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RANGERS AFC
Christchurch, New Zealand
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2005 news items from Rangers AFC.
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RANGERS AFC
Christchurch, New Zealand
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/ Rangers AFC Home Page / News / 2005 archive
Current news | 2004 news | 2003 news | 2002 news | 2000-1 news
22 December 2005
NZ Soccer has announced a World Cup Development Squad targeting the under-17 girls World Championship in 2008. The squad of thirty-one U14 girls includes Rangers' Maia Vink and Gabrielle Kerdemelidis.
11 December 2005
Players/Coaches required for 2006 season
Rangers’ Women’s First Team are seeking players for the
Premier League. Especially goalkeepers.
Contact coach Piri Paahi on (03) 329-6799.
The club is entering a new team in Mens Division 1 in 2006. There are
still some playing spots available for this our third team’s
roster.
Contact development officer Mike de Bono (03) 389-3007
rangers@linfield.co.nz
Our established Mens Division 2 side ("Snow's") are
seeking a coach. This team finished mid-table in 2005, but have
enjoyed League and Cup success in earlier years this century.
Contact development officer Mike de Bono (03) 389-3007
rangers@linfield.co.nz
21 November 2005
At the AGM, the following officers and positions were confirmed or
elected:
Patron/President/Chairman: Grant Chellew
Secretary/Treasurer: Brent Wilson
Club Captain: Alan Stroud
Management Committee:
Ed Heald, Lee Hawkey, Phil Clayton, Kees Rietveld, James Croot
Trustees:
Barry Taylor, Bede Kearney
Vice-Presidents:
Dave Hounsell, Alan Stroud, Mike Harvey, Keith Petrie, Reg Johnson,
Mike Hawkey, Darren Johnson, John Souter
Auditor: Greg Beck, Beck & Associates
Mens First Team Coach: Harry McCosh
Development Officer: Mike De Bono
9 November 2005
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of Rangers Association Football Club
Incorporated will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 21 November 2005 at
Linfield Sports Club, 56 Kearneys Road, Christchurch.
8 October 2005
Paris Kerdemelidis appeared as a 51st minute substitute for NZ Secondary Schoolboys in their Trans-Tasman Trophy 2-1 loss to Australia in Sydney.
6 October 2005
Rangers (and Burnside HS) defender Paris Kerdemelidis has appeared as a 79th minute substitute for NZ Secondary Schoolboys in their Trans-Tasman Trophy 3-0 loss to Australia in Sydney. Half-time score: 3-0. Paris was an unused substitute in the Schoolboys' recent matches against Canada U18. The NZ side plays Australia again in Sydney on 8 October.
30 September 2005
Symon Beedles has been named Canterbury Soccer Youth Player of the Year.
24 September 2005
Rangers' Symon Beedles and Hue Frame were in the Canterbury U20 squad that lost 2-1 at Otago in the Ruddiman Cup.
Former Rangers player Nathan Knox has been named Minnesota Thunder's Rookie of the Year. The North American A-league team reached the semi-finals of the US Open Cup (USA's equivalent of the Chatham Cup), defeating several MLS teams on the way. Knox, although a midfielder or striker in NZ, converted to a centre-back at the Thunder.
12 September 2005
Mainland Soccer have announced that Rangers' Symon Beedles is a finalist for the 2005 Canterbury Soccer Youth Player of the Year. The winner to be announced at the Canterbury Soccer awards dinner on 30 September.
10 September 2005
At the Rangers AFC prizegiving, Hue Frame took the awards for Mens First Team Player of the Year and Top Goalscorer (Mike Hawkey Trophy). Mike Harvey won the 'Hawkey Trophy' for Players' Player of the Year - as well as the 'Alan Smith Trophy' for first team Most Dedicated Back. Symon Beedles received the 'Brian Lay Trophy' for first team Young Player of the Year and the 'Ken Pash Trophy' for U17 Player of the Year. Michael Berry was awarded first team Most Improved Player of the Year.
