Match Review: Aioli Monkeys FC vs TGA Rangers FC

• --
• GK Fraser Tyler
• DF Alex Stathopoulos
• DF Philip Scharff
• ST Mark Addy
• ST Eric Clermont
• ST Peter Besselink
• -- Silvan Lehner
• -- Boujema Jelikh Kamel
• -- Martin Eusebi
• -- Adrien Dambre

• DF Andrew Storan
• MD Pablo Huidobro
• -- Romen Herrera
• -- Oliver Johnson

Heartbreak

We were missing a few on Saturday but still managed to assemble a strong squad for the big game with TGA Rangers. We started with all the possession as the opposition were happy to sit back and absorb the pressure. Lone striker sharples given the task of creating and scoring his own goals. A fast and furious first 20 minutes saw us create a few half chances but shots just off target or comfortable saves by the rangers keeper was as close as we got. We looked comfortable at the back with Phil S and Martin managing to keep sharples under control for most of the first half limiting rangers to shots from outside the box. Eric was leading the line well up top and linking up with mark well but we just couldn't get the opener. 0-0 HT. First half started with rangers pushing a forward a little more and putting us under a bit more pressure. An unfortunate error in the box saw the ball drop to the feet of a rangers player who tapped it in to put rangers ahead. Credit to the lads who went for it immediately. The juice and roman introduced and we created 3-4 good chances before a through ball saw a race between the keeper and addy, addy clipped it first and was taken out but the ball fell to Eric and he stuck it in for a well deserved 1-1. All to play for with 15 mins left. I think we believed we would get the winner at that stage but an unfortunate bounce of the ball between our defenders saw the ball cannon into sharpness path and she stuck it in the bottom corner. Heart break for us after one of our best performances of the season. We deserved to lose a few games this season but we felt this wasn't one of them. A bit of luck was what we were missing today. Onwards to the vikings for redemption on Tuesday night. MOM today couldve been many, Addy a constant threat, Phil great at CB, malaka did a great job at RB but Adri gets the nod for a great display in CM. Rangers MOM the keeper, some great saves at pivotal moments. Thanks Rangers for a memorable game.

• Hiromitsu Nakaue DF
• Chris Jones DF
• Jonathan Cloak DF
• Nathan Bryer MD
• Paddy Sutton MD
• Mike Sharples ST
• Rob Whitworth --
• Rowan Anders --
• Nick Lenicheck --
• Dominic Booth --
• Jun Liang Yap --

• Stephen McLaughlin MD
• Todd Koning ST
• Angelo Gullota --

Could have gone either way

Finally got a game, after two consecutive washout weeks, against a decent looking Aioli PM side. We knew this was going to be a tough one. Aioli PM started fast, maybe in response to their 2-0 loss against Latini the week before. Both teams trying to get their foot on the ball and get into rhythm which Aioli PM did faster than Rangers. A few chances here and there but finished goalless at half time. Paddy's passing statistics for the first half was 0%. In the second half Rangers got themselves in front after the keeper dropped the ball at the feet of 'still recovering from last night' Paddy who tapped home. Aioli PM equalised a while later when Addy got to a through ball before Rowan and the ball fell kindly for their player to tuck home. 1-1. The game started to open up a bit more and Rangers were indebted to their big Canadian for keeping the score level despite numerous golden chances for the opposition. In the last 15 Sharpy attempted another Usain Bolt impression and cut inside to finish superbly and the Rangers boys managed to hold on for what could be a very important victory heading in the winter break. FT; 2-1 Close game, and really could have gone either way but credit to Aioli PM for the game. MOM for Aioli PM: Addy gets the nod for his constant threat. MOM for Rangers: Sharples got the nod ahead of Rowan's heroics in goal and Hiro's awesome first half display.