Difficult year continues for St Francis Rangers

Three months into the year, they have collected only 5 points from a possible 21 available to them in the league, having already been knocked out of every cup competition in 2014. Things weren’t any better for them on Saturday as their visitors, Broadbridge Heath arrived the Colwell in buoyant mood on the back of some good form and continued in the same vein at The Colwell Ground on Saturday running out 3-2 winners moving themselves into 8th position.

Thaigo Andrade put Steve Painter’s side in front against the run of play around the 20th minute when he slammed home from close range with his left foot after Rangers failed to deal with a deep Heath free kick Andrade was on hand on the half turn to finish emphatically despite Rangers pleas with the match official for a foul.

For all their endeavour and good build up play, Rangers couldn’t make their possession count and Heath doubled their lead when Andrade struck again dealing Rangers a double blow with only their second chance of the game against the run of play leaving Charker’s Rangers having to chase the game. Josh Bryant got his side back in the game on the 31st minute when a Jamie Weston corner fell to him inside the six yard box for him to volley home and giving his side their just deserts.

Heath put themselves in front just after the break as Ollie Moore had an empty goal to tap the ball into after a mix up between Rangers keeper Oli Brookes who started the game after Rob Gordon pulled up in the warm up and right back Dan Lawrence left Moore with a gift of a goal and Rangers backs against the wall.

Lawrence went some way to put right his wrong when he nodded home from a whipped free kick where Weston was the provider again and the home side were back in the game.

Luke Leppard had the chance of the game to bring the sides level when after some good approach play around the Heath box but lashed wide with his left foot after he floated passed two Heath defenders with his sheer pace and power.

A dejected Charker spoke to us after the game; “I’m speechless to be honest with you. They had three chances scored three goals and to risk being repetitive week in week out because I probably sound like a broken record at the moment!! But that’s the difference for us right now. Whether it’s a bit of luck were missing out on or if it’s something else I don’t know right now – we seemed to have lost our spark a bit since the turn of the year. We started so well today but after about twenty minutes or so we stopped all of the good things we were doing and I just don’t know why. Our approach play ball retention and possession was good for the most part it’s just the final bit of ruthlessness that we’re missing right now.

“I tell you what though - one win will change everything for us - we’re that sort of side – Saturday at Hailsham is a great opportunity to get back on track. All of the postponed games and being stop start since the new year has hurt us, that and the injuries to key key players has really hurt us. Huge positive having Hawkesy, (Nathan) Millroy & Sam Saunders back in the fold today – these boys are massive to our success and the last few weeks has proved this.

“But we’re a strong unit and will stick together until we get it right. I’m confident we can put a decent run together in the run in to finish the season with a respectable finish that everyone involved in the club deserves.’