Justine Billing received Womens First Team Player of the Year and Bobbi Sutherland was accoladed as Womens First Team Most Consistent Player and Players' Player of the Year.
Presidents C (Barry's) won the Atlas Trophy for Best Performed
Team, the Spikes won the Colin Cook Trophy for Team that does most for
the club and Lee Hawkey received the Presidents Trophy.
Full list of awards
3 September 2005
In the Canterbury Reserve League Cup Final at Halswell Domain, Rangers beat Burnside 3-1. Kick-off was delayed twenty minutes and the match transferred from the No. 1 ground to the No. 5 ground, where a junior fixture was running late. The transfer was due to the strange decision with short notice to stage the Mainland Premier League game betwreen Halswell and New Brighton at 12.30 on the No. 1 field. Tne ground transfer meant that the strong North Easterly wind was blowing down the field, rather than across. Rangers had the wind from behind in the first half, and dominated the spell, with chances to Tom Marsh, Jason Stapley, Dan Henderson and Nathan Wood among others. Nigel Christmas put in some crosses that threatened to bamboozle the Burnside defence, much like his decision to dye his hair for the occasion - the colour of the Burnside shirts!. It was Ryan Burson who opened the scoring for Rangers shortly before the quarter-hour. Despite Rangers dominance, Burnside equalised against the run of play, when Rangers defender Willie Dennett, deep in his own half, beat two players with some nice trickery but then squared the ball to a Burnside player who had a free shot on goal. Spectators were speculating at half-time as to the influence of the wind in the second half, but Burnside were unable to take advantage as Rangers dominated the second half. Jason Stapley scored shortly before the hour and Michael Berry made the game safe with Rangers' third with five minutes left. Congratulations to Tony Wilson and the Reserves' players and management on a successful end to the season.
1 September 2005
The 2005-06 Scottswood Trust Summer Soccer
Five-a-side tournaments will be taking place at Linfield Sports
from 11 October 2005. Entries are being sought for Mens, Mens Social,
Womens, Mixed, and Businesshouse grades.
More details | Rules and Regulations | Registration form
15 August 2005
Weekend summary: In Mainland Premier League, a Hue Frame goal gave Rangers a 1-0 win over Ferrymead Bays (whose ex-Ranger, Deane Hutchinson received a red card). The result moves Rangers above New Brighton to 8th in the League.
In the first round of the knock-outs, Mens Div 2 (Snows) will be seeded top for the competition after a 6-2 win at Bays. Masters A are also comfortably through to their quarter-final beating Avon 4-1.
Presidents C league had its final round, with Barry's team the Bees starting the day two points behind Cashmere (who had to play the Dipsticks). Barry Schwass scored twice as the Bees won 6-0 at Avon B, but it wasn't enough as the Dipsticks held Cashmere to a 3-3 draw. The Bees missing out on the title on goal difference (a Dipsticks win would have given the Bees the title). The final standings see the Bees second and Dipsticks sixth, with the Bees the form team in the grade having won 8 consecutive matches, and looking forward to the knock-out next week.
Not much good news to report from the women, with the first team losing in the Quarter-Finals of the Reta Fitzpatrick Cup (11 [eleven]-0 to Halswell), and on Sunday the second team lost a hard fought encounter in the Division 1 Cup semi-final, going down 5-3 to league champs Dux de Lux.
6 August 2005
Weekly Soccer Observer reports that Rangers and Burnside High School defender Paris Kerdemelidis has been selected in the 18-player NZ Secondary Schools squad to tour Canada and also play against Australia. Paris has so far made 20 first team appearances for Rangers from 2004-2005.
1 August 2005
Despite losing 1-0 on Saturday at Nomads United (who went top of the Mainland Premier League for less than 24 hours), Rangers have mathematically avoided finishing in the relegation playoff spot in the Mainland Premier League this season. Avon United by losing 6-0 at Western, can now only reach 12 points, while Rangers already have 14.
