Match Reports
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Saturday November 28th 2009
Saturday November 21st 2009
Reeves Rangers Whites vs. Ascot United Jaguars
After last week’s toils secured top place in the league (again), this fixture was an opportunity to stretch their lead and put some points between them and the chasing pack.
Today’s opponents, Ascot United Jaguars, were comfortably mid-table, with a couple of good victories behind them.
Confidence was high with a full squad to choose from, and the return of Gaffer Brown to direct his willing troops.
The game kicked off in relatively nice weather with the sun doing it’s best to counter a chilly breeze.
RR were doing what they do best; protecting the ball from their opponents with crisp and snappy passing.
Kian put in a couple of tackles, and one of his forays down the wing, ghosted past a defender wining the first corner to RR; which unfortunately resulted in an easy clearance for AUJ.
Charlie belted the ball against the bar, but the ball was cleared from the rebound.
But the first goal was soon to arrive.
A break down the left, the ball to Charlie, who placed the ball past the diving keeper and into the corner of the goal. 1-0
And with the very next attack, the score was doubled.
This season, the ‘fox in the box’ - Harry, has proved to be deadly; this time calmly passing the ball past the AUJ goalie. 2-0
Although most of the pressure was be exerted by RR, the AUJ were still dangerous on the attack. One such attack allowed a one on one with Ethan. However, the slightly off colour Ethan proved more than a match for the oncoming striker, and bravely dived at the player’s feet to extinguish the AUJ attack.
Half Time 2-0
Confidence was high from the AUJ management team, believing that playing down hill in the second half, would give them a distinct advantage.
However, they were oblivious to the statistic that it is in this period that RR get most of their goals.
The second half started off like most of the first half – RR had all the possession and played all of the football.
And the pressure told. A break away from Harry allowed him to score his second, and RR’s third of the day 3-0
A brief loss of concentration allowed AUJ to break away and score a goal 3-1
However, order was returned seconds later when a throw from Charlie was crossed by Miles, to allow Conner to score a goal that all of his hard work deserved. 4-1
And now the flood gates were opened.
Man of the match, Mark Ellis, then ran the length of the pitch to be the end of a pass to make it 5-1
And then 5-1 became 6-1 with the best move of the afternoon. Crisp passing between Kian, Harry and Mark, presented Miles with the opportunity to bury the ball in the net.
And then with minutes remaining, Harry cemented another excellent performance with a goal to earn himself yet another hatrick.
I don’t know the statistics, but Harry must be leading the league’s ‘golden boot’ away for the top scorer by country mile!
And then with the game already won, RR allowed AUJ to get a cancellation goal with the final kick of the game.
7-2 to Reeves. A commanding performance after last week’s struggle.
With some tough games coming over the next few weeks, RR are now the team to beat in the league.
More of the same will do nicely!!
Team: 1 Ethan Morgan, 3 Connor Coutts, 4 Myles Still, 7 Mark Ellis, 10 Harry Nave, 11 Charlie Kinch; 9 Kian Lees
Subs: 2. Balraj Bahra, 8 Sam Brown, Louis Parker
Motm: Mark Ellis.
Saturday November 21st 2009
Reeves Rangers Whites vs. Laurel Park Hurricanes
The first thing of note was no ‘Gaffer’ Brown. Was it because, like Alex Fergusson, he was banned from the touchline for giving too much abuse to the match officials. No.
Was it because, like Sam Alladyce, he was about to undergo a serious operation. No.
It was due to his need to swan off to visit art galleries on West Sussex!!
How would the team do without his steadying hand on the tiller? Read on…
Having lost their top spot due to a postponed match, a win would allow them to return to their rightful place on top of the table.
And today’s opponents, currently mid-table should provide not too great a challenge.
Reeves were met with an uneven boggy pitch for the game. How would this affect their expansive ‘Wenger like’ passing game?
Mmmm….????
The game was to prove Reeves’ toughest match to date.
