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This fixture was to be a repeat of the title decider back in May. That day Blackpool Rangers won by a single goal and a controversial one at that, and as a result they lifted the BFSFA Premier League Trophy.
Blackpool Rangers started the 2009/10 campaign with a score draw against Poulton SFC and then were thumped in midweek by a resurgent Northern Care 6-2. Quilligans started the season at a canter with a 5-0 win against The Oxford FC.
Quilligans were out to avenge their last day of the season defeat, and Blackpool Rangers were looking to put their recent 6-2 drubbing out of their system. Lee Willetts was today’s man in the middle and Blackpool Rangers got the game underway. Also, it was good to see the return of Lee Broadbent to the starting eleven.
Quilligans were in determined mood and began to put Rangers under pressure. Rowe tested Miles early doors and then Greenall flashed across the Rangers area, but no-one was on hand to apply the final touch. Rangers took the lead against the run of play on 11 minutes. A ball across the area from Beattie found Quilligans’ Douthwaite who put through his own goal at the far post.
In response Boal tested Miles again in the Rangers goal from distance - Miles managing to get his considerable frame in the way of the ball, which he did on a number of occasions throughout the game to frustrate Quilligans - both players and fans alike.
Quilligans were putting Rangers under increasing pressure but were unable to get back on terms, whilst Rangers were reliant on Quilligans making mistakes rather than creating anything half decent themselves.
Miles was living dangerously in the Rangers goal and somehow kept efforts out from Broadbent and Greenall with various parts of his anatomy. Brooks then had a great chance to level but he volleyed agonisingly wide.
Speight had to be on his toes moments later when Rangers broke clear, but he saved bravely at the feet of a Rangers player and made another smart save towards the end of the half.
Half time 1-1.
Just after the restart Slater had a glorious chance to level things. A ball into Broadbent was held up well by the tall fella; he then turned and laid the ball superbly into Slater’s path but he fired inches wide when he really should have opened his account for the season.
It wasn’t long though before Quilligans restored parity. A well delivered corner was not gathered by Miles, it was headed off the line at the far post where the onrushing Morris met the ball with his face and it ended up in the back of the net.
Rangers could have took the lead again shortly after, with Beattie volleying across the Quilligans goal only to see his shot go wide.
Quilligans changed things around to try and take all 3 points taking off Brooks and Broadbent and replacing them with Thompson and Sutton. Rangers then tried their luck from long range but the effort was never going to trouble Speight in the Quilligans goal.
With the minutes ticking away Quilligans were awarded a free kick when Miles handled outside the area. The resultant free kick was deflected with Miles making a smart save.
Quilligans were still pushing for the victory. A ball was pumped into Rangers area, Miles made a hash of the clearance, and the ball fell to Rowe with the goal gaping. As Rowe blasted goalbound somehow the ball was blocked by Cairns and was cleared for a corner.
The resultant corner was met by a superb Taberner header; however, Miles was equal to it and tipped the ball over the bar.
Final score 1-1.
Quilligans should have won this game given the amount of possession and the chances that were missed - be that glaring misses or goalbound efforts that were blocked by various parts of the opposition’s anatomy. Having said that, credit in some respects to Rangers for throwing bodies in front of the ball when needed.
Team
Speight, Brooks, Greenall, Taberner, Morris, Slater, Douthwaite, Boal, Rowe, Cook, Broadbent.
Substitutes
Thompson, Frend, Sutton.
Scorers
Morris 53. |