A late Nathan Wood goal gave the Reserves a 2-1 win at Nomads. The Womens first team had first home league win since 2001 with a 5-3 victory over "Under-18" Mainland. Snows in Mens Div 2 had a good 3-2 win at Universities A. Barrys in Presidents C guaranteed a top 3 finish with a 3-2 win over Woolston, while the Dipsticks held Technical to a 3-3 draw. Both Masters teams had victories, with Division 1 winning 2-0 at Rangiora, and Spikes winning at Parklands. On Sunday, the Womens Div 1 side lost their Cup match 4-1 to Universities. Fortunately the Cup is still in the group stage, and the loss does not mean elimination.
19 July 2005
Paris Kerdemelidis has been credited with Rangers' goal in the English Cup last night, with a shot that hit the post and then took a deflection off the Universities goalkeeper on its way into the goal.
18 July 2005
On a wet and windy night at English Park, Rangers wasted more than a dozen opportunities to score and crashed out of the English Cup in the first round 1-1 (2-4 on penalties) to Universities. Rangers dominated the match from the first minute, when Kazu Yamashita missed one of his many opportunities, shooting straight at the Universities keeper. Rangers had to rely on the Universities goalkeeper putting the ball into his own net following a rebound off the post after 33 minutes. The inevitable happened and Universities broke away and equalised in the 78th minute. With no extra time played in the English Cup this season, it was straight to a penalty shoot-out: Hue Frame scored first for Rangers; captain Mike Harvey, in a club record 20th English Cup appearance, scored from the second Rangers penalty; Kazu Yamashita put his high and wide; and John van Rij's effort was saved. Universities scored all four of their penalties. For the second time this season Rangers have lost a penalty shoot-out without even making it to five penalties. This was a match that on chances created, Rangers should have won more than comfortably.
On Sunday the Rangers Womens Division 1 side failed to get the win over Dux de Lux in their final match of the League that would have given them the title. The Dux won 7-1 (HT 2-1) at Eric Adam Park to take the honours instead, leaving Rangers in second place. Meanwhile on Saturday the Rangers Womens Premiers were brought back to earth (after last week's win) losing 12-1 to New Brighton.
Some good news? On Saturday, Rangers moved above Technical in Mainland Premier League having a 1-1 draw with New Brighton to reach 8th place.
Mens Div 2 (Snows) drew 2-2 with Burnside, the Dipsticks won 5-2 over Avon A, and both Masters teams won. Meanwhile Barry's in Presidents C are guaranteed a top half finish despite not playing a League match this weekend due to an anomaly with the fixture list.
9 July 2005
Another Saturday with Rangers senior teams unbeaten in competition matches. Most remarkable, a sweet victory for the Womens first team in the Premier League, with a Kathy Evans goal leading to a 1-0 win at Western. Mens first team drew 3-3 at Tech, with Reserves winning there 3-0. Snows (mens div 2), Barrys (Pres C), and Masters A all scored 6 each in their wins, while Spikes beat Parklands Black 3-1.
7 July 2005
Mainland Soccer advise that the English Cup tie between Rangers and Universities has again been rescheduled. New date: Monday 18 July 2005, 7.00pm, English Park.
3 July 2005
All Rangers AFC senior teams were unbeaten in matches this weekend. In the Mainland Premier League, a late Hue Frame goal gave Rangers a 2-1 win over Avon. This leaves Avon trailing Rangers by 12 points with 7 matches remaining. Kazu Yamashita had scored early in the first half for Rangers with a diving header. The Reserves had a 1-0 win over Avon with Tom Marsh scoring. The Womens first team had no game due to a round of Uncle Toby's Knock-out scheduled for the weekend. In Mens Division 2, Snows team grabbed a 2-1 win at Ferrymead Bays. In a remarkable match at Cuthberts Green in Presidents C, Rangers Bees were losing 3-1 to Avon A after 20 minutes, but turned it around to lead 7-3 at half-time (including another Joe Kearns hat-trick), eventually Rangers Bees won 7-4. The Dipsticks had a 3-1 win at Nomads, and both Masters teams had draws against Cashmere. The Womens Division 1 side won 3-0 at New Brighton despite having a player sent-off in the first half. Deborah Hamilton and Inga Taw (2) were the scorers.
