There were goals galore on Saturday when Plains Rangers hosted Tauranga City
United One at the Edgecumbe Domain in BOP division two.
The game started off in very even fashion. The visitors, with their contingent of four
Brazilian players to the fore, attacked well and tested out the home team defence. The
midfield contest was a good one, although the tackling of Jason Pullar and Bas
Overdevest secured more ball than their opposites. Rangers also attacked with
confidence, and some good combinations put pressure on the Tauranga City team. As
the half developed, Rangers created more and more chances. Dan Logan had a couple
of good attempts saved, Bas Overdevest went close with powerful strikes from two
corners. Finally the goal came, Aaron Muggeridge ran at the defence and then slipped
the ball to Logan who squeezed it into the goal. At half time the game was in the
balance at 1 - 0 to the Edgecumbe team.
Shortly after the break, the ball was fed to player of the day Muggeridge. His snap
turn and strike was superb, ending up in the top right corner of goal. Some of the fight
seemed to go from the visitors, and when they left Logan to run half the pitch and
finish well, the writing was on the wall. The Tauranga team’s defence was in tatters.
Overdevest scored next, then Muggeridge finished a one-on-one with the keeper. An
excellent Overdevest drive from 20 metres had the floodgates fully open.
Player-coach David Dennis got in on the act, scoring from a corner, and Brendan
Cusack completed the rout, burying a penalty into the corner of the goal. The final
score was Plains Rangers 8, Tauranga City United One 0.
The Rangers team are in excellent form at the moment, and can only rue their slow
start in this division. Aaron Muggeridge was in great form, and there was no argument
about his player of the match award, though he was well supported by rest of the
team. This Saturday Rangers will have to cool their heels as the second round of the
Tasman Cup is played. After that, Rangers have only two league games left.