Geelong Rangers SC News

Pre Season Training

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:31:00 GMT

Rangers Pre-Season Training

After a solid turn out on Monday night, Geelong Rangers will continue again on Wednesday Night the 3rd December.

Venue: St.Helens Beach, St.Helens

Time: 6:30pm

***Please bring Boots and Runners***

Google Map:

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=st.helens+beach+geelong&sll=-38.147788,144.376831&sspn=0.127438,0.219727&ie=UTF8&ll=-38.122167,144.355738&spn=0.008373,0.013733&z=16

Please be a little early if possible, everyone welcome.

Rangers Season At A Glance

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:25:00 GMT

Rangers Clinch Title

For the second time in 4 years, Rangers has finished the year as champions. In 2005 coaches Scott Davison and Troy Hardy lead the team to the Provisional 1 title after a 25 year drought. After 2 years in division 3 finishing mid table, Rangers went with a new coach and a different playing style. Robbie Noggler was appointed as the new coach to lead a 2008 charge. Robbie was keen to keep as much players from the original squad but also add a few, he wasted no time in signing Jason Malesic and Ronnie Clayson, with another signing Danny Ortiz in July. This gave Rangers the depth that had been missing over the last few years, which is what Robbie was looking for.

The first test for the new look Rangers was the Geelong Community Shield (Geelong Addy Cup), With Rangers seeded they found themselves in an easier group than expected. Bell Park, Corio and new side Surfcoast, Rangers ran out comfortable winners 3 - 0, 2 - 1 and 2 - 0 respectfully. Rangers then played Geelong in a Semi Final, and with North Geelong knocked out at group stage the winner would be hot favorites to win the cup.

Rangers played very excellent for the circumstances, with Scott Davison sent off in the opening 10 minutes it was a up hill battle. In all fairness Rangers had the better chances to win but could not get the goal needed, so after normal and extra time the score was still 0 - 0. So it was left for a penalty shoot out, with Geelong winning 5 - 4. The game was a great spectacle for the spectators and it was a great taste of things to come from both sides.

The first game of the year was against a relegated division 2 side, so Rangers were about to find out where they stood early on. Rangers started very well winning 3 - 1, it looked good but Rangers still could not get ahead of themselves. However Rangers second game was a nightmare, after dominating the play for most of the game. Rangers suffered their first setback, losing 4 - 2 to Westvale. Rangers did bounce back well over the next 2 weeks with a tough draw against North Sunshine 2 - 2 and a win against La Trobe Uni 3 - 2. With the confidence high after a win against rivals La Trobe Uni, Rangers suffered another set back, losing the next match away to Banyule 2 - 0.

After the poor result Rangers went on an amazing run, with 9 games unbeaten. In total 5 draws and 4 wins. This was the launching pad that Rangers needed, with the top sides dropping points Rangers just kept going. With 8 games to go Rangers were still 9 points off the lead, and the 2 teams that were starting to look the strongest were Rangers and Sydenham Park. Rangers did have another stumble after the 9 game run, with a loss to relegation struggling La Trobe Uni. How ever this was the loss that Rangers needed to get them focused on the run home. Over the next 6 matches Rangers won 5 and drew 1, this run of games had Rangers placed top by 2 points with 1 match to play. It all came down to the last match of the year, Rangers to face second placed Sydenham Park. With both sides already guaranteed promotion, it was all set for a massive match.

Rangers jumped to a 3 - 0 lead in the first half, but in the second Sydenham made a remarkable comeback with a player sent off, Sydenham managed to score 2 goals. Rangers held on for a massive club win and champions again.

Special mentions:

Troy Hardy and James Blackburn were unbelievable, scoring 38 goals between them Troy 20 & James 18.

Scott Davison had another great year, wining another club Best & Fairest.

Ronnie Clayson's season away at Geelong in 2007 did wonders for him. His contribution to the side this year was also a standout.

Rangers First Team squad:

Brady Black

David Ellis (captain)

Ronnie Clayson

Brian Conn

Stuart Begg

Jono Ryan

Scott Davison

Drew Corry

Cedo Rakic

Juma Wade

Darren McCallum

Daniel Early

Jason Malesic

Daniel Ortiz

Troy Hardy

James Blackburn

Evan Black

More Photo's of the last game click on link

http://geelongrangers.sportzvault.com/gallery.aspx?id=1891

Test News Item From FFV Site

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 05:33:00 GMT

Canberra’s Ellie Brush set the tone with the first goal of the match courtesy of spectacular goal in the 35th minutes despite the efforts of the Victory backline.

Brush’s initially hit the cross bar with a header from a Chapman corner before Sasha McDonnell followed up from the rebound but he attempt was cleared off the line with the Victory defence before the captain put the home side in front.

The visitors had the first chance of the game only five minutes from kick off when Sophie Hogben found herself in space but couldn’t beat Lydia Williams in goal with a shot directly into the arms of the goal keeper.

After Brush gave Canberra United the lead with her third goal of the season, McDonnell should have made doubled the lead when the striker found herself all alone on goal but a great stop by Victory keeper Melissa Barbieri kept her side in the game at half time.

It didn’t take long for the home side to nearly extend their lead in the second half when striker Caitlin Munoz cut inside at the top of the eighteen yard box but struck her shot just over the bar after only five minutes into the second stanza.

Seven minutes later, Canberra United continued to press forward as Munoz played a ball into the box from the left hand corner which sailed over everyone’s head including Barbieri but Chapman volleyed the opportunity over the gaping goal.

Victory nearly made Canberra United pay for the missed opportunity two minutes later when Selin Kurulay came within a coat of paint of levelling the scores when her shot beat Williams but struck the crossbar.

As time worn down, Melbourne continued to press forward and create opportunities in search for an equaliser but it was Canberra who nearly scored when the pacey McDonnell chased down a back pass which nearly defected straight to substitute Ashleigh Sykes after Barbieri tried to clear the ball.

From an angle Sykes should have put her side two goals to the better but managed to miss the target despite Barbieri stranded near the top of the box.