30 June 2005
Juniors: Round One Report
Congratulations goes to the Junior Youth A team, coached by Phil
Trowbridge, playing in Section 2, they have won the first round and
have gained promotion up to Section 1 for the Cup competition. 13th
Grade Section 3, finished 2nd after the first round and have been
promoted into Section 2 for the Cup competition.
Full report
24 June 2005
Mainland Soccer advise: Rangers mens firsts and reserves matches v Christchurch United (2.45pm and 12.30pm resp.) transferred to QEII Main Stadium tomorrow.
15 June 2005
Mainland
Soccer have issued revised
draws for the Cup competitions.
The English Cup tie v Universities has been brought forward to Monday
20 June, English Pk, 6.15pm
The Reta Fitzpatrick Cup Quarter-Final v Halswell has been put back to
August 13 at Halswell, 12.30pm.
The Reserve Cup semi-final sees Rangers at Technical on 27 August at
Ensors Road at Noon.
6 June 2005
Several Rangers teams got back to winning ways this weekend, notably Rangers Womens first team who recorded their first league win since 3 May 2003 (then a 3-0 win at Halswell). On Saturday in the Womens Premier League, Rangers moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-1 win at U18 Mainland. Shard Nadali and Liz Butland scoring for Rangers.
Mens Reserves also returned to winning form with a 1-0 win over Ferrymead Bays. Barry's team in Presidents Grade had a 6-3 win over Avon B, after two losses that followed a five match winning sequence.
In the Masters, the White team in Division 1 secured a 2-2 draw at Burnside, and Division 4 (Purple) did likewise at Technical, both Rangers' Masters teams having lost the previous week.
On Sunday, Womens Division 1 got back to winning ways, after a hiccup with a 2-2 draw at Western the week before. This week saw Rangers 3-0 up inside ten minutes against Burnside, with Rangers eventually winning 9-0. Rangers are unbeaten, top of the league and playing some stylish football.
Next week we would hope to see the return to winning ways of our mens first team, who on Saturday lost 3-1 at home to Ferrymead Bays, however with a Chatham Cup round scheduled and Rangers already eliminated, it will be up to Mens Division 2 or the Dipsticks in Presidents C to have the next opportunity to regain winning or non-losing ways.
Overseas news, and former Rangers player Nathan Knox on Saturday (USA time) scored his first goal for Minnesota Thunder (appearing as a sub) in a 3-1 win at Charleston Battery in the North American A-League. Knox made his first start for the Thunder on Sunday (USA time) in a 3-0 win at Atlanta Silverbacks, where he picked up a caution after 11 minutes.
22 May 2005
Former Rangers player Nathan Knox has made his debut for Minnesota
Thunder in the USL 1st Division (the 'A-League'), playing 14
minutes as a substitute in a 2-2 draw at Virginia Beach Mariners on
May 20 (USA time).
Match report...
