CUP MATCH POSTPONED

The cup game against Carew Rangers has been postponed due to the opposition being unable to field a team. They requested the postponement within Little League rules. A new fixtures list is avaliable on the WLL website.

CUP DRAW COMPLETE

Grange Rovers will play Carew Rangers in the 11am Kick Off in the Cup Semi Final next Sunday (27th October).
The first finalist will have been decided by that time with Stafford Utd playing Warren Town at 10am.
The two losing teams will go into the plate draw with Hilliers Athletic and Woodcote Wanderers to be played on 24th November.
The Cup and Plate Final, along with the Shield Final for the losing plate semi-finalists will be played as part of our show piece end of season celebrations on the 30th March.

GRANGE ROVERS 3-3 STAFFORD UNITED

What a thriller! Grange Rovers scored three goals for the fifth game in a row and Alfie notched up his ninth and tenth of season. 3-3 was probably the right result in the end but early on it looked like it could be so much better.

The Oranges started in fine style with a physical line up designed to match up the reds in midfield. Jack B, Hayden and Tyrell started at the back with Sean pushed up alongside Jack D in the centre of midfield and Alfie and Riley up front, of the smaller players in the team Dorrell started in a free role in midfield and Mus and Jack F started on the bench.

An early Alfie goal after a Riley pass and good pressure from the midfield, shutting out any red threat made it look like there was only one team in it. Grange Rovers pressed and enjoyed a great deal of possession but couldn’t beak down a strong red defence.

Tyrell, clearly motivated by the need for the bragging rights in is own home after the game, threw himself into every tackle, with Jack B and Hayden mopping up in a more measured way behind him.

Luke did everything that was asked of him stopping the ball down low once and sweeping up on a second occasion.  There was nothing more he could have done to save the excellent equalizer which ricocheted in off the bar.

1-1 at half time seemed a little harsh but the final score of 3-3 was probably fair. 

The second Grange Rovers' goal was made in the defence with Jack B winning a last ditch tackle and sending it forward. After a flowing move Dorrell scored with an exquisite lob.

If there is a weakness to the Grange Rovers mindset it is that there are too many defensive minded players and once they were ahead again the back line dropped deep and invited pressure. Jack F and Mus worked hard at keeping the ball in midfield but first one then two red goals found the back of the net, despite the best efforts of Riley who made more saves than the two he conceded and who'd bravely donned the gloves after Luke had left the field hurt at half time.

It was late in the game and talismanic midfielder Jack D came of with a twisted knee, it looked to be all over, Stafford seemed to have the points when up popped Alfie to score with a drive of a quality you don’t see very often and to secure a deserved point.

Tyrell was awarded man of the match for his tough tackling approach, and we hope his sister who played in midfield for the opposition well after she left the park to have a painful and swollen hand looked at.

The game was played in the best of spirits with both teams giving 100%, it was a full blooded affair, but the friendly nature of the relationships between players, spectators and coaches showed the league off to its very best, well done to all involved.

Alfie (2)
Dorrell

MOTM Tyrell

GRANGE ROVERS vs STAFFORD UTD PREVIEW

This second vs third clash looks to be an exciting match on paper. Certainly it is a match up between two strong sides both physically and in a footballing sense. There were some epic clashed between these two last season and while Rovers just shaded the league outings, Utd had the upper hand in the quarter finals of the cup, although they were knocked out in the semis only to finish runners up to Rovers in the plate.

The Oranges are without Josh who played out of his skin in last week's battling performance. They will be hoping Alfie carries on in his rich vein of scoring form, and that Hayden and Jack carry on forging their understanding at the heart of the defence. 

If Rovers carry on their pattern of scoring three in every match, it will require a mammoth defensive effort to convert those goals into points against a side that offer the sort of threat that Liam and Jacob can muster. 

The game also could see a family match up with Tyrell lining up against Sinead.

HILLIERS ATHLETIC 1 - 3 GRANGE ROVERS Enough to make the cup draw!

It seems that all you have to do to beat Grange Rovers is score four goals! For the fourth week in succession Rovers scored three. This time the opposition could only muster one in reply.

In the opening exchanges the team in orange got on top, stroking it around. The lack of Tyrell and Sean meant that Jack D started at the back alongside last week's man of the match Hayden, and the ever reliable Jack B, returning from injury. This looked solid and with Riley partnering Alfie upfront left a tenacious Jack F, captaining the side for the first time, bossing the centre of midfiel. He was flanked by Josh who looks more the part with every game, and the diminutive box of tricks which is Mus.

An intelligent Riley through ball saw Alfie guide home the opener and yet again the Rovers looked to be well on top.

