11/09/11
Kader V Middleton
Rangers
Having
strengthened the squad over the summer Rangers U14s
continued on from a very successful close season run
of victories with a convincing 4-1 victory away to
Kader Juniors in their first league game of the
2011/12 campaign.
After a typical slow start during which the boys
went behind to a defensive error, our new striker
Ben Powell made amends and nipped in behind the
Kader defence slotting home the equaliser from a
very tight angle just before half time (1-1).
This gave the boys the momentum going into the
second half which they dominated using some
excellent movement and one touch football.
The second goal came from a free kick after some
sustained pressure in and around the Kader
goalmouth. Haani Rahman stepped up and curled a
beautiful left foot shot into the top left hand
corner (1-2).
Defender Callum Bates having just had a goal
disallowed for a (very dubious) offside decision was
on a mission to set the record straight and got on
the end of a perfect through ball from Saafi Rahman
to place the third goal into the top right hand
corner (1-3).
This was followed almost immediately by the fourth
and final goal from Lewis Macdonald who got on the
end of another great cross from Saafi to flick the
ball expertly over the goalkeeper (1-4).
Joint Man of the Match - Callum Bates and Haani
Rahman.
18/09/11
Stockton Rangers V
Middleton Rangers
From the start
Rangers dominated this game with their potent brand
of quick, passing football, however they struggled
to convert a host of chances early on with Haani and
Saafi Rahman, Ben Powell, Lewis Macdonald and Ben
Ballantyne all coming close. It was Lewis Macdonald
that finally broke the deadlock after 20 minutes
when he slid in for a cool finish into the bottom
corner. This opened the floodgates with Haani and
Saafi Rahman making it a comfortable 3-0 at half
time.
The second half was a rout with Jack Smithurst
bagging a hatrick, Connor Pearce came out of goal to
score twice, Saafi Rahman netted a second and
Michael Spence and Callum Bates both scored 1 each
in the last 5 minutes.
Final score: Stockton Rangers 0 Middleton Rangers 11
MoM: Brendan Brown.
02/10/11
Middleton Rangers
V Leven Athletic
Middleton Rangers
U14's took the game to the division 2 team pressing
them all over the park and having numerous attempts
on goal with Danny Crane, Lewis MacDonald, Michael
Spence, Ben Ballantyne and both Haani and Saafi
Rahman all coming close. It felt that a goal was
imminent and so it proved when the ball was handled
on the Leven goal line to prevent a certain goal -
Haani Rahman stepped up to take the resulting
penalty and as cool as you like slotted the ball
into the bottom right hand corner (1 - 0)
As expected Leven
started the second half brightly looking for an
equaliser and early on only some resolute defending
from Callum Bates, Jack Smithurst, Brendan Brown and
Aidan Kennedy kept the score in Middleton's favour.
Haani Rahman was
instrumental in dominating the midfield and soon
started to show his class with some pin point
diagonal balls to release his brother Saafi and
Danny Crane into the right and left channels
respectively. It was from one of these balls that
Saafi crossed perfectly from the right to allow
Danny a great header at the far post to extend the
lead (2-0).
Once again Leven stepped up the pressure to try and
reduce the deficit and once again the Middleton
defence were up to the task with Connor Pearce in
goal making some great saves to keep the opposition
at bay. Callum Bates was also at his very best
harrying and upsetting the Leven forwards to ensure
there was no concerted effort on the Middleton goal.
It was from a superb goal kick from Connor that
Danny Crane was able to turn, beat 2 defenders and
score an impressive second goal (3-0).
To their credit Leven still did not give up and
after an intense and hard fought last 20 minutes
they had clawed back 2 goals making for a very
exciting last 2 minutes.
However time was
against them and Middleton came out deserved 3-2
winners - a reversal of the previous result and a
true reflection of how far this Middleton team have
come in the last 18 months.
Man of the Match - Danny Crane.
09/10/11
Hardwick Youth V
Middleton Rangers
In what was a very
scrappy but hard fought physical game Middleton were
disappointed to come away with only a 1-1 draw.
Having had the lions share of the possession in the
first half Middleton struggled to find a way through
a dogged and well set up Hardwick defence, time
after time the final through ball was cut out by
Hardwick. Haani Rahman's performance was
particularly noteworthy working tirelessly in the
centre of the park to ensure the forward momentum
stayed with Middleton. The deadlock was finally
broken in the 33rd minute when a great low cross
from Saafi Rahman on the right found Daniel Crane on
the edge of the 6 yard area who, even though he was
closely marked, still managed to coolly place his
shot into the bottom right hand corner (1-0).
As expected Hardwick came out in the second half
looking for the equaliser, however their long ball
tactic over the top was never going to trouble the
Middleton defence and going into the last 15 minutes
Hardwick became increasingly frustrated and a
victory seemed on the cards.
The equaliser though came from the most unlikely of
places, a high flighted corner into the Middleton
back post was caught by a strong gust of wind and
blew into the top right hand corner giving Connor
Pearce in the Middleton goal absolutely no chance
(1-1).