21 May 2005
Comedian and Tottenham Hotspur fan, Peter Cook, once made a quip about supporting his club, something along the lines of 'I can bear the disappointment, it's the hope I can't stand'. In the Chatham Cup Round 2 today, Rangers fans could bear the disappointment of losing on penalties to Halswell, given the good performance of the several Rangers teenage players, but it was the hope of being 2-1 ahead with 5 minutes of normal time remaining, and the hope when Rangers keeper Greg Brand saved a Halswell penalty in the shoot-out, that Rangers supporters couldn't stand! With wet weather in Christchurch postponing all football except Chatham Cup, the match was transferred to Cuthberts Green. Rangers weathered Halswell's early pressure and the home team captain Mike Harvey almost had goal of the season, cleaning up the remnants of a Rangers free-kick and sending the ball towards the top corner of the Hawks goal, going agonisingly wide. Five minutes after half-time, Halswell had the lead, as when they have so many free headers at set pieces one knew sooner or later one would go in. Rangers fought back and midway through the half, after good work from Nathan Wood, the ball hit the post and Hue Frame scored the equaliser from a rebound. Hope began to spring. Within ten minutes, Rangers were ahead with Tom Ward scoring. Hope abounded. But with five minutes to go, Rangers conceded from a corner, 2-2. Deep into extra time, Tom Ward was away down the left wing, and almost skipped over Mike Sands' challenge, to be in on goal (another brief moment of hope), but he was brought down and Sands earned a yellow card. In the penalty shoot-out, Grosvenor scored for Halswell, Jason Stapley had a shot saved, Webster scored for Halswell, Frame did likewise for Rangers. Greg Brand then saved, to make it Halswell ahead 2-1, with Rangers a kick in hand. Nathan Wood put it over the top of crossbar and post. Paul Drummond made it 3-1 Halswell. Andy Grant had to score to keep Rangers alive, but shot wide. Rangers get the chance to avenge today's disappointment, with a match in the Mainland Premier League next week at Halswell.
11 May 2005
Cup draw news, from Mainland Soccer.
10 May 2005
According to NZ Soccer, Rangers have been drawn at home to Halswell United in Chatham Cup Round Two, with the tie to take place 20, 21 or 22 May.
7 May 2005
Two Hue Frame goals gave Rangers a 2-0 win over New Brighton in Round 1 of the Chatham Cup. Mens Division 2 (Snows), Presidents Bee and Masters A all had victories by four goal margins. Premier Youth won seventeen-nil over Ellesmere, and 15th Girls beat Brighton eleven-nil.
2 May 2005
Nelson Suburbs assistant coach John Brydon is quoted in the Nelson Mail as saying Rangers goalkeeper, Greg Brand had a "great game" yesterday. Although, Rangers lost 1-0 up in Nelson with what is being described as a "brilliant" Jeremy Brockie individual goal. The result means Rangers are now in seventh place in the Mainland Premier League.
26 April 2005
According to Canterbury Soccer Referees Association, Rangers have been drawn at home to New Brighton in Chatham Cup Round One, with the tie to take place at Eric Adam Park, 2.30pm, 7 May.
15 April 2005
Mike Harvey made his 318th appearance for Rangers first team, moving ahead of Jeff Blackburn. Rangers lost 2-1 to Technical in the Mainland Premier League at English Park, with Mike Harvey putting the ball into the net during the first half but it was disallowed with the linesman's flag having been raised for another player being offside before the ball reached Harvey. Technical scored after 19 minutes when a defensive mix-up on Rangers' left let Nyoman Sanjuku in to score. Jason Stapley and Andrew Saunders were both booked by referee Ian Walker in the 42nd minute, Stapley having gone to ground when he was obstructed in the Tech penalty area. Rangers had their fair share of goalscoring opportunities, including a Jason Stapley free header from eight yards in the centre which went wide, but couldn't get the equaliser. Technical scored a second from a corner which Steve McLeod put in the 89th minute. With Technical reduced to ten players following a sending-off for two bookable offences, Jason Stapley got his name on the score-sheet for the third consecutive match in time added on at the end of the match. Rangers remain top of the league, pending results of matches tomorrow and Sunday.
9 April 2005
After occupying the top of the table for less than 24 hours last week, Rangers reclaimed first place in the Mainland Premier League with a 3-1 win at Avon United, with Nelson Subs held 2-2 at Halswell. Mike Harvey equalled the club record for mens first team appearances, attaining his 317th to match Jeff Blackburn. Will he break the record at English Park v Technical on Friday night 7pm? Find out by coming along and cheering on our top of the table side.
