Give Away

After going into the lead and commanding large parts of the game, Rangers let the game slip away with 2 soft goals. Heads down and feeling sorry for themselves they were in fear of being thrashed when 1-4 down in the second half. But the last 10 minutes saw a rally and several chances went begging but only a consolation second was scored. Reward for his hard work in the first half Richard Chandler grabbed both goals.
 

Improved Performance

Up against a handy first division outfit Nascot held there own for the first twenty minutes and stops from ‘the back to form’ Martin Richardson kept the balance even. Shots from Alex Johnson and Ridwan Koodruth kept Nascot in the match. However, it was the excellent performance of Alex Combridge alongside Rob West in central defence that caught the eye. Against the hill made hard work of the game and Hornets kept the attacks coming with Glen White protected by Lee Conwell, busy on the left flank. A superb diving tackle by Rob West and the two clearances off the line he made showed the direction the game was going.

Phil Thomas again excellent in midfield was partnered by Daniel Nightingale and this worked well with the pace of Koodruth and support from Dexter Davies-Smith up front.

Rangers pressed and harried but Hemel are a good team and played neat passing football. Nascot’s determination was eventually awarded late in the game when Conwell was adjudged to have been shoved when aiming to head Nascot’s first goal. Michael Williams stepped up and slotted home the penalty. With their tails in the air Nascot pressed and pressed and Richard Chandler whose pace throughout the second half had worried the Hornets, took on three players and eventually got in his pass across the goal and Conwell arrived at the far post to strike for Nascots second. He was unlucky to miss out again when Rangers excellent passing football saw his turning shot from the penalty spot fire over the bar. However he was rewarded on the final whistle when his long range shot from well outside the box crept in between the bar and the tips of the keepers fingers.

A heavy goal against tally belies the effort and performance from Rangers which was much improved from last time out. It also showed that when they pressed and put the effort in, the goals would come. Some excellent individual performance today gives the team some self belief for a return to the league.
 

Nascot Crash

A pretty poor performance in the first half and a slight improvement in the second saw Rangers crash to their worst defeat in over two years. Ridwan Koodruth’s battling earned him a goal and too many players were not showing the same commitment and determination.
 

Battling Draw

A battling draw from a match full of incident saw Nascot equalise from a Michael Williams header set up by Phil Thomas
 

‘One of the Chuckle Brothers’

Not much went Nascots way and having given a goal away 2 minutes into the game it was always going to be uphill. The weather played a part in a game that split the teams after some clumsy defending allowed Chorleywood to fumble the ball in. Shortly afterwards Rangers were penalized for a back pass when the ball was bouncing around in the mud was deemed to have been deliberately passed back. The shot from 10 yards was charged down by the brave Nascot wall.
 
Martin Richardson was then called into action when he brilliantly tipped a fierce shot onto the bar and having gained confidence was never beaten by an on target shot in the match again. Mitan Thaker and Ridwan Koodruth played well in the early stages in front and swapped headers setting up Lee Conwelll for a great shot saved by the keeper. As usual Phil Thomas was ever present in midfield and Rob West was busy creating alongside him. Fierce tackling in the mud from Richard Chandler and Glen White protected the left flank but Chorleywood played neater football in the first half, using the unboggy flanks. Nascot preferred the central route and ball simply stopped in the puddles! The best chance coming from a Thomas corner flicked onwards by Michael Williams but saved by the keeper.
 
The second half was a better performance from Rangers and Alex Johnson showed grit both defending and creating. Alex Combridges goal saving tackle mid way through the half kept the team in the game and driving forward chances came from crosses from both flanks by both Sam Colbeck and Lee Conwell. Daniel Nightingale adding some muscle to the front line was not enough and Rangers almost suffered a sucker punch but Richardson and Combridge managed to somehow scramble the ball to safety.
 
The last 10 minutes were all Nascot and wave after wave of attacks could not penetrate. Some interesting decisions going each way added an uncertainty to the game that the weather had already compounded.
 

So Close

Nascot let a draw slip through their fingers 3 minutes from time when Bovingdon scored the winner.

Some good performances on the pitch today and Rangers upset the form book going ahead on 11 minutes with a neatly taken strike from just inside the box from Ridwan Koodruth. Bovingdon struck back within one minute and then went ahead only for Nascot to deservedly equalize on 25 minutes with another finely taken shot from Mitan Thaker. Bovingdon struggled to hold Nascot and either team could have gone ahead before half time.

Second half efforts from Thaker, Phil Thomas, Dexter Davies-Smith and Alex Johnson could not break the deadlock and when it seemed the points would be shared Bovvy struck.

It didn’t seem that Nascot would win it in the second half, but they certainly did not deserve to take no points from an evenly fought contest.
 

