Plains Rangers AFC
August 13th 2002 v Tauranga Boys' College
Plains Rangers upset unbeaten league leaders Tauranga Boys College in a midweek game under lights at Papamoa on Tuesday night. The college team are to play in the premiere national secondary schools tournament next week and requested the game to be played midweek.
The game started at a tremendous pace, with TBC throwing everything at the Rangers side. To their credit Rangers held out, thanks to some resolute defence from Bas Overdevest, Barrie Hawkes, David Dennis and Jason Shaw, and excellent mopping up from keeper Matt Aberhart. After thirty minutes, Rangers had weathered the storm and started to play their own game and create a few chances. At the interval the game was scoreless.
Soon after half time, excellent work from George Elliot saw him through the defence. His shot was parried and fell to Simon Ruiter. He combined well with Elliot before Joel Ogilvy rammed home the final shot. The goal clearly rattled the TBC side, which had so far scored seventy goals this season and conceded only eight. They pushed men forward, but the Rangers determination was apparent. Rangers played sensible soccer to the end of the game, using their possession to construct some good moves, and defending stoutly where necessary. The final score Tauranga Boys College 0, Plains Rangers 1.
This result consolidates Rangers second placing on the table. Rangers again have no game this weekend, with only the final league game to go, at home against Rotorua Suburbs the following Saturday.
Forward to BOP Div Two points table