Porthleven Rangers Treble Winners 2007-08

Porthleven Rangers has finally finished their Treble season by dominating the league and sweeping the board by taking all three cups: The League Cup, Wheatly Cobb Cup, Terry Jennings Memorial Cup. The best season ever in the rangers history.

A big thanks go out to First European Securities who have sponsored Rangers this season it has definatly helped their winnings ways!

The squad pictured are:

Back Row:Left To Right:
Brian Buxton, Simon Bew (Sec) Cozy Powell (Manager) Dean Williams (Chairman), Andy Wortley (GK) Liam Chapman, Steve Williams, Dave Brand, Tom Layzell, Steve Wortley, Richard Chambers, Ricky Williams.

Front Row: Left To Right:
Shaun Winfield, Eddie Roujk, Adrian Willey, Gary Richards, Martin Wortley, Phil Chambers, Robert Hitchens.

Well Done to all.

Porthleven Rangers squad photo

Porthleven Rangers scored a goal past Camborne Park to win the Final of the Wheatly Cobb Cup. Here Pictured is the winning squad.

Rangers were pushed onto the back foot early on in this game but as the game settled they had more and more of the play. They used the ball much better than the opposition and tried at every opportunity to play to feet. The younger opposition forwards constantly looked to get in behind the high Rangers backline and constantly they strayed off side. It was however Rangers who got in behind first and it was top seamstress Gary Richards who out paced the defence and once in behind made no mistake in hitting his mark to put Rangers 1 up. He is good once in behind his prey and makes few mistakes when confronted with a chance to slip one home. This opening goal against the wind did seem to rock the visitors who had made plans to get ahead with the wind at their backs. Well, it was soon to be a case of switching from plan A to plan B and quickly onto plan C after young Dick Chambers also got in behind and he too made no mistake in putting Rangers 2 up.

The Rangers right side all through out this half was causing the visitors trouble with Bart Wortley and Ade have I done enough Willey constantly linking up allowing a simple route forward for Rangers. It was from this right side that Rangers would benefit again and it was Top Stitch Richards who again found the back of the net after being put in by 3rd choice keeper Bart Wortley.

The visitors best chance of the half came after the Rangers Keeper Granddad in waiting Andy Wortley took a heavy touch on a back pass and enticed the forward to the ball. It would however turn out to be not to bad a ploy as the forward tried to win the 50/50 ball but came off second best and would later be forced to retire from the game after a clash of knees.

At the break it was Rangers 3 Caharrack 0 and the scoreline reflected how the half had gone with Rangers well on top. The second half finally began once the smoke had cleared from the roll your own fraternity and the Referee had recharged both lungs. It was however not long before Rangers stretched their lead and it was Chambers turn this time who knocked the ball home after the defence failed to clear their box after a Rangers corner.Rangers constantly pushed the visitors back and they were forced to play on the break. All to often the Rangers experienced defence just mopped up their breaks and easily moved the ball forward again into the attack.

When Rangers fifth goal came it was Richards again who slotted home for his hat trick and he really had stitched this one up for the Rangers. The frontman has now returned to his early season form after taking a mid season break with a poorly ankle. Caharrack did finally get a consolation goal late on after stalwart defender Phil Chambers missed a through ball and allowing in the Caharrack frontman, who rounded the keeper before slotting home. Perhaps the Centre half finally does need that trip to Spec savers. If your reading this phil I SAID SPEC SAVERS MATE.The game was brought to a quick conclusion as the Referee blew for time with Rangers 5 - 1 up and a Caharrack player left on the ground with a badly damaged knee which required the medical attention.

The final words this week go to the Referee for blowing up and allowing the Caharrack player to receive treatment as his team mates headed for the showers. We would also like to thank the Ambulance services for all their efforts and the Rangers players who stayed to help out an injured opposition player when his own side did not. I hate to say it but if my side treated one of their own like that they would be looking for some where else to play next season. In the words of Al Murray Caharrack “shame on you”.