In other results, Reserves, Snows (Div 2), and Presidents Bee picked up their first wins of the season, while the Spikes continued their unbeaten run since 25 July last year, extending it to 4 games (5 if you count a postponement), with a win over Tech. Meanwhile, Masters A picked up their first point of the season.
30 March 2005
As the club's administration is moving under the Linfield Sports office there are some changes to the Club's contact details.
The new postal address is:
PO Box 24-142
Christchurch
The e-mail contact for administration matters is:
rangers@linfield.co.nz
note: however, the e-mail address for items related to this
website remains unchanged
The major point of contact for the club is our Development
Officer:
Michael De Bono:
email rangers@linfield.co.nz
phone (03) 389-3007
fax (03) 389-9433
mobile (027) 258-2145
Halswell United are Rangers Tournament Champions for the second consecutive year and third time in their history, beating Nomads United 2-1 in the Final at Eric Adam Park today. J. Campbell opened the scoring for Halswell after quarter of an hour with a shot that Nomads keeper, Jordan Buchanan, got an arm to but still trickled under his body into the net. Luke Petrie equalised for Nomads midway through the half. Near the half-hour mark, Jonathan Deaker muscled Buchanan off the ball and Keith Grosvenor feeding on the scraps put in a cross (or shot?) that flashed across the goalmouth. Nomads' Nick Tither, with no Halswell player near him, miskicked his clearance of the cross/shot and the ball went into his own goal. Halswell hung on in a scrappy second half to reverse the scoreline of their first match of this year's Rangers Tournament and claim the trophy.
In the early kick-off, Rangers comfortably beat Technical 2-1 to claim 3rd place in the Tournament. Twenty minutes in, Hue Frame had a header cleared off the line, after good aerial work by Andy Grant at a corner. Frame was just wide with a header ten minutes later, following a cross from the left. Hue Frame got his headed goal for Rangers in the 39th minute, after a Tom Ward chip over the keeper hit the crossbar, Frame reached the ball before the Technical defender and headed it in from a short distance. With an hour gone, Rangers were 2-0 up, Tom Ward rounding the Tech keeper and slotting home, after nice work from Jason Stapley. Ben Light grabbed a consolation goal for Tech in the last minute.
With the Rangers Womens first team hosting Wakefield from Nelson in a series of pre-season matches, it was left to what was mainly the Rangers womens division 2 side to face Western in the Final of the New Brighton Tournament. Despite leading 3-1 and 4-2 during the second half, tired and injured Rangers legs faded and lost 5-4 in golden goal extra time. It is a pity that Rangers did not have the depth in numbers available (due to first team squad's prior commitments), which would have allowed some substitutions and fresh energy to hold the lead against a Western team that featured three National League players. Nevertheless, the Rangers team in the Brighton Tournament has at times played some sparkling football, with memorable moments, and has been a credit to the club.
A golden goal, 3 minutes into extra time, saw Halswell United beat Rangers 2-1 in the semi-finals of the Rangers Tournament. Rangers failed to clear a corner properly and S Neame fired a powerful shot into the net to put Halswell into the Final against Nomads United (Sunday 3pm, Eric Adam Park). Rangers will play Technical in the 3rd place playoff at 1pm, Sunday. Halswell started the match strongly. Jonathan Deaker scoring within the first quarter of an hour. Rangers equalised midway through the first half, with Jason Stapley scoring a penalty after being brought down in the area. Both teams enjoyed periods of dominance during the match, but were unable to further the scoring until Halswell broke the deadlock in extra time.