First half the game was end to end. Reeves had their fair share of chances, but did not put their keeper under too much pressure.
However, Laurel Park created the clearer cut chances. After 10 minutes a shot at goal was pushed away around the post by Ethan; only for the resulting corner to result in a scramble and the ball hitting the post. Reeves were riding their luck.
Half time couldn’t come soon enough. And it was a relief to get in at 0-0 and review where we could improve.
The second half kicked off. Laurel Park went straight onto the attack, through the Reeves defence and GOAL!! 0-1
The Reeves players completely lost concentration.
For the first time in the season, they had their backs to the wall and were under pressure. How would they react? Seconds later we would find out!
Virtually from the kick off, the ball was worked through the middle and reached Charlie. After a neat one/two, raced towards goal and calmly slotted the ball into the corner. 1-1
And within minutes it was 2-1.
This time the industrious Sam hit a shot which was only parried by the Laurel Park keeper, and while others dithered, Myles reacted quickest to bang in that all important second.
This was the start of Reeves’ best spell. Shots by Sam and Conner both troubled the Laurel Park goalie.
But Laurel Park hadn’t given up. A couple of break aways, a couple of shots, and a couple of saves by Ethan.
Ethan was having his busiest game so far for Reeves. But managed to thwart everything that Laurel Park could throw at him – catching, parrying, kicking – what ever was needed!
With minutes to go, another attack by Laurel Park. The shot hit the post again.
Final score 2-1 to Reeves Rangers.
A very very lucky escape!
The man of the match award was always going to be between Ethan, for his saves, or Myles for his all important goal.
And the award went to Myles!!
So, top of the league again. A 100% record. But to keep that position and that record, they need to improve on this performance; especially with the game vs. Windsor just over the horizon.
Team: 1 Ethan Morgan, 3 Connor Coutts, 7 Mark Ellis, 8 Sam Brown, 10 Harry Nave, 11 Charlie Kinch; 4 Myles Still
Subs: 2. Balraj Bahra; 9 Kian Lees, Louis Parker
Motm: Myles Still.
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Saturday November 7th, 2009Reeves Rangers White vs Laurel Park Tornadoes (Cup)
At 7 o’clock on Friday evening when we were experiencing torrential rain, it was hard to see it clearing by the morning for our first match in defence of the Trophy we so magnificently won last season! But by 7 o’clock on Saturday morning Wokingham was covered by wall to wall blue sky. Perfect!
This was the 2nd time in as many weeks that Reeves Rangers were playing Laurel Park. Last week’s 6 – 1 Victory must still have been at the back of everyone’s minds. But it is easy to rest on one’s laurels ! Reeves had to go out and play well enough to ensure our place in the next round.
Shooting downhill , Reeves went straight on the attack, gaining a corner in the
first two minutes. Nothing came of this. Laurel Park followed with a swift throw in and launched an attack which was thwarted by Mark Ellis. Minutes later Laurel Park attacked again, this time they were close enough to take a shot on target which was cleared by Connor Coutts.
Reeves immediately launched a counter attack but after one of the infamous ‘Reeves Scrambles’ around the goal mouth……no goal.
Minutes later a throw in ( or was it a launch ? ) by Charlie Kinch landed in the box. Connor Coutts turned on a sixpence, took his first shot of the match and gooooaall ! ……………………………………… ……………..1 – 0
A loose ball picked up by Harry Nave from the half way line, saw him making a solo run towards the Laurel Park Goal. Go Harry Go ! were the cries from the excited loyal spectators……………………………… 2 – 0
Another Reeves attack with Harry Nave clean through, he takes a shot, missed by inches. This was quickly followed by another attack, Harry Nave taking a running shot, missed by inches! Quickly came another attack, Connor Coutts shoots, missed by inches!! Okay boys enough is enough. There is only so much we parents can take!
