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After a disappointing September in the Goose camp, excluding an impressive win against Broxbourne Saints on the opening day of the season, today the Geese took on PT Rangers in the Roy Bailey Challenge Cup. Graham Wicks’ injury bed remained full this week as half-a-dozen players were unfit. Steve Adamson is still out with a groin strain and son Chris is out with a pulled hamstring. Daniel Jordan was also out with a broken nose whilst Matt Cully was chasing little people in Ireland. Peter Enefer was also unavailable for selection.
It was important for the Geese to get off to a good start, having not won their last two competitive games. They did just that, forcing Rangers back, having the majority of possession and creating a handful of early chances. But the best chance at this stage came to the opposition who fired in a low free-kick. On a strict diet of pond water, Rob Cully made a great double save, also palming away the rebound.
The Geese grew from this, making good use of both wings. The deadlock was broken mid-way through the half when Paul Dodd played in Simon ‘Shandy’ Hoy, who cruised down the left and hit a powerful shot into the bottom right. More chances came from both Paul Dodd and Martin Belsey who both saw good efforts blocked. The lead was eventually doubled when Paul Dodd hit a long range effort, clearly an early contender for ‘Goal of the season.’
Unfortunately before half time PT Rangers hit back when a cross-shot looped over Cully’s head – he could drink a whole pond through a straw and still not have managed to save this one.
At half time No2 Tony Cedrone pulled the players in for a ‘Top-Cat-chat’ his instructions were to bring in our wide men when we were defending, as Perry and Batesy were getting over-run in the centre of midfield.
The second half began much the same as the first; while chances were being made, it still took twenty minutes for a great Simon Hoy corner to be met by Neal Dodd who’s bullet header shot past the keeper, making up for the yellow card he received for expressing his views. The Referee remained consistent in making poor decisions as the Geese then had a penalty claim turned down, much to everyone’s surprise. Paul Dodd looked through on goal until he was bundled to the floor. But he then got his reward when a poor clearance from the PT Keeper fell straight to his feet and he buried the chance making the score 4-1.
As legs tired, Matt Hully and James Wilcox replaced Martin Belsey and Richard Bates who both gave good performances. Rangers made a late surge at a comeback breaking though the Geese back line, but the goal only ended up a consolation.
The Geese made up for their last two losses today with good performances from all around the pitch. They will now face opposition from the premier division in form of Spennytown who finished 2nd in the premier last season and will surely be a good test for the Geese. Pino Packer caught up with delighted stand in manager Tony Cedrone at the final whistle. “Well what can I say, I’m delighted for the lads, they done PC proud. To get back to winning ways against a Division two team shows a lot of character. The boys when out there and done exactly what was asked of them, all back to mine for a sing-song, you gotta sing the songs you know...”
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