Marlborough United's leading goal scorer Keith Morrison scored his 18th and 19th of the season yesterday against Rangers. Photo Jim Tannock 46703
Horror story rerun for United
by Scott Preston
30 July 2001
The Marlborough Express
by Scott Preston
Like a bad movie sequel the hard luck almost-but-not-quite storyline of Marlborough United's Federation Six soccer season was revived from the scripts again yesterday.
Their last-minute 2-3 loss to top four side Rangers at Athletic Park in Blenheim yesterday continued a long line of near-wins this season, which has quickly become the side's trademark.
United and Rangers were level for 44 minutes of the second half before Rangers midfielder Andrew Ellis connected with the ball during a goal mouth scramble for the game winner.
As the clock ticked into the final minute, Rangers earned a corner. The harmless looking ball across the box fell to the deck, two Marlborough defenders missed the clearing kicks and Ellis banged in the winner.
"You want everyone to close in on the ball at that time and a couple of guys went back," a visibly disappointed United player-coach Mike Irving said of his point-blank view of the game-clinching goal.
"We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory - again," he said. "Our discipline let us down in the end."
United sweeper Mark Hones received his second yellow card and an early shower with 12 minutes to play. He picked up his first yellow in the 30th minutes and the second three minutes later.
To say Irving was more than a little annoyed with the ill-discipline from Hones, the most experienced man on the park at 44, would be a huge understatement.
"Honesy needs a good kick up the bum," he said. "It's like in league if you have been warned for a head high, you don't do it again. I don't blame the ref for that, there's only one guy I blame for that."
Up to that point, United had the run of the second spell, putting in eight shots, two of them on goal. However the man advantage saw Rangers remain on attack for the final ten minutes.
With Hones on the sideline United were forced to reshuffle, with captain Julius Kolk slotting back into the defensive trio and Keith Morrison moving back into the midfield, cutting back their attacking abilities.
Yesterday's 2-3 result was United's second one-goal loss to Rangers this season, after going down 0-1 on May 12. Marlborough have lost six one goal games, winning two, and have a 4-2-10 record in games decided by two goals or less.
Earlier in the final period Bert Vlug, Keith Morrison and Lindsay Morrison all had great chances to put United up one. Vlug crossed up his defender but lifted the left foot shot over the bar in the 53rd minute, while Keith Morrison was denied his third of the game in the moments later, hitting it straight at the keeper, then Lindsay Morrison put the rebound over the top.
After being down 0-1 and 1-2 in the first half, United twice found equalisers through Keith Morrison to go into the sheds level with the fourth-ranked Federation Six side.
The match began at a frenetic pace, with two goals in the opening five minutes. Rangers opened the scoring when Shem Bambery [sic] found the back of the net with the game's first shot.
The second shot of the match also nestled itself in the old onion bag, Morrison equalising after running on to a midfield pass from flatmate Vlug. Morrison beat the Rangers keeper to the ball and rolled it in.
Rangers received a dubious penalty in the 14th minute after a hand-ball was called on Hones on the outer limits of the box. Andrew Steel converted from the spot.
Morrison put United back on level terms 20 minutes later when he squeezed through two Rangers defenders to head home his 19th of the season from a Mike Irving cross.
Morrison was a star performer along with teenage midfielder Scott Vile, who created plenty of space and scoring opportunities out wide. Captain Julius Kolk in the midfield and Irving on defence looked good despite the one goal defeat.
Apart from the late minute scramble goal which cast a shadow of the performance, yesterday's display was one of the best all-round efforts from United this season.
They used the ball well, controlling the majority of the second half until being reduced to 10 men and created plenty of gaps against a defence which has only allowed 17 goals this season.
"Keith (Morrison) scored a couple of nice goals and I thought that was one of the best games we've played this year. We had good shape and we defended well as a team," Irving said.
"It's just disappointing to lose again. It was 15 minutes earlier that we cut through and Keith and Lindsay had shots."
The loss was United's fourth straight to Rangers, giving them an 0-4 record since the Federation Six began in 2000. Last year, Marlborough were shut out twice by Rangers, losing 0-3 and 0-4.
United remained in seventh spot in the Federation Six standings on 20 points with a 6-2-11 record. They are now winless in their last three games and have just three more games this season.