Sam Brown playing well in midfield, kicked a great ball in from the right, it found Harry Nave in the box who slotted it in under the goal keeper with the outside of his right foot………………………………………….3 – 0
A clean through by Charlie Kinch, passed to Harry Nave who was hungry for another hat trick. Although the Laurel Park keeper was slow off the mark he pulled off a great save.
Laurel Park launched an attack, Poor marking by Reeves resulted in allowing
the opposition a very slack goal……………………………… 3 – 1
The Reeves Manager Stuart at this point was very vocal ! Not a happy man ! As if the team could sense this, they pulled themselves together to display some skilful football, culminating in a fantastic attack by Charlie Kinch, who slipped the ball to Harry Nave. The Laurel Park keeper made a brave attempt to save it, but it rolled sweetly into the back of the net ……. 4 – 1
Balraj Bahra played consistently throughout the first half tackling well and not giving up even when he was up against 2 or 3 of the opposition at a time! There was some great passing between the team and Reeves continued to attack right up to the half time whistle
Half Time. 4 – 1.
The second half started with an attack from Laurel Park, which ended in a good save by Ethan Morgan. In response, Reeves immediately took the ball to the other end of the pitch where a fantastic cross by Connor Coutts found Charlie Kinch who took the shot………just wide !
Another fantastic cross by Connor Coutts , deflected straight back to him, takes a shot, which like many others today went narrowly wide !
Laurel Park making a strong attack decided to join in the ‘wide game’ and a great shot from their striker….went narrowly wide !
A LP throw in which reached the box, was superbly cleared by Charlie Kinch, which released the ball for another Reeves attack, with Connor Coutts making the run. Corner to Reeves, another corner, then a breakaway by Laurel Park to have a shot on target which was saved by Ethan Morgan. Laurel Park corner, ball cleared, another corner, ball cleared but this time in the right direction ! An excellent run by Myles Still and Harry Nave ended with Myles Still taking a shot which was saved by the keeper.
Louis Parker came onto the pitch and some good defending resulted in a corner for Laurel Park, but they could not find the net. Minutes later Connor Coutts made what the home supporters thought was an awesome slide tackle, the referee did not see it through the same eyes and awarded Laurel Park a free kick just outside the box. Luckily for Reeves it went over the post.
The goal kick ,which was picked up by the Laurel Park centre forward who then took the ball down the pitch intent on finding the back of the Reeves net, great finish, ………………………………………………… 4 – 2
Just as the Reeves Manager’s influence on his team seemed to be waning, he pulled off a master stroke and brought Harry Nave back onto the pitch.
Within seconds a great clearance by Myles Still from a corner, found Charlie Kinch who passed to Harry Nave… clean through…………. 5 – 2
Laurel Park went on the attack and chipped the ball over the keeper’s head into the far corner………………………………………………..5 – 3
A corner from Harry Nave, a shot from Charlie Kinch, saved by the keeper.
Laurel Park continued to attack and put the pressure on. But with a 5 -3 lead the Reeves boys were still looking for another goal. They did not wait long. A great run by Harry Nave down the left, passing the ball across the goal mouth, it finds Myles Still, who takes a shot………..gooooooaaaalllllll, the first goal for him this season…………………………………………………..6 – 3
Full Time Result 6 - 3
Laurel Park battled hard and kept fighting till the last whistle, but after an exciting game, Reeves Rangers White go through to the next round of the Cup when they play Ascot United Jaguars on December 12th.
The team played well today. Again, there were great individual performances, however this weeks Man of the Match award went to Balraj Bahra for overall performance and effort.
Team. 1. Ethan Morgan, 2 Balraj Bahra 3. Connor Coutts, 7. Mark Ellis, 8 Sam Brown,
10. Harry Nave 11. Charlie Kinch,
Subs. Myles Still Louis Parker
MOTM Balraj Bahra
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Saturday October 31st, 2009
Reeves Rangers Whites vs. Laurel Park Tornadoes
Saturday the 31st of October. Halloween. The day of spooks and horrors.
