Grange Rovers 4 - 1 Carew Rangers

A screamer from Riley and a cool hat-trick from Dorrell won the day in a scrappy game, leaving Rovers top for Christmas.

Setting up opposite a depleted Carew Rangers side, Rovers were forced to start with 7, with Dorrell and Jach D initially making way and everyone taking their turn on the bench.
Despite the confidence they had clearly gained from hitting the top of the table last week they found it hard to settle in this strange formation and Tom looked an early candidate for Man of the Match for the second week in a row as he was forced into a succession of impressive saves.
Half way through the first half Riley settled the nerves as he picked the ball up on the right, and showed strength and not insignificant skill to ride two challenges before cutting inside and firing high into the Carew Rangers net.
Before the interval the team in Royal Blue caught Rovers on the counter and levelled the score with some fluid passing, before Dorell made it 2-1 cutting in from the left to score with a right footed drive.
At half time a more passing game was called for and in the second half Rovers responded as Dorrell and Alfie saw more and more of the ball. It was the diminutive winger who was able to make the most of his chances adding to his personal tally and in scoring two more, seal the match and a hat-trick into the bargin.

In the first half of the season this new side have gone from strangers to tight unit. With Tom looking assured in goal, Shaun's tough tackling, Jack B's reading of the game, George's ability to win the ball and run with it and Tyrell's power; with Dorrell's quich feet and quicker brain, Riley's strength and will to win, Jack D's tenatious attitude, Jack F's willingness to run all day and Alfie's pace and eye for goal, let's hope that they'll be straight out of the blocks on the 6th January against Carew Rangers again.

The weekend

Turn up and play will be running from 1000. See you there or at 1140 on Sunday for KO at 1200 against Carew Rangers.

Grange Rovers 3-1 Warren Town

Any one of the eight Grange Rovers players on the pitch could have walked away with the Man of the Match award today.
Tom, who was given the accolade, stopped everything that came his way apart from a penalty, and even then he got close. The back three of Jack B, Shaun and George won everything that could have been expected of them, with Jack and George making strong forays into Warren Town territory.
Jack D in the box to box role ran tirelessly winning the ball in front of defence and either driving forward or slipping the ball to Dorrell and Jack F who used guile, pace and vision to create chance after chance for themselves and Alfie whose strength  up front got him the clincher in the dying moments.
 Dorrell got the other two, and well deserved they were.
The opener was created by Alfie, after some great defensive play by Jack B. The striker powered through a sea of green defenders and slipped the ball to the waiting Dorrell to slot home.
Rovers held on for most of the half and could have added to their lead but late on a green player was caught in the box and although he got close Tom couldn't save the resulting penalty.
In the second half Rovers weathered some early pressure, missing Riley and Tyrell against big, physical opponents, but they started creating again through Jack F and Dorrell who both played fantastic triangles with Jack D, Alfie or one of the marauding full backs.
It felt like the goals would come and in the dying minute Dorrell  got the first of them with a short range effort followed soon after by an Alfie screamer.
Stafford Utd's earlier draw with Carew Rangers meant that the boys in orange and black leapfrogged both them and Warren Town to go into the last game before Christmas, top of the league.  

This Weekend

No Grange training at 0930 due to the weather but I'll be there for turn up and play at 1000.
Match is at 1100 on Sunday vs Warren Town. See you at 1040ish.

Grange Rovers vs Woodcote Wanderers

Postponed due to frozen pitch.