Rangers' bad luck costs them against Rathfriland
Scarva Rangers 0
Rathfriland Swifts 2
THERE were two minutes left on the clock when substitute Ernie Hammond rose and flicked the ball into the path of Rod Douglas inside the Rathfriland Swifts penalty area.
The Scarva striker steadied himself and struck the ball assuredly past the helpless visiting keeper. It cannoned off the inside of the post and scuttled across the goal line before bouncing off the inside of the other post and back into play
As a nearly moment it perfectly summed up Scarva’s day.
A draw would have been harsh on the hosts yet they somehow ended up empty handed at the end of Saturday’s league clash at Scarva Park.
Rathfriland scored early and with more composed finishing they would have extended their single goal half-time lead. When they did hit the target they were thwarted by resolute Scarva defending, including a fine save from Scarva keeper James Clarke and an excellent goal line clearance from left back Johnnie Douglas.
Scarva were a more formidable force in the second half and their upturn in fortunes was accelerated by the introduction of substitute Derek Wilson and the switch of Mark Bicker to central midfield.
No longer peripheral to the action, Bicker relentlessly drove his side forward and a Scarva equaliser seemed on the cards.
As they pressed further forward Stephen Anderson was able to hurl more and more long range throw-ins into the danger zone.
And a terrific cross by the right back caused havoc inside the Rathfriland penalty area, the ball ricocheting around the box before Alex Hammond stabbed a shot wide from close range.
A superb Kyle Jennett corner was steered narrowly wide by the hosts but unfortunately for Scarva as the corner count mounted that same high standard of delivery wasn’t always evident from the corner takers.
When Rathfriland conceded a free kick on the left hand edge of their box, Jennett seemed certain to swing the ball into the heart of the penalty area. Instead he intelligently slipped it to Derek Wilson and his slide rule pass picked out Bicker six yards out but the midfielder’s shot struck the side netting.
James Clarke had been a virtual spectator in the second half but on a rare foray forward the visitors unleashed a thunderous long range shot that Clarke did well to save. He bounced back up and made an exceptional smothering save to keep out the follow-up shot.
At the other end Derek Wilson embarked on a terrific run down the right and delivered a quality cross that the onrushing Bicker headed narrowly wide.
The chances kept coming thick and fast. Rod Douglas drilled the ball superbly across the face of goal but there was no-one to take advantage and then a goal bound shot from Gareth Fulton deflected off a Swifts defender and away for yet another Scarva corner. Minutes later a cleanly struck Greg Douglas shot shaved the outside of the post.
It was not to be Scarva’s day and after creating, but not converting, a host of chances they were floored by a Rathfriland sucker punch. Once again Clarke, who produced his best performance this season, saved superbly but he could do nothing when a Swifts player reached the loose ball first and swept it into the Rangers net.
Best for Scarva Rangers – Mark Bicker.
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Weather for Banbridge
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