This week Rangers entertained Lanner in a top of the table clash taking on the league leaders. This had been an eagerly awaited fixture for the Rangers players having lost at Lanner 1 - 0 with the last kick of the game earlier in the season. With games starting to run out fast both sides needed the points from this one to keep their title hopes on track.

The conditions for this game were somewhat a little blustery to say the least and therefore not the best for attractive football. Rangers had to make a changes this week after skipper Ricky Calcium deficient Williams ruled himself out with yet another broken bone or two. This saw the introduction of top naval seamstress Gary Richards into the middle and after his continual almost embarrassing hinting about how we had never lost a game when he was skipper he was given the arm band as well. His first move was to win the toss (we all new he was a good T****R) and he elected to play into the wind in the first half.

Lanner made the most of the conditions early on and took the game to Rangers. They did have the most of the early pressure as Rangers found it hard going against the wind. It was however Rangers who played the better football trying hard to keep the ball on the deck and playing to feet. On several occasions they came close to getting in behind Lanner and young forward Dick Chambers worked hard to keep the Lanner defence on their toes.

Rangers were unlucky to go behind on 15 minutes when after a period of pressure Lanner broke away beating the offside trap and then Rangers keeper Andy Wortley at his far post. This early goal could have been the catalyst that Lanner needed to take charge of this game but Rangers had other ideas. Within a few minutes Rangers drew level after a brake down the right by Bart Wortley and Taffy Williams who drove into the box and squared the ball to the old mother Hubbard who easily side footed home.
On twenty minutes after another Lanner break out Rangers Centre half Steve Wortley was caught in a tough challenge and the game had to be stop while medical attention was sort. Thankfully after all the moaning and whinging it turned out to be a very nasty pulled muscle (Possible broken ribs). We would like to thank the West Country Ambulance service for their prompt arrival and their care and attention. At the rate they keep turning up at the Rangers games these days we might have to sign one or two of them on.

Rangers took advantage of the break for a team huddle and a chat with the management. They decided to win it for Steve, the winded one. Think they must have been watching one to many chick flicks but if it works lets not knock it. Within minutes of the restart Lanner were forced to pay dearly for some hesitance at the back when Skipper Richards raced through onto a ball in behind and beat the keeper with ease to put Rangers 2-1 up. Perhaps there’s something in this male bonding stuff.
Lanner for all their efforts never really but enough pressure on the Rangers backline when they had the wind in their favour. They did miss a golden opportunity to draw level before the half ran out but after the ball fell to an unmarked player 8 yards out in the middle of the gaol but he could only find Keeper Wortleys big bears paws when he had the whole goal to aim at. There only other real chance came from a corner but again they failed to make the most of it and headed well over after a great delivery.
The second half saw Rangers with the wind at their backs and straight from the kick off Taffy Williams tried his luck and we all watched as the Lanner keeper could only force his shot out for a corner. Rangers applied the pressure over and over again in this half and struck the wood work on three occasions before the Welsh one sealed the game striking the ball from the edge of the box and over the keeper into the net. This Third goal gave Rangers a deserved two goal cushion and allowed the introduction of Dan Cambelt Thomas for his eagerly awaited return to Rangers football. It was old cold legs Dean Williams who made way after one of his better games (finally getting the hang of this new fangled offside rule).

When the final whistle blew it was Rangers 3 Lanner 1 and in all honesty the better side had won. Both sides and the Referee must be praised for the way they handled themselves in this game it could so easily have turned into a nasty affair with so much at stake. It may not have been the best advert for Football in the way the game had been played but it was for the manner in which both sides conducted themselves.

Rangers entertain Carharrack in the Terry Jennings Cup next week and with their unbeaten home record they will be looking to progress further in the competition. Rangers home ground is a tough place for anyone to come and get a result these days.

Starting Line-Up: 
Andy Wortley
Dean Williams
Phil Chambers
Stephen Wortley
Robbie Hitchens
Gary Richards (1)
Liam Chapman
Martin Wortley
Simon Hubbard (1)
Steve Williams (1)
Richard Chambers
 
Substitutes: 
Dave Pollard
Dan Thomas
Cozy Powell