Perfect Hatrick

Dexter Davies-Smith marked his return to the team with a perfect hatrick (right foot, left foot and a header). His first coming on 3 minutes meeting Sam Colbecks perfect corner at the far post. His second; the header taking the neat chip from Phil Thomas when the keeper missed the bounce of the ball. The third on 50 minutes when he attacked a loose ball chipping the oncoming keeper with his left. Busy throughout the match he almost made it 4 in the second half.

Nascot’s return to winning ways was made hard going in a game when they dominated large portions of play. Excellent performances in central defence from Michael Williams and Alex Combridge who without the Davies-Smith hatrick, would have easily run away with the award. His tackles at the end of the first half were game saving for Rangers. Richard Chalmers making only his second appearance was again busy and defended with passion. Colbeck on the flank was busy but his team mates continually played through the middle and his efforts were often missed. Ridwan Koodruth stole the forth goal on 25 minutes when the keeper fumbled and he was first on scene to mop up.

2-1 up at half time and then 3-1 in front Nascot slowed the pace and allowed Ajax back into the match and the game was certainly then on! Defending with all their efforts Alex Johnson and Glen White both put in crunching tackles. White coming off worse and limped trough the remainder of the match. Chalmers also limped off injured before the games conclusion.

Rob West was very unlucky to see his turn and shot curl onto the post and his efforts throughout the match were never in doubt, storming all over the park. Supported up front by Mitan Thaker in the second half, his determination almost released Johnson whose unmarked run saw him free to provide a useful curling cross that ran painfully across the mouth of the goal eluding the attacking West and Thaker. He again set Johnson up on the edge of the box with his shot going over the upright.

Thomas in the holding midfield role was superb, winning the headers and providing some very incisive passes to the front men. Supported in midfield by Captain Lee Conwell whose saving tackle on the stroke of full time in the box kept the Nascot points safe. Another mention must also go to Martin Richardson in goal whose point blank save in the second half demonstrated his ability to stay focused and he was on hand to support Conwell to smother out the final attack from Ajax.

In summary a good even match but Nascot should have finished the game off and allowed Bedmond too many chances to get back into the game. Not enough use of wide play kept the congested midfield busy and when the eventual crunching tackles came in, Rangers were up for it. But this was almost too late and Bedmond were unlucky not to get something from the match.
 

Flaunden Voodoo Continues

Unable to keep the winning streak going, Rangers returned to Flauden and yet again came away with nothing but misery.

The first half was simply rubbish. Nascot started slowly and although dominating the early play allowed Bovingdon to score regularly through the half. A finger tip save from Martin Richardson the only real good moment. Sam Colbeck returned to the side and pushed on down the left with some vigor but the half will be remembered for a fierce drive into the nether regions of the closing Mitan Thaker. One to make the eye’s water just thinking about it!

The second half showed a bit more promise but Nascot could still not contain Bovingdon and only threatened with a scorching shot from Colbeck, tipped over by the keeper.

Lee Conwell was the only driving force for Nascot today and demonstrated a large amount of passion through his tackling and effort. It was not enough on a day when too many were not up for the fight.
 

‘Unbeaten’ Run Back on Track

Nascot put themselves back on winning ways on the road at Croxley. Boasting several classy players in their ranks Croxley almost went ahead in 2 minutes when a clearance from Martin Richardson hit Daniel Nightingales back and the unmarked centre forward managed to miss an open goal!

Not to be denied their own luck again, Nascot peppered the Croxley penalty areas for the next 5 minutes and putting the keeper under pressure a across from Rob West was not cleared by the keeper and Louis Gullin pounced to clear up and claim his sixth of the season. More chances then went begging and it wasn’t for another half an hour that West turned supplier again for Ridders to strike his seasons first. Lee Conwell again was very influential in midfield alongside Phil Thomas and his header just cleared the bar. A flicked header from West’s corner by Michael Williams also just landed on the top netting.

Alex Johnson was busy on the right supporting Dexter Davies Smith and they both gave a usual supply of balls for the strikers.

In a five minute blaze after half time Rangers wrapped the game up first from a West strike and then when Thomas became supplier with a right footed cross from the corner flag for the arriving Alex Combridge to net at the far post. With the game won by this stage, Nascot were almost punished but Daniel Nightingales brave tackle saved the day. Richardson was called on to make a save half way through the half at the near post and Nascot still showed plenty of passion when the game warmed up after some tough challenges but with the final whistle nearing they went to sleep for Croxley to nick a goal late on.

Job done, Nascot are back to winning again.
 

13 Heroes

County Cup challengers Potters Bar from the Rural Herts first division could have expected an easier run, looking at the fixture on paper, but Rangers had other ideas on a day that saw them put in a monumental effort to hold the opponents to a draw at full time and even possibly have nicked it in extra time.

