Tramore Rangers FC Xtrá Factor

Tuesday, 11th September 2012

A great night's entertainment awaits this Friday as Tramore Juvenile GAA Club and Tramore Rangers FC in 'Xtrá Factor', a six-a-side Battle of the Clubs fundraiser in the Grand Hotel. Some class acts are lined up. Doors 7.30, "talent" show starts at 8 sharp. Tickets are extremely limited so please contact either committee (Rangers tel: 086-8049294) asap.

Fixtures

Saturday 15th Sept: FAI Jnr Cup: @ home v St Pauls 2pm; Div 3: Ballinroad away, 2pm. Sunday 16th, Div 2A: Park Rangers away, 11am.

Div 1A: Southend 1 Rangers 3

A terrific result for Joe Williams' short-handed First Division outfit away to Southend United on Saturday, maintaining our unbeaten start. In a first half notable for three blinding saves by Rangers keeper Killian Burns, we went ahead when a cross from right-winger Chris Flynn was turned into his own net by the Southend centre-half. Almost straight after the irrepressible Gary Morrissey produced a delightful dinked finish with his supposedly 'weak' left foot from outside the corner of the box. It was a goal was worthy of a more extravagant celebration – had Gary not pulled his hamstring in the process.

The Ballybeg men weren't throwing in the towel, however, and with 20 minutes left they were right back in the game when Killian did well to parry a low drive and the rebound was tucked away. But with Southend continuing to apply pressure we caught them on the break with a classic counter-attack strike in the 78th minute.

Left-full Chris Kirk hooked clear to Stephen Sawyer who prodded the ball intelligently into the path of James Legg who took off with purpose up the line. Looking up, he whipped in a peach of a cross to the near post where the inrushing Eoin Purcell applied a first-time volley to restore our two-goal advantage.

We held out fairly comfortably after that to collect a precious three points in the circumstances. As well as the aforementioned, among our best performers were David Jacob, Mark Hannigan, Stephen O'Gorman, and Alan Harrington – though everyone put in a great effort. Thanks to the Third Division lads who came along to bolster our ranks, with Ricky Hutchinson coming on for Mossy, who is top of the scoring charts (see tramorerangersfc.com.

Div 2A: Rangers 0 MV Celtic 0

Meanwhile, at The Orchard, the Division 2A team – playing their first match of an already weather-hit season – were held to a scoreless draw by a decent MV Celtic side.

The visitors had the better of the first half while we improved after the break. However, Mullinavat had a couple of great chances to win the game towards the death – Brian Sullivan pulling off a superb save to earn a rusty Rangers an acceptable point.