Were we in for a ‘trick’ or were we in for a ‘treat’?
The opposition this week were, based on league position, lambs for the slaughter.
However, based on recent first half performances, Reeves could take nothing for granted.
Reeves only had eight players on this damp, but warm, autumnal morning, but were fired-up in the knowledge that a win would take them to the top of the league for the first time this season.
Reeves were set up-in the usual, tried and tested, formation.
Ethan in goal. Mark sweeping up at the back. Charlie and Connor bossing the midfield. Sam and Kian on the wings. And Harry the loan striker.
Reeves were on the attack right from the start. A couple of attacks; a couple of corners; all that led to nothing.
But the closest to a goal in the first10 minuets were Laurel Park; a swift break, a cross, but fortunately no LPT player could get on the end of it.
After a couple of snap shots by Harry that went wide and a cracker by Balraj that just rose over the bar.
And then the first goal. Connor won the ball in midfield. He slid the ball through to Harry, who calmly placed the ball past the LPT goalie. A great finish.
Reeves pushed on looking for the second. One foray forward left the Reeves defence exposed. A quick break. A one on one with Ethan.
But Ethan kept his cool. Blocked the shot, allowing Mark to clear the ball away to safety.
A break for Reeves. A though ball to Kian and a good save by the LPT keeper. Were Reeves going to be foiled by another class goal keeping performance?
We would soon get our answer.
A quick and long throw by Charlie put Harry through again. Showing the same calmness as for the first goal, Harry passed the ball past the keeper. 2-0.
Five minutes later. Another quick throw. Another through ball. Another goal by you know who? 3-0. A first half hatrick
Half time 3-0. And finally a half time that parents could enjoy.
Second half kicks off to more of the same.
Good work though the middle freed Sam to bang in a shot.
And then another from Harry.
And then the pressure began to tell. A break by Harry resulting in a shot that the goalie could only parry; allowing Kian to anticipate the save and to calmly pass the ball into the net.
4-0!!
Another attack. Another long shot by Balraj that the goalie again could only parry. Kian follows up again only for the keeper to make another fine save.
And then 5-0. Another throw by Charlie. Another pass to Harry. Another goal.
A week before bonfire night and Harry was on fire!!
And then….. Ten minutes way from their first clean sheet of the season, Reeves let it slip. A nice move by LPT results in their only goal of the day. 5-1
Reeves then won another throw, with the usual result.
A throw by Charlie, the ball through the middle to Harry. Bang! 6-1.
And then, with the game already well won, Reeves won a penalty following a hand-ball.
Who would take it?
Harry looking for his sixth? The defensive wall that is Mark? The always industrious Charlie?
The Gaffer gave to Balraj, rewarding his all round sound performance.
He ran up and smashed it hard. It was on its way to the roof of the net, until the finger-tips of the keeper pushed it over the bar. Unlucky!
The final whistle. 6-1. With a magnificent five goals to the superb Harry.
Reeves Ranger Whites:
Top of the league. Five games played. Five wins. A goal difference of +16
In the past it has identified concentration as a key area to work on. So what did we lean from today?
Anticipation. At least four goals came from Charlie’s throwings. Once the team were on the same wavelength as Charlie, and realised he has the strength to launch the ball forward, we were creating a number of one on ones with their keeper. Also, on a wet greasy pitch, it was difficult for keepers to hold on to the ball. One goal and three chances came from following in on from their team mates’ shots.
Trick or Treat? Today was definitely a Treat. A great performance.
A couple of weeks ago, a certain Mr Steve Bruce made a completely moronic decision to give David Beckham man of the match during an
Could a certain Gaffer Brown get the man of the match decision equally as wrong?
Not a chance. There was a team full of very good performances today, however due to his outstanding goal-getting performance; Harry was deservingly given the award.
