Match Report - Uxbridge Park Rangers vs Iver Heath Youth - 16 Oct 2005

My View From The Side

Uxbridge Park Rangers 9 - Iver Heath Youth 5
Sunday 09th October

Both players and supporters were hoping for an easier fixture after last weeks result, but the league leaders beckoned and we all travelled to Uxbridge Park Rangers in good spirits and ready for the challenge. With almost a full compliment of players, George Eva deciding watching Ipswich is more fun than IHYFC (close decision), the convoy set of for Uxbridge in the middle of the afternoon when most normal families were tucking into their roast beef dinners. Looking totally together in their red and black kit and the new all weather training tops, the boys went through the normal warm up routine with King Kev (as he is affectionately known), taking in last minute instructions to defeat the giants in front of them. Not sure if our captain Tom Bishop won the toss or not but after a few minutes the siege in blue and white that rained forward resulted in the first goal, then the second, then the third and so on until after only 20 minutes we were 6-0 down. Charlie Aldridge in goal was by far the busiest player on the pitch up to that stage and was calling for the Ralgex on his aching back to see him through to half time. To be fair to the defence it appeared from the man on the side that all the goals resulted from long range shots and efforts from the edge of the box that should have been closed down by the midfield of Lee Rolfe, Jack Miller, Stephen L’Angellier and Nick Hales, the defence and Charlie battled hard to keep the ball out, but alas in vain. The togetherness at the warm up seemed to have disappeared from the team but the IHYFC spirit that was bubbling under came to the fore as a smart interchange between Lee Rolfe and Tom Randall resulted in a superbly struck left foot shot across the goalkeeper by Tom finding the net. The goal sparked a revival directed from the midfield that began to fight for the ball and put pressure on the home team for the remainder of the half, with Charlie’s long kicks finding Matthew Cole and Tom Randall on the edge of the Uxbridge defence. After the break the back four was reshuffled with Jack Cherrington joining Tom Bishop, Sam Clarke and Sam Taylor in the defence, while Tom Warren took a deserved rest after a difficult first half at right back. The spirit remained and it wasn’t until Jack Miller battled through two tackles forcing the ball to Matthew, who coolly slotted home, that we really believed in ourselves again. The whole team picked itself up, the midfield tackled and passed and shouted and tackled, the back four blocked and chased and encouraged with Charlie continuing to control his penalty area and make some fine saves. This encouraged the forwards to become involved and it wasn’t long before they started joining up with the midfield in support and not too much longer our third and fourth goals followed with excellent midfield finishing from Lee Rolfe and Nick Hales. Tenacious chasing back and tough tackling by both Stephen and Jack Miller, took some of the pressure off of the back four who were now controlling the opposition forwards. It wasn’t long however until an Uxbridge attack resulted in their 7th goal and a fortunate flick off the heel stretching the lead to 8-4. The game seemed over but the IHYFC belief did not waiver as Matthew scored his second of the game to peg one back. Other opportunities from Matthew, Nick, Lee and Tom Randall could easily have made the scoreline closer, but another goal against the men in red and black made the final score 9-5, but we had the league leaders rattled and could hold our heads high. Yet another good display by Tom Bishop, Jack Cherrington and Sam Clark at the back, the second half performance of the midfield was good to watch especially the tireless running of Stephen and Jack Miller and the hungry forwards wanting to score more goals was encouraging to see. All in all a really good effort by all players on the day but my man of the match demonstrating a good game through the whole match and an improvement on earlier games – Charlie Aldridge

The Man on The Side

Iver Heath Youth : Charlie Aldridge, Tom Warren, Sam Clarke, Tom Bishop (captain), Sam Taylor, Stephen L’Angellier, Lee Rolfe, Nick Hales, Jack Miller, Matthew Cole, Tom Randall
Subs: Jack Cherrington


Goals : Matthew Cole (2), Tom Randal (1), Lee Rolfe (1), Nick Hales (1)

Return to top