In the first semi-final, Nomads beat Technical 4-2 in a match full of goalscoring opportunities, where Nomads took the lead in the 25th minute with a Nick Tither penalty. Ten minutes later it was 2-0, when a shot by A Pitman hit the post and rebounded out onto the Tech goalkeeper, ricocheting backwards into the net. Two minutes later, Nathan Knox scored for Tech, and at half-time Nomads led 2-1. Goals to Luke Petrie and Craig Squire saw Nomads leading 4-1 within 5 minutes of the restart. Stu Kelly reduced the deficit to 4-2 with two minutes remaining in the match.
A hat-trick from defender Andy Grant ensured Rangers a place in the semi-finals of the Rangers Tournament, with a 4-0 win over Avon United. The other goal coming from a Robbie Prescott cross that an Avon defender put into his own net. Mike Harvey and C. McKenna both hit the crossbar for Rangers in the second half. Rangers also had a goal disallowed for offside, following a Nathan Wood one-on-one opportunity that the Avon keeper initially saved.
Nomads United beat Christchurch United 2-0 to qualify second from Group A and set up a semi-final meeting with Technical 6.15pm Weds. Halswell United qualified top of the Group and will play Rangers in the other semi-final at 8pm Wednesday. Both matches at Eric Adam Park.
With Deane Hutchinson sent off after quarter of an hour, Ferrymead Bays slumped to a 4-0 loss to Halswell United, with the Hawks qualifying for the semi-finals of the Rangers Tournament from Group A. Keith Grosvenor converted two penalties late in the second half. Nomads play Christchurch United on Sunday to determine whether Nomads or Bays will join Halswell in the semis.
In Group B, Technical assured qualification as group winners, beating Western 3-1. Rangers need at least a point against Avon (Sunday 3pm) to ensure qualification without resorting to goal difference.
Technical adapted better to the strong Norwester blowing down Eric Adam Park to beat Rangers 1-0 in Group B of the Rangers Tournament. Shortly after the hour, Technical, attacking with the wind behind them, scored with a long-range Ben Light shot that Rangers keeper L. Taylor, diving high to his right, could only push over his head into his top left hand corner of the goal. For Rangers, Mike Harvey made his 312th first team appearance moving into clear second place on the list of appearances, overtaking Grant Hughes. Harvey is now only 5 behind Jeff Blackburn. Rangers struggled to find the right weight on their long passes, but managed to create a couple of first half opportunities, with Jason Stapley trying to backflick a cross at the near post, but having it saved by the Tech keeper. Another goalmouth scramble a few minutes later saw Rangers unable to apply the finishing touch. In the second half neither side created many chances (despite Tech's fielding of players such as Stuart Kelly from the recent NZ Football Championship). Rangers best chance of the second half fell to centre-back A. Grant, who had been upfield for a free-kick, when it was only half-cleared and was fed through to him unmarked in the middle of Tech's penalty area. Unfortunately his shot was also directed towards the centre of the Tech goal and was caught rather too easily by the Tech keeper. The result leaves Rangers third in the table, although a victory by a margin of at least two goals over Avon on Sunday will guarantee Rangers qualify for the semi-finals. But with Western playing Tech on Wednesday night the requirement may be lessened.
A hat-trick to Karen Gunn and two goals to Shard Nadali gave Rangers 5-0 half-time lead over New Brighton A. Rangers went on to win 7-2 and establish a clear lead in the New Brighton Womens Tournament. It was a superb first-half performance from Rangers on a warm day at Bexley. Rangers played with intelligent passing, working for each other and making the most of opportunities presented. It was backed up by some solid goalkeeping on the rare occasions Brighton that mounted attacks. In the second half, with the game as much as won, Rangers relaxed more and each side scored twice.