Team: 1 Ethan Morgan, 3 Connor Coutts, 7 Mark Ellis, 8 Sam Brown, 9 Kian Lees, 10 Harry Nave, 11 Charlie Kinch;
Subs: 2. Balraj Bahra
Motm: Harry Nave
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Saturday October 17th 2009
Reeves Rangers 5 Woodley Saints Panthers 2
Three wins out of three. The only 100% record in league. Optimism was sky-high for the visit of Woodley Saints Panthers; a team that Reeves beat convincingly only two weeks earlier.
They also had the additional good news of having a fit again Louis Parker.
The game kicked of on a chilly, cloudy morning to the usual fare. Straight on to the attack with four forays forward in the first five minutes; however none of them managed to work the Woodley goal-keeper
After seven minutes, some good work down the left created a chance for Connor, who worked the keeper to win the first corner of the game.
Then the first attack of the day by Woodley. Sloppy play in the midfield, allowed them to break, but a combination of tackling back and goalkeeping from Ethan made sure their attack was extinguished quickly.
But this attack, and the numbers Woodley sent forward, left them exposed at the back. Reeves countered at pace giving them a three versus two, resulting in a good shot from Sam.
Soon after, Sam was again involved; this time winning the ball allowing Charlie’s first shot – and significantly not his last – at goal.
Another scramble, another corner to Reeves. Another corner, another scramble.
Then there was the scramble of all scrambles where every Reeves player must have had a shot…maybe even Ethan!!
Was there a goal coming?
Regular watchers of Reeves this season know this feeling well:
First half, tons of pressure, but difficult to get the first goal.
On the 3rd of December 1982, in Accra, Ghana, Michael Essien was born. Seventeen years later on the 16th of June in Berkshire, England, Charlie Kinch came in to this world.
Other than 17 years, the colour of their skin, erm…and a few inches, you would not be able to tell them apart.
Box to box. Creating chances. Winning tackles. And scoring goals. Charlie was unstoppable.
The half way through the first half Reeves eventually made the break through. Corner from the left. Charlie takes a touch. Bang 1-0.
Half time 1-0
Soon after half time, Reeves got their all important second goal. A break down the left. Ball across to Charlie. 2-0
Within minutes it was 3-0. Harry broke down the middle. He beat one player. He beat another, then another, a shot, a parry from the keeper, and then Mark, escaping out of defence, was there to pass the ball into the net.
And then within seconds it was 4-0.
A run by Connor. A pass to Harry. And then a goal that his excellent performance deserved.
At this point it is worth mentioning the performance of Miles down the right.
OK, it may be too late to push himself in front of Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott in the running for the right midfield berth of the England team for the World Cup in South Africa, however this reporter already has him in front of the overrated bloke from LA Galaxy!!
Miles was covering the whole of the right hand side. Defending at the back, supporting the midfield. And creating chances up front.
And it was from one of his forages forward that the fifth Reeves goal was created. He worked it down the right, a pass to the No.9. Whack! 5-0
Could they get a sixth? Seventh? Or even an eighth? Unfortunately no.
Credit to the Woodley Keeper. If not for a number of superb stops they could have been facing a rugby score.
Now, a lesson for the Reeves Rangers players.
Not a football lesson. They are playing too well for one of these.
Concentration: con-cen-tra-tion: noun. The act of exclusive attention to one object; close mental application
For the third game running, after scoring goals, they allowed the opposition to get goals they didn’t deserve to concede.
Two quick break-a-way goals scored against them!
And it could have been a third but for a last gasp tackle by Louis.
Final score 5-2.
This left a very difficult decision for Gaffer Brown. Who could he chose to be man of the match which so many choices to choose from? For his excellent attacking form, scoring a goal and creating another, the prize was given to Harry.
Another fantastic performance! Third in the league. Four wins out of four.
The future is blue….and white hoops!!