There were too many excellent performances today and it would be unfair to single any player out. But I will just say that Phil Thomas’s equaliser on 50 minutes was probably the best goal we have scored for some time, turning on the edge of the box and curling an effort over the keeper into the far corner. Adding to this a brilliant save from Martin Richardson to keep the score equal in extra time, diving backwards to tip a power driven shot over the bar using his finger tips.

All around the pitch Nascot players were having their own battles and it was the frustration of the opponents that increased having realised that they were being held (and rightly so) by a team 4 divisions below their equivalent status.

Before the match Coach Tony Nightingale asked the players to stand up and be counted in a game they could not realistically be expected to win but to perform well and put in the effort. Even Tony was impressed with the sheer determination and commitment shown.

Up front Mitan Thaker, Louis Gullin and later Ridwan Koodruth continually caused problems. In midfield Robert West and Lee Conwell were enormous, along with Dexter Davies-Smith (playing only his second full game since breaking his leg in February)!

The defence were resolute and probably worked hardest all game amongst all the players. From Alex Johnson tackling like a banshee and Alex Combridge battling on the flank, to Daniel Nightingale and Michael William holding firm in the middle. Later joined by Glen White whose timely intervention in the second half helped keep it level.

Extra time was evenly matched and could have gone either way. Both teams having chances to seal the game up.

No one wants to see penalties and it was Potters Bar who scored the extra goal, after Richardson had saved the penultimate effort.

A credit to all the players who were never daunted by the gulf in league status. A credible result and a lesson in determination and effort that Rangers can take forward into the League and League Cup competitions. Well done to all the players today and unlucky at the final push! Nascot did not turn up to be bridesmaids today and they almost took the honours. Well done.

Nascot Make it Hard Going

The third win in a week for Nascot, belayed the performance today which was sluggish and not of a higher enough standard. Harpenden came and made it difficult for Rangers in the first half an in the second half almost drew even when the score was 2-1.

Starting quickly Nascot relied too heavily on the long ball and although Rob West and Louis Gullin fed off the supply there was no real end product. Gullin fired over twice, with further shots from Dexter Davies-Smith and Lee Conwell. The first goal came from Nascot pushing forward, Alex Johnson curling in a neat cross field pass for Conwell to pounce and slip past the keeper. Further pressure saw an overhead effort from Phil Thomas hit the bar and Michael Williams pressed onwards but could not find the killer shot. The Colts keeper was on form and further attempts were all thwarted. Brave tackling from Johnson and Daniel Nightingale kept the Colts at bay but a superb diving save from Martin Richardson ensured the defence stayed resolute. But just before the half hour mark, Gullin battled to win the ball in the box and his deserved first was slipped into the corner.

The second half saw an improved Nascot performance and Conwell and Davies-Smith started to dominate the midfield, which was anchored well by Thomas. The right flank gave Nascot their best avenue for attack and all the best moves were created starting from Johnson, Nightingale and Alex Combridge in defence and moving through to the busy Mitan Thaker supporting Gullin. Thaker was unlucky to see his header blocked on the line and West had a shot saved. But Conwell and Davies-Smith pushed on and eventually created more chances with Ridwan Koodruth blasting just wide and Gullin arriving from a Glen White cross shooting just past the post.

But Harpenden’s efforts were rewarded and could have had two had a narrow off side decision not denied them. But Gullin pressed the majority advantage further latching onto a pass from Thomas and beating the approaching keeper. Colts won a penalty for handball but could not make it count and Nascot survived the day.

The result is what counts but the performance could have been better. Too much reliance on long balls and taking on too many players in the first half and just a bit too slow to capitalise on their possession in the second half. However, Nascot can be proud of 3 wins in three games.
 

Gullin Double  Breaks Deadlock

For over seventy minutes the game was evenly balanced with early efforts from Rob West, Alex Johnson, Ridwan Koodruth and Lee Conwell. Phil Thomas again dominated the middle of the park and was later reinforced by Michael Williams and making his Nascot debut Dexter Davies-Smith. He worked some good opportunities on the right and made himself a handful for the defence. Mitan Thaker was busy in the first half but Nascot could not find a way through and may have seen themselves go behind without the intervention of Daniel Nightingale and Alex Combridge.

The second half was also evenly balanced and it took the new partnership of West and Louis Gullin to break the deadlock striking panic in the Youth defence more and more as the half went on and with Nascot in the ascendancy it seemed like the pressure would eventually break through. However Martin Richardson was called upon to dominate from corners and when Youth broke through to bravely smother out the attacks. Glen White had a solid game and with Sam Colbeck being taken off injured Conwell filled in on the flank. Slowly Nascot pressed forward and with lightning pace Gullin was set through twice in three minutes to destroy Youths hopes of getting anything from the game.

But, Nascot fell asleep on the stroke of the final whistle to allow Chorleywood a consolation goal.

Two games, two wins. Few complaints from the crowd who saw an entertaining evenly matched game which Nascot stole in the last minutes of the match.