Rangers make a winning start to the Rangers Tournament with a 3-1 win over Western. Despite the returns of "Rangers stalwart" Jason Stapley (7 goals in his last 2 first team games back in 2001) and Andrew Saunders (scored in his last match for Rangers shirt for the Reserves v Halswell first team in the 2001 Rangers Tournament), the Rangers goals tonight came from three players making their debut. This has sent the Rangers historians scurrying away to find out when the last time 3 players have scored on first team debut in the same match for Rangers. No, not Gavin Jeffs (4 on debut in 2001 - what was it about that year?), they have to be 3 different players!* Well, tonight it was John van Rij, Hue Frame, and Tom Ward. Western dominated the match for the first seventy minutes with only a handful of corners and a couple of Mike Harvey long range efforts to show for Rangers. Western were ruing their missed opportunities with the halftime score 0-0. Five minutes into the second half, Rangers failed to organise and clear a Western free-kick leaving Mike Jones to give Western a 1-0 lead. With a new coach (Harry McCosh), and only 4 players from the last match of the 2004 season in tonight's playing squad, Rangers struggled to create anything until the 70th minute when a long range Hue Frame lob hit the Western crossbar. This seemed to instill belief in the Rangers side and, 2 minutes later, halftime sub John van Rij prodded home a goalmouth scramble to equalise. With 88 minutes on the clock, attacking the carpark end, Hue Frame hit a screaming shot from the left to inside the far post, 2-1. In stoppage time, a woeful Western backpass beat their own keeper and it became a foot race between the Rangers players to see who could tap the ball into the empty net, with Tom Ward scoring to give Rangers a somewhat flattering 3-1 scoreline.
* In 1987, W. Bath, M. Cowen, G. Hoggan (4) and G. Clark all scored on debut in a 10-0 win over Halswell in the Rangers Tournament.
Rangers AFC 2004 Yearbook Compiled by Jim Hawkey From records by Eric Adam. On sale during Rangers Tournament. $2 from Jim Hawkey in the clubrooms or Lee Hawkey in the shop. 108 pages.
After losing 3-2 at Napier City, Canterbury United can no longer make the NZFC playoffs. Canterbury are 7 points behind 3rd placed Waikato, but have only 2 matches remaining. With the NZFC semi-final scheduled to kick-off during the Rangers v Technical match in the Rangers Tournament, that's one less excuse not to attend Eric Adam Park on Sunday 6 March.
Monique Clark scored within a minute of appearing as a 15th minute sub on her Rangers debut, as Rangers beat New Brighton B 4-1 in the opening round of the New Brighton Womens Tournament. Karen Gunn added a second for Rangers, before New Brighton pulled a goal back before half-time. Monique Clark, sister of Nicole (34 first team womens games for Rangers 2002-2004), scored her second 15 minutes into the second half, heading home a Shard Nadali cross. Inga Taw made it 4-1 to Rangers with ten minutes remaining, when instead of falling for a penalty, after having her ankles clipped, she shot high into the net at the near post.
The draw for the 2005 Mainland Premier League has
been released by Mainland Soccer. Rangers start on Saturday 2 April
(2.45pm), at home (Eric Adam Park) to Christchurch United. Features of
the draw include a "home" game against Technical at English
Park, 7.00pm, Friday 15 April. The away trip (in the League) to Nelson
Suburbs is set for Sunday 1 May (Saxton, 1pm).
Follow this link for Rangers' Mainland League
fixtures
or this link
for Mainland Soccer, where you can download the full draw as a PDF
19 January 2005
The draw for the 2005 Rangers Tournament has Rangers
in Group B with Technical, Avon United and Western. Group A has
Halswell United, Ferrymead Bays, Nomads United and Christchurch
United. The Tournament begins on Wednesday 23 February at 6.15pm with
Bays v Christchurch United. Rangers' first match is Thursday 24
February (8pm) v Western. Matches will be Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24
(6.15pm and 8pm) and, from 2 March, every Wednesday (6.15pm and 8pm)
and Sunday (1pm and 3pm). The top two in each group qualify for the
semi-finals. The Final is on Sunday 20 March at 3pm. All matches at
Eric Adam Park.
Follow this link for full fixture list for the
Tournament.