Team: 1 Ethan Morgan, 3 Connor Coutts, 7 Mark Ellis, 8 Sam Brown, 9 Kian Lees, 10 Harry Nave, 11 Charlie Kinch;
Subs: 2. Balraj Bahra, Louis Parker, 4 Myles Still;
Motm: Harry Nave.
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Saturday October 10th 2009
Reeves Rangers 2 Whitegrove Pythons 1
Was football made for days like this, or were days like this made for football?
After last week’s first taste of winter, the team were greeted to a glorious warm and sunny morning.
After two reasonably comfortable wins, and playing a team three paces below them in the league, optimism was high.
The game kicked off and followed the same pattern as previous weeks.
All the possession, the quality and the offensive play came from Reeves.
An early onslaught from Reeves resulted in four shots at goal, particularly Harry putting the Whitegrove keeper under pressure; the only response from the opposition was a long shot that sailed over the bar.
Finally the Reeves’ pressure began to tell.
Myles and Connor worked the ball down the left. Connor’s cross came to the Reeves No.9. His shot was parried on to the post, but the quick thinking Harry banged in the goal that Reeves’ well and truly deserved.
Whitegrove tried to respond and a few minute later three of their players broke away, but Mark, reassuringly, was there to bring there attack to an end.
Charlie and Connor were now commanding the centre of the park. Tackles were being won, and crisp passes to their team mates were setting up further attacks were being completed.
More shots on goal to Reeves. Another from Kian. One from Connor.
Like previous weeks’, the second goal was proving difficult to find.
After 19 Minutes a shot from distance by Mark was pushed wide resulting in yet another corner to Reeves.
Soon after there was a brief break for the action, when Mark received a knock, however to the relief of team mates, he was back on his feet in moments.
Again, and against the run of play, Whitegrove broke away, however that attack was brought to a close by a smart tackle by Connor.
The first substitutions brought Balraj and Sam on to the pitch, this just added to the dominance that Reeves were enjoying.
Another one/two resulted in another shot for the industrious Connor.
Reeves won a free kick near the half way line. Another great hit by Mark was only parried by their keeper and then the resulting shot by Connor was cleared off the line.
Yet another corner to Reeves. Balraj found some height but Reeves were unable to make it count.
Even though Reeves were dominating, there was always the risk of a counter attack by Whitegrove. On 25 mins one of their few attacks of the half resulted in a crisp shot was saved by the ever alert Ethan.
Half Time. A deserved lead to Reeves, however as any one will tell you – when you only lead by a single goal, you are always vulnerable to a sucker punch by the opposition.
The second half started and Whitegrove were now giving as good as they got.
After 34 overs of a one day game of cricket, the ball is changed; and it can result in a change of momentum. After 34 mins of the game, the ball was deemed to be flat and was replaced a much more inflated version. From now on, the game was far more even.
The next attack by Whitegrove was quickly extinguished by the ever reliable Mark, who shielded the ball away from their attacker to win a goal kick for Reeves.
Reeves were still creating chances. Another shot by Harry. Another attack by Whitegrove, only to be brought to an end with a strong tackle by Charlie
This resulted in Whitegrove’s first corner of the match.
The corner caused mayhem in the Reeves area and were fortunate that the final shot reared high over the bar.
A let off for Reeves. How would they respond to this kind of pressure; the first time they had experienced it this season??
Corner to Reeves. A breakaway from Whitegrove. A save by Ethan.
Another save by Ethan.
5 minutes left and Reeves are hanging on.
Under pressure, Reeves broke out and a shot by the No.9 resulted on a good save by their keeper.
However on the very next attack, Harry cracked a shot which hit the post, only for the No.9 to smack the ball into the back of the net.
Goooooooooooal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And now for a nice easy, enjoyable, relaxing four minutes. Right??
WRONG!!
On the very next attack, whilst Reeves were still congragulating each other; a brief loss of concentration resulted in a goal to Whitegrove.
A long ball through the middle, a pass, a goa