Jack F was desperately unlucky not to score an early goal of the season contender when he let one fly from distance as it ricocheted out from a corner and he met it half way inside the Yellow's half, only to see it clatter the bar, bounce off the line and be scrambled away. Minutes later he was lying injured in the left back position but bounced up and struggled on until half time.

Although Rovers were unlucky not to be two or even three up at half time and Luke had little to do they conceded late in the half. In a carbon copy of all three Carew goals last week a defender turned inside and gifted the ball to the onrushing Joe who found Lucas in space who made the most of the opportunity and made it 1-1.

TURN OUT BOYS! and IF IN DOUBT PUT IT OUT!

In the second half Jack D went between the sticks and made an early save reminiscent of his superb Maroons performances. The Rovers weathered some early pressure with man of the match Jack F, Jack B and Hayden making some excellent tackles. Riley dropped deep in midfield and started pulling the strings with some great passing and through balls, but it was a Josh chipped through ball that Alfie latched onto for his second of the game and eighth of the season.

After this Rovers got back on top and despite a couple of scares made sure of the result with a goal straight from a corner from Dorrell whose second half performance reminded us all what we had been missing last week, in terms of an outlet and made a good case for winning man of the match.

Luke made his outfield debut and caused the keeper some problems with his physical presence.

As the whistle went the orange drown rat army could be satisfied with a job well done, enough points on the board to guarantee a place in the cup semi final draw and within striking distance of the top.

HILLIERS ATHLETIC vs GRANGE ROVERS PREVIEW

From little league to the premier league mangers like to trot out truisms like "there's no easy games in football."

At the beginning of last season the newly formed Yellows would have been considered an easy game.  However hard work and loyalty are important factors in football and Orville and Dan have inspired both in their team, additions have only improved a team that has stuck together and trained hard and are now a force to be reckoned with.

Chris and Brad should have a full squad to pick from and hope to return to winning ways against a strong Hilliers side.
This third vs forth clash could go a long way to determining who makes the cut for the cup semis. COYOs.

GRANGE ROVERS 3-3 CAREW RANGERS

After taking an early lead Rovers had to show a lot of heart and determination to come back from 3-1 down at half time.
All three goals came from Alfie. The first one was a neat tap in from a after a quality cross from Riley who had pulled out to the right. For the next few minutes it looked like Rovers would dominate as Jack D, Josh and Jack F took control in midfield, stroking the ball around with an air of confidence. Behind them the defence had picked itself in the absence of Jack B.
A series of lapses lead to three Royal Blue goals in quick succession and the team  in orange finished the half two goals adrift.
With Riley volunteering to stand between the sticks in the second half, Mus took his place along side Alfie up front and Jack D marshalled his midfield in a gutsy performance, leading by example he worked his socks off, breaking up Rangers play and distributing the ball.
Hayden had clearly listened to every word of the half time team talk and was faultless at the heart of the defence in the second half. Riley behind him made a couple of confidence boosting saves and Rovers were on the front foot again. It looked like the Oranges would have to take solis from a strong but fruitless second half when Alfie gave them hope with a long range strike which looped over the defence, beat the keeper and rippled the back of the net.
At 3-2 the confidence and determination came flooding back and with the defence looking stronger by the minute the boys started to believe that they could get something from the game.
Alfie struck again, this time running onto a sweet through ball and winning the battle of wits one-on-one with the keeper. A roar went up from the team and the spectators and with 3 minutes remaining a victory wasn't beyond the bounds of possibility.
But for a couple of off-sides it might have been all three points, it wasn't to be, but Grange Rovers can be pleased with a second half where every man gave his all and got a deserved point from the game, which lifts Rovers to third in the league at this early stage.
When heart is required Grange Rovers so often turn up trumps, it was the case again today and a depleted squad can be very  of what they achieved.

GRANGE ROVERS vs CAREW RANGERS A PREVIEW (KO 11am)

With Jack B and Dorrell definitely unavailable and Tyrell unwell for training yesterday  the team could well pick itself for this fixture.
Carew have started the season with a draw and a loss, but in a much more even division this year and two of the tougher games already behind them in the first quarter of the season, they will be looking for that first victory.
New manager, Jason, has a very similar look to his team to Rovers with a core of players retained from last year being joined by a few new faces.
This will be a tough game, there are no bankers in WLL any more and I fancy Rangers to pick up three points soon.
Chris and Brad will be looking for a strong performance from a depleted squad today and the boys will need to work hard and concentrate for the entire match.
The team will meet at 1040am for an 11am kick off.
COYO