‘Tough day at the office’ for top teams

Both Marlborough teams in Nelson division one competitions produced disappointing results on Saturday.

Rangers AFC, who were unbeaten going into their men’s match with Richmond at Nelson’s Jubilee Park, went down 2-0, while women’s side Blenheim Valley Bullets also lost to Richmond opposition, the table-topping Foxes side prevailing 7-0 at A&P Park.

Rangers’ manager Wolfie Waechter described Saturday’s effort as “disappointing … not our best day at the office”.

Most of the damage was done in the opening quarter, Richmond slotting home a fifth minute penalty then producing a second after 20 minutes to put Rangers well and truly on the back foot.

Wolfie said the side’s preparation was fine but suggested they were “not switched on” in the early stages with a very aggressive home side put them under plenty of pressure.

However, in typical Rangers fashion they regrouped late in the first half and after some halftime re-arrangement they came out to almost totally dominate the second spell. Despite having a majority of possession, the visitors were unable to narrow the scoreline, with the last, decisive pass often not finding its mark.

Wolfie felt Richmond were “a little more up for the game”, a situation he expects his side to regularly encounter as “everybody wants to beat the defending champs and we have got to match that”.

Goalie Liam Kennedy, defenders Aaron Hayes, Jordy Columbus and Ryan Palmer, plus midfielders Sam Hickmott and Tore Waechter and player-of-the-day Jono Masters were the best of the visiting side.

On Tuesday they have an early shot at redemption, taking on Nelson Suburbs in a catch-up match at A&P Park, with a 6.30pm kick off.

It was also a “tough day at the office” for the Bullets.

The home side competed well early in the match, creating a good chance to score before conceding their first after 25 minutes.

Once Foxes had found a path to the net they upped the ante, scoring three more before the break.

They maintained pressure after oranges, scoring their fifth soon after before the home side went close when a Baylee Connor-McClean cross was nearly turned into goal by Lauren Sloan, the visiting goalie forced to make a desperation save.

Two more goals to the visitors completed the scoring but, to their credit, BV finished stronger, Taz Gilbert, Charlotte Ferguson and Tiana Williams going close in the latter stages.

BV coach, Scott Kennovin said, “every bounce went against us today. We’ll draw a line under it and move on”.

Player of day was hard-working keeper Jaimee Van Keulen.

In Mayfield Motorworld division one action, Call Care Hotspurs, Rangers Development and Call Care Trojans notched victories.

Hotspurs accounted for Central Buccaneers 5-3 at Athletic Park, after leading 3-0 at halftime. Francisco Zimmerman then scored twice in the second half, completing a hat-trick for Hotspurs.

Trojans, with Jack Morris scoring twice, beat BV Masters 5-0. They led 2-0 at the break and scored regularly in the second 45.

Development began strongly on their way to a 5-2 win over Central Wolves. Goals to Josh Clamp and Lucas Scantlebury saw them ahead 2-0 at oranges.

Clamp scored his side’s third with a clever free kick, then skipper Jake Bezant put them 4-0 ahead. Wolves got onto the scoresheet through a Nick Weaver goal, but Rangers replied two minutes later with a shot from Logan Robb. Wolves player Matt McCormick grabbed a consolation goal on the 80th minute, but Rangers held out to take the win. Development’s players of the day were Josh Clamp, Luca Geris, Cody Stone and Aaron Shi.

In Mayfield Motorworld division two games, Rangers Clubs of Marlborough beat Central Privateers 4-1, Redwood Masters downed Call Care Spartans 3-1 and Rangers Masters overcame Picton 4-1.