Three goals and three points from rivals keep HCR at top of the table

Match Report - Sunday 29th January 2012

Bearwood Sports   2     Halesowen Community Rangers   3 

What a tasty prospect today's match was going to be, when two unbeaten sides went head to head in this greatly anticipated top of the table clash...

From the off both teams were out of the traps with Bearwood winning a corner which they dispatched into the back of our net for 1-0. It didn't take Halesowen long to respond and following a great run down the left wing, Hamza J put in an inch perfect cross to Sam who made no mistake from close range to level the score to 1-1.

Halesowen entered a great spell of play putting Bearwood under pressure. Tarik had a great shot well saved.

Halesowen were awarded a free kick taken by Jack, which found Marzouk who cooly finished to make the score 2-1.

Another Halesowen free kick was taken by Hamza J and went just over the bar. Halesowen continued to pile the pressure on with Zeyad narrowly missing, then Marzouk put a shot just wide, Aaron sent in a beautiful cross, Tarik sent it just wide leaving the score at 2-1 to Halesowen at half time.

Second Half

More of the same. The referee got his yellow card out to the Bearwood number 11 when he kicked out at Zeyad.

Bearwood were awarded a free kick which was well saved by Javon. Halesowen kept the pressure up with Aaron hitting the bar to keep the score at 2-1. The referee verbally cautioned their number 8 who was sturggling to mark Aaron.

Halesowen were playing some great football, Marzouk played the ball to Maien whose shot whistled past the post. Bearwood were awarded a free kick which went over the line but disallowed by the referee as two of their players were off side.

The next goal was a beauty! Javon kicked the ball upfield, Maien's volley was calmly despatched past the Bearwood keeper to make the score 3-1. Looking like the points were with HCR as we approached the final few minutes of the game.

However, Bearwood got their 2nd goal just before the final whistle leaving the score at 3-2 and all points were HCR's.

Josh picked up a hip injury in the game and we wish him well.

Man of the Match was awarded to Marzouk who ran all day long, tackled like a trooper and dazzled with his silky skills.

All in all a great 3 points to keep us at the top of the table with much work to do.

Thanks to Nathan and his folks for coming to watch even though Nathan has been ill with the flu.

A big well done to everyone, there was an impressive turn out of supporters, young and old, in spite of chilly conditions. But the largest well done goes to the coaches and players for facing up to the biggest challenge of what is turning out to be an amazing second season for this superb bunch of young players. 

HCR just goes from strength to strength. Come on you Rangers!

Message from Gam for tomorrow's big game against Bearwood

Biggest game of the season tomorrow, top of the table clash! We are 5 points clear at the top, we want to extend it to 8. We had an excellent hour and half training session this morning and we are meeting earlier than usual tomorrow 12:30pm at the college.

If you are meeting at the pitch, please let Gam or Yousef know.

Prepare mentally for this game, you have all worked hard for 15 games, I'm sure we will get a good result tomorrow.

No bluster from HCR as they breeze to a victory

It was a cold and blustery January day today as HCR went up against the tough tackling Kinver Colts in the lastest bid to keep our winning streak going.

The weather definately played a big part in the game today with the wind turning good balls frustatingly wayward.

Things started well with many good chances for HCR. Alas we were unable to hit the target and up the other end Javon was called upon to pull off two great saves.

The game entered an improved spell with players like Maien and Zeyad keeping the ball down and trying to combat the wind by playing their football.

Aaron was working well on the wing. A free kick was taken by Tariq and Sam shot just over the bar.

The deadlock was broken when, with great work, Zeyad found Hamza J. whose cool finish gave us our first foothold in the game. 1-0.

Kinver were penalised for a pass back which we could not capitalise on. Great defending from Matty, Josh, Paddy and Jack kept the score at 1-0 at half time.

In the second half HCR started brightly and following great skill and running Tariq was brought down, the advantage was played resulting in the second goal of the match, scored by Sam making it 2-0.

Marzouk, who was having a great game weaved in and out of the red shirted Kinver lads to play a briliant ball wide to Jack whose ambitious effort found the back of the net for 3-0.

This was Jack's first goal of the season, the joy of the whole team and supporters was a delight to behold. The tempo was heating up and Marzouk fired a beautiful shot which hit the bar.

HCR mounted another great attack with the ball pinging about in the Kinver box, with Nathan managing to finish, making no mistake to bring it to 4-0.

Kinver fought back and there was some frantic activity in our box, one great save by Ethan but the ball finally ended up in our net 4-1.

HCR had more left in them, Hamza was strong and powerful in the attack and was adjudged to have committed a foul, however he won the ball back and scored a quality goal, which was well deserved of his efforts to bring the score to 5-1.

A great game in the end despite a very windy first half. 

Man of the match was awarded to Jack for being the first HCR defender to score a goal.

Well done everyone.

Up against 2nd in the table Bearwood Sports next Sunday. 

Have a good week everyone!

5 goals and 3 points as Rangers just can't stop scoring

West Hagley South 1 - Halesowen Community Rangers 5

Another tremendous win for HCR this afternoon as we visited West Hagley South away from home.

Today's game was played during this winter's first proper spell of cold weather. Matches all over the region were cancelled this morning because of the frost, but the pitch at Hagley was ok by this afternoon, so "fair play" to both teams for getting out there and also to the spectators for turning up and bearing the cold too.

Perhaps the cold weather made us a bit slow to get off the marks or maybe we should give credit to Hagley for stopping us doing much for the first 20 minutes, but once Zeyad scored a beauty in the top right corner of the net - we were once again up and running. This was the second time this season that Zeyad has scored a goal similar to this one.

With HCR now moving up the gears it wasn't long before Sam bagged the second goal, with the third and fourth coming from Maien.

In the second half we let our guard drop and allowed Hagley to sneak a cheeky one back to make it 4-1 but the match was sealed emphatically with a goal from today's skipper Hamza J to make it 5-1. Hamza's goal was assisted by great work from Marzouk

Man of the match was Ben for not letting much past him today, though there were in truth great performances all round. Javon was called upon to make a couple of saves, Aiman also had a strong game at left back in the second half and there were many other contenders for man of the match.

Our thanks to West Hagley South for being a very hospitable team with a nice bit of banter going on between spectators and a match played in good spirits, in spite of the teeth chattering weather conditions.

Well done HCR, onwards and upwards lads. Come on you Rangers!

Tomorrow's match vs. West Hagley South

Sunday's game is away against West Hagley South

Kick off 2.15pm

Another hard fought win against Pensnett Harriers

Halesowen Community Rangers 5 - Pensnett Harriers 1

Well done to the lads on Sunday for another good win, this time against 5th placed Pensnett Harriers.

With a number of core players missing this week the team came out strong with a scorching goal from Sam to put us in front. Whilst we dominated play, we did allow Pensnett to play a bit too much and draw level in the first half.

Determined uphill play in the second half eventually brought a succession of great goals from Nathan (2) and Maien (2) with some great runs and crosses from Hamza J.

Well done to everyone, with Marzouk being awarded a well deserved man of the match.

A decisive win in the end, though in fairness to Pensnett they were worthy opponents and made our defence and midfield work hard. Their big forwards were very fast at times but did not finish their chances. 

Another pleasing result - onward and upward. West Hagley next week. Come on HCR!

Away Day at Pioneer Centre

A big thanks to Abdul and the coaching team for organising such a fantastic day at the Pioneer Centre near Cleobury in Shropshire in December. Also well done to everyone for getting into the spirit of the day and participating in the outdoor activities as well as the indoor discussions and exercises.

There are lots of photos from the day on the HCR Facebook page, here's just a few to give a flavour of the day.