St Francis Rangers grab a point against ‘bogey side’ Ringmer

Jason Hopkinson’s Ringmer team have proved quite the ‘bogey side’ for St Francis Rangers this season.
Glenn Charker St.Francis bossGlenn Charker St.Francis boss
Glenn Charker St.Francis boss

Having defeated Glenn Charker’s Rangers sides twice this season at the Caburn in league and FA Vase, Rangers welcomed Ringmer to the Colwell on Wednesday night looking to avenge the previous two defeats earlier this term. Their fortunes didn’t change much as both sides walked away with a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

Away boss Hopkinson had his goalkeeper former Burgess Hill number 1 Callum Christie to thank for the point they secured from the tie as he made numerous top class saves as the home manager.

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Rangers broke the deadlock through James Westlake when he fired home from the edge of the box with a clinical finish as the ball fell after a break in the penalty box much against the run of play with Rangers camped in their own half for the majority of the first period.

Leppard should have doubled their lead when minutes later he arrived in the Ringmer 6 yard box and an inch perfect cross from Pat Rose planting his side footed volley goal bound only for away goalkeeper Callum Christie to keep his side in the game saving from point blank range and this wasn’t the only time Christie kept his side in the game.

Ringmer went down to ten following a clear elbow to Rob Gordon which was his second offence in the game giving referee James Harding very little choice in his decision but he numerical advantage didn’t help the home team who at times looked like they had the disadvantage.

It was Leppard who’s industry on the right touchline after twisting and turning he crossed left footed for midfielder Jamie Weston at full stretch heading goal bound for the visiting keeper Christie making another game changing save ensuring the game stayed at 1-1.

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Christie came to the rescue for the visitors again shortly after when Steve Smiths bullet header from a Millroy corner was goal bound again for Christie pluck out of the top corner.

Rangers were made to pay for their squandered opportunities when Dan Rogers levelled the game with about 15 on the clock by taking full advantage from another cheap free kick gifted to Ringmer around the box. It was was coming as the home team struggled to deal with ten men Ringmer when the odds were surely in their favour.

Substitute Nathan Millroy returning from injury arguably should have done better when he weaved past two Ringmer defenders to fire at Christie with the option to put in Tom Saunders who was ready for him to square it when through on goal.

Charker said after the game; “Tonight is a continuation of last week for me. Another game where I come away disappointed that we’ve dropped another two points and another game where we come away not having taken our chances - we should have buried them tonight with the chances we had. As I said last week, story of our season.

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“You look at the four points we’ve dropped in the last seven days and with those in our pocket we go 9th, we’re now 12th, but we could say that for the whole of our season. But then again you have to ask yourself ‘were we worth the three points tonight?’ And in honesty, no we probably weren’t in truth.

“Let’s not get carried away with the negatives, a points a point and we go again Saturday. Were committed to finishing on a high collectively and that’s what we deserve from all the good things we have done this season but you don’t win games when you don’t take your chances.”

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