The final 10 minutes saw both teams pressing for the
winner but the game finished a draw (1-1).
Notable performance - Jack Smithurst
Man of the Match - Haani Rahman
16/10/11
Middleton
Rangers V Newton Aycliffe
With our 2
holding midfield players (Haani Rahman and Michael
Spence) injured it was a hastily re-shuffled Rangers
team that started against a relatively unknown
Newton Aycliffe team.
From the start Rangers looked uncomfortable with the
re-shuffled team making some uncharacteristic basic
errors, this allowed a strong Aycliffe team to
dictate the play and win the midfield battle. It was
only a matter of time before this amount of
possession gave Aycliffe the break through and
Rangers were made to pay with a well taken goal in
the 8th minute (0-1).
Rangers fought back doggedly and some good work
between Saafi Rahman and Lewis MacDonald on the
right gave Danny Crane the ball in the Aycliffe box,
after beating his man Danny hit a great left foot
shot into the bottom corner (1-1).
Once again Rangers seemed to lose their way and a
second Aycliffe goal looked certain when the Rangers
defence conceded a clumsy penalty 5 minutes later.
However the ball hit the post and rebounded back
into Connor Pearces safe hands. This close shave
gave Rangers a much needed boost and the resulting
goal kick was flicked on and found Jack Smithurst
through on goal, keeping a very cool head he knocked
the ball around the keeper to finish perfectly into
the bottom corner (2-1).
This gave Rangers the impetus with Jack Smithurst
finishing a good move down the left and firing a
strong header past the Aycliffe keeper (3-1).
Half Time
Rangers started quite well with Connor Pearce coming
out of goal to give some much needed steel in the
middle of the park. Then just as Rangers started to
press we received a further blow when Saafi Rahman
had to come off having injured his back going over
on the ball. Rangers never recovered from this with
Aycliffe dominating the half.
Eventually scoring from a free kick , further goals
with a header and a finish from outside of the box
due to poor defending. Aycliffe were now in the
driving seat 4-3.
This spurred on Rangers to have another go at
Aycliffe.
Good work between Ben Powell and Connor Pearce saw
Connor have a well executed overhead kick just saved
by the Aycliffe keeper at the far post. Conner was
determined not to sign-off on a losing game and his
determination showed driving the team on. S
In the dying seconds Spence hit a great through ball
to Connor Pearce on the right who, after beating his
man, clipped a beautifully flighted ball over the
Aycliffe keeper and into the top left corner (4-4).
All in all this was a frustrating game for Rangers
who on their day could have won this game
comfortably, however this wasn't their day and on
reflection were lucky to come away with a point.
Rangers however maintained their unbeaten run and
lived to fight another day!!!!!
Man of the Match - Connor Pearce
11/12/11
Middleton
Rangers V Primrose Hill
After an injury
ravaged start to the season Altaf finally had a full
squad of fit players to choose from for this top of
the table clash. Primrose Hill have been in dominant
form so far this season with 9 wins from 9 games and
averaging an astonishing 9 goals per game - we would
certainly need to be at our best today.
From the first whistle Rangers went at Primrose Hill
winning some early exchanges in a heavily contested
midfield battle, Michael Spence and Haani Rahman
both making their presence felt early on with some
crunching tackles against some much bigger
opposition.
Rangers were making some good progress down both
flanks with Jack Smithurst and Daniel Crane in
particular linking up well to put some telling
crosses into the box. However it was a clever
through ball from Saafi Rahman that put Harry Notman
in on goal to stab the ball into the bottom corner
for a deserved early lead.
As expected Primrose Hill responded immediately and
started to pressure the Rangers defence however
Connor Pearce in goal anticipated any through balls
and helped out the defence with safe hands and good
clearances. Ben Ballantyne had outstanding game at
left back letting very little past along with Callum
Bates they kept the flanks secure. However a long
ball over the top of the Rangers defensive line
caused some confusion and the leagues top scorer
nipped in to slot home the equaliser for Primrose
Hill.
Rangers pushed hard in the period leading up to half
time putting the Primrose Hill defence under all
kinds of pressure, this eventually paid off just on
half time when some good work between Jack Smithurst,
Haani and Saafi Rahman gave Daniel Crane a shooting
opportunity on the edge of the box which he hammered
home into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to
Rangers at the interval.
The second half saw some determined attacks from
Primrose Hill against a resolute and outstanding
Rangers defence as they looked for the equaliser,
the longer the game went on the more players
Primrose Hill pushed forward with Brendan and Aidan
making many last ditch tackles to keep the score in
Rangers favour. This left Primrose Hill wide open at
the back for counter attacks which Rangers were
unlucky not to capitalise on.
Finally after what was a breathtaking game to watch
the whistle blew giving Rangers a much deserved 2-1
win against a very good Primrose Hill side. This was
one of the best Rangers performances we have seen ,
the opposition manager commented we were beaten by a
much better side !
MoM - The whole Team!
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Middleton Rangers Junior Football Club