| THEY THINK IT'S ALL OVER ......
IT'S NOT YET
Rangers turned in
yet another battling performance to get back on track after last
weeks farce and secure the all important second leg home advantage
for the play offs. A defeat may have been a little harsh on
Colchester who matched us in most areas; fortunately, they came up
short where it mattered
With suspensions looming large for the
play off first leg Holloway had wanted to give the stand in players
a run out. Both Rose and Forbes were due to start the game but
Forbes still seems troubled by an ankle knock. Day started in goal
behind a back four of Kelly, Rose, Shittu and Padula. Langley,
Palmer, Bircham and McLeod were in midfield behind Gallen and
Furlong.
The game started well for Rangers and
they could have been a goal up after only four minutes. A freekick
was won on the right and Padula swung over one of his trademark
devilish deliveries. Kevin McLeod got up in front of the keeper to
power a header home only to have it ruled out. This seemed to knock
the player a little and Colchester found themselves with the lion's
share of the possession for long periods.
They were having plenty of joy aiming
long balls at Matthew Rose who was all over the show in the first
half. He looked like a player that hadn't featured for some time and
you had to wonder whether Plummer, who was on the bench, may have
been a better bet.
Having seen Sam Stockley's effort fly
over the bar in the opening minutes Day was forced into a genuine
save via the head of Carl Duguid as he sharply turned a Scott
McGleish header goalward. Minutes later Day found himself punching
away a Dean Morgan cross. The ball bounced into the path of Thomas
Pinault and he sent a volleyed first time lob toward goal. The big
keeper flew to his right to palm the ball wide; even though it was
missing the target he showed excellent agility and awareness.
Despite all the pressure being brought
to bear on the Rangers defence they were still a threat on the
counter attack and Paul Furlong almost grabbed a goal following a
howler from keeper McKinney. An awkward bouncing ball evaded him and
he set off on a mad dash around the box trying to collect it,
Furlong robbed him and fired at goal from the tightest of angles.
Fitzgerald was on hand to clear the ball off the line to spare
McKinney's blushes.
It was ebb and flow now as Colchester
soon tested Day's reflexes again. Once more it was Duguid who was
the tormentor as he smashed a low shot that Day did well to block.
Rangers had to ride out the storm and with Rose becoming more
assured as the half wore on and Shittu his usual imperious self
there were few more threats before the break. Unusually Kelly was
getting the run around from Morgan who looked a real threat whenever
he had the ball.
The half time break must have brought
some strong words from Holloway as the second half started to the
sound of the trumpets as Rangers injected some pace into the game
and kicked it up a couple of gears. McLeod went on a couple of
barnstorming runs, leaving the amusingly haired Stockley in his
wake. The Colchester right back had a do that made Bircham's look
like a short back and sides.
Rangers' pressure took its toll on the
U's defence and Paul Furlong opened the scoring after 52 minutes.
Good work from Kelly on the right saw him beat lolloping full back
Baldwin and whip over a cross to the back stick. Furlong got up
highest to power a header past McKinney only to see it cannon back
off the post. He reacted quicker than anybody to poke the ball home
for number 13 of the season.
The game now turned into a battle with
neither team creating many clear cut chances. McLeod fired wide when
he should have crossed and had another shot tipped wide whilst at
the other end Rangers survived a real scare. Karl Duguid flung in a
corner and Ben May went empty in the centre to smash a header
against the underside of Day's bar.
Holloway made a couple of changes in
the closing stages. Richard Pacquette replaced Langley and Chris
Plummer came on for Kelly who seemed to take a bang in the ribs.
Plummer was his usual solid self for the closing minutes and Rose,
who was shunted to right back as a result also adapted well.
Pacquette twice came close to doubling
the lead in his eight minutes on the pitch. Firstly he produced a
neat turn, flicking the ball over Fitzgerald's head before having
his shot blocked before McKinney was forced into action. Moments
later he again turned his man on the edge of the box before
screaming in an effort that the Colchester keeper sis well to tip
over.
The win took us to fourth and a play
off date with Oldham, the only potential rival we haven't beaten
this season. This was a good solid performance and, whilst not
spectacular, did the job well enough. Shittu and Day were as solid
as you expect them to be and Rose grew as the game went on. Langley
was a little quiet but McLeod was excellent in the second period,
giving Stockley a real chasing at times.
We are without
doubt the form team going into the playoffs but that can count for
little over the three games. Whatever our fate I am pleased with the
season as it has showed an improvement on the last and you cannot
ask for much more. If we fail to go up then I will expect an
improvement again and an automatic place has to be the minimum.
simon@qprnet.com |
