Plains Rangers AFC
7 July 2001 v Taupo
Plains Rangers turned on another Jeckyl and Hyde performance on Saturday. They travelled to meet Taupo in the Tasman Cup and produced a poor first half. A lack of cohesiveness going forward meant little pressure was created, and at the other end Rangers conceded four goals. Two of them may have been disputed for off-side, but the Rangers defence lacked organisation.
After the interval, player-coach Christian Wetting was introduced into the midfield and there was a dramatic improvement. Rangers started playing with some self-belief, stringing passes together. Bas Overdevest had the ball in the back of the Taupo net, but was called back for off-side. A delightful move down the right involving Jason Shaw, Brendon Cusack, Ashley Hawkes, and Wetting ended with Overdevest slotting the ball past the local keeper. Dion Lowry, later named man of the match, was rewarded for his persistence when he scored and then had another effort disallowed. The match ended with the score Taupo 4, Plains Rangers 2.
Rangers will rue their first half effort and need to learn some lessons from their second-half performance to try and salvage something from the rest of their season. This Saturday Rangers are away to Tauranga City-United, and may, for the first time in many weeks, be able to choose from a full-strength squad.
Forward to BOP Div One points table