Ringmer 2 St Francis Rangers 1 (after extra time)

30/11/07

Report by David Ruffles

 

Ringmer were made to work hard to secure their place in the quarter finals of the John O’Hara League Challenge Cup.

 

The game began promisingly enough with Steve Hunt and Mark Price exchanging passes only for Hunt to miss the target with a shot from twenty five yards. But for the second game in a row Ringmer conceded an early goal after just five minutes when Sam Jeremiah broke through the Ringmer defence and Ryan MacMillan’s last ditch tackle only succeeded in directing the ball beyond the advancing Joe Adams and into the net. The visitors almost doubled their lead when a run from deep by Chris Maynard ended with a chip over the Blues defence for Jeremiah to lift the ball over both Adams and the bar. Ringmer then lost Mark Price with concussion after an accidental kick in the head while he was on the floor. The match continued at a fast and furious pace throughout with both sides closing down the man in possession in a congested midfield. Ringmer were creating openings but were frustrated by repeated offside decisions. Although both sides had chances to score the forwards were unable to apply the finishing touch. The best chance of the first half came in the last minute when a cross from Jack Johnson found Joe Dryer in space on the edge of the penalty area but he could do no more than shoot straight at the goalkeeper.

 

Ringmer were reduced to ten men early in the second half with the dismissal of Danny McLaughlin. Ironically by creating more space in midfield this made for a more open game with Ringmer the first beneficiaries. A corner from Dan Evans was cleared by a defender only as far as Jack Johnson who played the ball back out to Evans. His pin-point cross was directed into the net for the equalising goal by Marc Whiteman. With the visitors striving to regain the lead Ringmer had Joe Adams to thank for a couple of outstanding saves from Jeremiah and Sam Palmer that kept the scores level. Then with minutes left of normal time Ryan MacMillan and Steve Hunt both missed chances to score for the Blues.

 

The first period of extra time saw chances come and go at both ends before Luke Gedling’s free kick from twenty yards was deflected off the defensive wall and into the net to give Ringmer the lead in the final seconds of the period. St Francis piled on the pressure in the second period of extra time and Ringmer were forced to leave Whiteman up front as a lone striker as they fought successfully to hold on to their lead.

 

 

 

No	Players.Name....	Substitution ...,,	Goals	Remarks
1	Joe Adams	.	-	-
2	Andy Hart	.	.	.
3	Dan Evans	.	.	.
4	Dave Soutar	.	.	(SC)
5	Ryan MacMillan	.	.	.
6	Steve Hunt	.	.	.
7	Mark Price	Jack Johnson	.	Injured
8	Danny McLaughlin	.	.	R
9	Mark Whiteman	.	1	60
10	Joe Dryer	Miles Scerri	.	.
11	Nick Barden	Luke Gedling	.	(C)
-	SUBSTITUTES	-	-	-
12	Jack Johnson	Used	.	.
14	Miles Scerri	Used	.	.
15	Luke Gedling	Used	1	104
16	Glen Matten	Not Used	.	-
17	Norbert Sule	Not Used	.	.
.	.	.	.	.
Manager		Steve Johnson
Assistant Manager		Paul Thomsett
Sports Therapist		Ian Fairs
Referee		Simon Griffiths
Assistant 1		Richard Smallwood
Assistant 2		Peter Moran
Attendance		68