Rangers fall at final hurdle

Richmond are the 2021 Nelson division one football champions after edging past Rangers AFC 1-0 at the Renwick Domain today.

Defending champions Rangers have set the pace all season and went into the final round-robin match, which was delayed a month due to COVID, tied on points with Richmond, but with a better goal differential.

That meant a win or draw would have handed the home side back-to-back titles and for much of the match it appeared a stalemate was the likely result.

The deciding goal came around the 75^thminute mark and had an element of luck about it. Rangers lost the ball in midfield where it was picked up by substitute Lee Merrion. His low shot struck the home side’s post, ricocheted into the body of Rangers’ player/coach Tore Waechter then bounced into the empty net.

At the time Richmond were enjoying their best period of the game, throwing more and more players forward in pursuit of a result.

The fact they had not conceded in the previous 75 minutes was down to some resolute defence and inspired keeping from Daniel Dowding, who pulled off a couple of stunning saves in the early stages, when Rangers created a multitude of chances to bag an early goal which may have put the match out of the visiting side’s reach.

After a moment’s silence to remember local football stalwart John Columbus, Rangers hoed into their work, Harrison Pine, Julian Delgado and Aaron Hayes going close. A stoppage after 15 minutes to switch referees seemed to slow the home side’s momentum, but on corners earned and chances created they certainly had the better of the first 45 minutes.

The second spell was a different story. Richmond began strongly, a long-range strike from Fergus Griffin-George just tipped over the bar by Rangers’ custodian Liam Kennedy.

Waechter powered a header over the Richmond bar soon after, before the visitors upped the ante, resulting in their decisive strike.

The final 15 minutes were frantic. Rangers, stung by the own goal, pushed more players forward and, with Bjorn Waechter, Jono Masters, Pine, Hayes and Jordy Columbus lifting the urgency, looked likely to bag an equaliser.

However, despite some desperate attack and a couple of headed chances they were unable to stop Richmond's celebrations.

Richmond coach Clay Wilhelmus was elated as the club picked up their first Nelson division one crown since 2011.

“I thought that our attack and patterns of play were better today and I always felt like we would eventually get one [goal].

"They are obviously a massive thereat from free kicks through Tore and Harrison Pine but we weathered the storm in the first half and I just felt that it would open up in the second. I just said to the boys that there was no point just going out and spending the next half defending because a draw is no good for us.

“We made a tactical change in the midfield and I think a couple of substitutions also paid off. At the end of the day, sheer determination got us there in the end. I felt we deserved it.”

The coach said all his players had put in big shifts but singled out holding midfielder Sam Barnett, keeper Dowding and centreback Patrick Keys.

Wolfie Waechter, Rangers’ manager, felt his side were the better unit over 90 minutes, but rued missed opportunities to put the game to bed.

“It was a very even game which could have gone either way. For it to be decided by a very unlucky own goal is heart-breaking, particularly when the player involved played out of his skin and was one of the best on the park.

“But we had chances before that, and chances afterwards … while their goalie made some fantastic saves, our goalie did not have that much to do really.

“We are finishing on a loss, but performance wise we are finishing on a high,” he added.

Keagan Mortimer was full of running up front for Rangers, while Bjorn Waechter, Ryan Palmer, Julian Delgado and Kane Elvy took the battle to Richmond at every opportunity and showed nice touches on the ball.