is that a player we know so well, we couldn't  cope with - I have to ask you all why?

 CPR travelled to deepest Hampshire, to play in the Hampshire County Cup. Due to a number of reasons, we only had 11 players, so knew that this would be a test and that fatigue would play its part towards the end.

Rangers won the toss and within the first 5 minutes were 2 nil up, following great strikes from Lewis Walters and James Headland. Not sure what then happened, but we switched off and allowed Purbrook back into the match which they gratefully accepted replying with 2 goals of their own. Lewis Walters then restored our lead with an excellent strike, but Purbrook were always dangerous and could have levelled again, but for a fine save from Alex Alexandre.

The 2nd half got under way, with much of threat coming from the good work of Philip Hodgkinson on the right. Purbrook were always dangerous on the break, by popping the ball over the top for their attackers to run onto from which they scored their equaliser, despite Alex Alexandre's efforts to stop the ball and player, for which he picked up an injury and so had to be replaced in goal by JK and we went down to 10 men. Purbrook took the lead following continued pressure. Rangers then 'threw' everything at Purbrook in the final 10 minutes, but did not really create a clear chance to trouble their keeper

A disappointing match which we should have won, our very short experience of the Hampshire County Cup - the travelling was longer!

Special thanks to Purbrook, who showed great hospitality and were extremely helpful when Alex was injured

 06th September 2000 - Cantley Park, Wokingham (Friendly)

Binfield FC: 3

Curley Park Rangers: 1

Curley Park Rangers travelled to Wokingham to play a friendly against fellow Division 1 side Binfield FC, who's team was made up of a few familar faces from AFC Crowthorne, Pinewood and Crusaders FC. Conditions were not ideal as the wind did not make for pretty football. Both sides battled well in the first half, which remained goal less, but with Binfield having more of the play, and creating more chances. An excellent save by the Curley Park Rangers keeper, Alex Alexandre, kept the scores level. Rangers were playing too deep, so not creating enough chances.

The second half started brightly, with matters being fairly even up until, Binfield's first goal. Binfield then put their mark on this match and scored a further two in quick succession. Curley Park, did not allow their heads to drop and kept battling and were correctly awarded a free kick midway in the opposition half. JK took the free kick and placed the ball deep into the penalty area, with James Headland being the first to react and coolly slot the ball home for a deserved goal. Rangers came close again, but the 'goal' was correctly ruled out for being offside

In summary this was a good performance by Curley Park Rangers, as was exactly the type of match the lads, required ahead of next week's County Cup fixture. Binfield were the stronger team and justly won the match. Rangers can take alot of positives from this match, none more so than the debut of Mike Chiang at Left Back, who has added confidence and style to our defence

Goals: James Headland (1)