Rangers AFC beaten in semifinal showdown

A stunning first half hat-trick by 19-year-old striker Phun Lian put paid to Rangers AFC’s hopes of picking up some football silverware this season.

Up against an FC Nelson side who had beaten them in their previous two league encounters, Rangers had hopes of seeing the visitors off on home turf in their Price Charity Cup knockout semifinal on Saturday at A&P Park.

However, they were undone by a well-organised team and some clinical finishing from the diminutive Lian.

The home side came out cold, Lian turning his marker in the 10th minute to open the scoring.

This sparked the Rangers’ crew into action and they began to shut down the speedy Nelson attackers while providing a few scoring opportunities at the other end.

However, they were again caught on the break late in the half, Lian calmly slotting the ball past home keeper Luc Sherwood then, with five minutes of the first spell to play he racked up his third, being quickest to react to a bouncing ball in front of goal.

After a halftime reappraisal, the home side had the better of the second 45, stepping up their intensity and winning a lot more 50/50 balls.

But it was not until the 80th minute that they were rewarded on the scoreboard, player/coach Tore Waechter slotting home a penalty to give the local supporters a glimmer of hope.

The glimmer was soon extinguished though when substitute Ronan O’Donnell popped up with FC’s fourth three minutes later.

The visitors were well served by Lian, La Bu Pan and Abinash Baraili up front, with Fletcher King, Mark Johnston, Jonathon Gough and Alejandro Nuzarit Carabali further back.

Jordy Columbus and Callum McDonald were strong at the back for Rangers, with Tore, Jack Morris, Kane Elvy, Jono Masters and frontrunner Keagan Mortimer playing it out until the final whistle.

It has been a frustrating end to a season that promised so much for Rangers, their league hopes dashed by FC Nelson, now their knockout cup defence over. However, Tore labelled it a really good season, suggesting “these things are decided by small margins. A few things just didn’t go our way which would have made a difference to the outcomes”.

In Marlborough competitions, Trojans grabbed all three points in their division one clash with Rangers Colts, prevailing 2-1. In the other match, Trojans Los Andes and Rangers Reserves drew 2-2. The Trojans side led 2-1 at the break before Riley Ponder levelled the scores in the 76th minute.

In division two, Central Wolves beat BV Masters 3-0 while Picton Crow Tavern got the better of Rangers Masters 6-2.

Trojans Strikers downed Central Privateers 6-1 in division three, with Trojans Spartans beating Renwick 1-0.