BackSat 28 Dec 2024 · Division Three
Ransomes Sports Hope Church F.C. First (Sat)
R Dobson (10'), (20' Pen), (27' Pen), N Calver (31'), Y Duka (65')J Cates (55' Sent Off)
5
2
Where there's hope there's a way as Ransomes find retribution in stunning victory
Paul Deacon29 Dec 2024 - 07:26
Ransomes Sports 5 Hope Church 2
That was bonkers, absolutely bonkers. It was wild, not to mention thrilling, giddy and at times, deeply confusing. If the early exchanges of this game descended broadly into a period of nothingness for the home side as they quickly fell two goals behind in the opening six minutes, then what followed was the polar opposite.
Luke Andrews was busy on the right flank as Ransomes began to enjoy spells of advanced possession. On ten minutes, he skated past his defender and cut back an inviting ball for the waiting Reece Dobson and his deft finish into the roof of the net reduced the deficit in half for the home side.
At last Ransomes had responded with a greater urgency but it was the early introduction of substitute Jack Cates that added that extra guile and cutting edge to totally turn this game on its head. It was only five minutes after coming on that Hope Church were penalised for a poor challenge on the marauding wide man inside the box and Reece Dobson stepped up to calmly put away the resultant spot kick as Ransomes drew level.
Groundhog day, and a similar incision by Jack Cates on 26 minutes lured the hapless Hope defender into a further crude takedown to halt his progress resulting in a further penalty for Ransomes. It was the same corner, the same outcome and the same scorer as Reece Dobson completed a 17 minute hat-trick, and for the first time in this game Ransomes were ahead.
It got even better for Ransomes on 31 minutes as Jack Randall whipped in a wicked corner from the right, which was met on the full by the unchallenged Neil Calver, and his thumping header back into the opposite corner, extended Ransomes' lead.
Controversy then struck on 39 minutes in bizarre fashion. Jack Cates had been determined to enjoy himself despite the extra attention and he cut in from the left to unleash a venomous drive that had the keeper groping at thin air. Struck so violently, the ball hit the back stanchion and re-entered the field of play. Exhibit A - here was the moment when Ransomes celebrated and the Hope Church defenders stood in despair....... but wait, the referee claimed he didn't see the ball enter the net and waived play on. In the greater scheme of things, it was to matter little, but a goal for Jack Cates would have been a deserved reward for his overall play and contribution in getting his side ahead at the break.
The second half was only ten minutes old when Jack Cates afternoon ended with more controversy when he stretched in to an over eager challenge that probably warranted a yellow, but arguably, Ransomes best player on the pitch at that time, received a straight red.
Steady there - this is not done yet, with a further 40 minutes still to play out. What did Hope have? Steadily they began to create openings, forcing Ransomes into moments of close defending in extremis. Understandably, Hope now had more second half possession, and just as many shots. Overall, Ransomes did not have a great deal of slack here, no periods of chill, no sense of how to rest on the ball. At times, during an angsty second half, that two goal cushion started to feel precarious.
Ransomes now played on the break, pushed back by Hope's vigour in midfield but all they possessed was a relentless yet blunt threat that floundered around the centre of Ransomes' defence.
Cue the inevitable as Yani Duka banished any hope of a comeback from the visitors on 65 minutes. On a rare foray deep into the Hope half, Ransomes earnt themselves a corner and from Kav Warner's left wing delivery, Duka headed home from within a crowded six yard box - it took the wind out of the visitors sails.
Hope's onslaught continued in the descending fog that shrouded Sidegate Avenue, but Ransomes dug in deep and kept the back door firmly bolted as they restricted an increasingly frustrated visitors to attempts from distance that did little to threaten the score-line.
Perhaps Hope will linger on fine details, moments that might have gone differently - their start had promised something more classical. They would have fancied their chances following a focused beginning where they enjoyed a two goal opening ten minute salvo, but the remainder of the half laid bare their fault lines as Ransomes located an ignition point to force their way back into the game, and ultimately secure an impressive win.
Luke Andrews was busy on the right flank as Ransomes began to enjoy spells of advanced possession. On ten minutes, he skated past his defender and cut back an inviting ball for the waiting Reece Dobson and his deft finish into the roof of the net reduced the deficit in half for the home side.
At last Ransomes had responded with a greater urgency but it was the early introduction of substitute Jack Cates that added that extra guile and cutting edge to totally turn this game on its head. It was only five minutes after coming on that Hope Church were penalised for a poor challenge on the marauding wide man inside the box and Reece Dobson stepped up to calmly put away the resultant spot kick as Ransomes drew level.
Groundhog day, and a similar incision by Jack Cates on 26 minutes lured the hapless Hope defender into a further crude takedown to halt his progress resulting in a further penalty for Ransomes. It was the same corner, the same outcome and the same scorer as Reece Dobson completed a 17 minute hat-trick, and for the first time in this game Ransomes were ahead.
It got even better for Ransomes on 31 minutes as Jack Randall whipped in a wicked corner from the right, which was met on the full by the unchallenged Neil Calver, and his thumping header back into the opposite corner, extended Ransomes' lead.
Controversy then struck on 39 minutes in bizarre fashion. Jack Cates had been determined to enjoy himself despite the extra attention and he cut in from the left to unleash a venomous drive that had the keeper groping at thin air. Struck so violently, the ball hit the back stanchion and re-entered the field of play. Exhibit A - here was the moment when Ransomes celebrated and the Hope Church defenders stood in despair....... but wait, the referee claimed he didn't see the ball enter the net and waived play on. In the greater scheme of things, it was to matter little, but a goal for Jack Cates would have been a deserved reward for his overall play and contribution in getting his side ahead at the break.
The second half was only ten minutes old when Jack Cates afternoon ended with more controversy when he stretched in to an over eager challenge that probably warranted a yellow, but arguably, Ransomes best player on the pitch at that time, received a straight red.
Steady there - this is not done yet, with a further 40 minutes still to play out. What did Hope have? Steadily they began to create openings, forcing Ransomes into moments of close defending in extremis. Understandably, Hope now had more second half possession, and just as many shots. Overall, Ransomes did not have a great deal of slack here, no periods of chill, no sense of how to rest on the ball. At times, during an angsty second half, that two goal cushion started to feel precarious.
Ransomes now played on the break, pushed back by Hope's vigour in midfield but all they possessed was a relentless yet blunt threat that floundered around the centre of Ransomes' defence.
Cue the inevitable as Yani Duka banished any hope of a comeback from the visitors on 65 minutes. On a rare foray deep into the Hope half, Ransomes earnt themselves a corner and from Kav Warner's left wing delivery, Duka headed home from within a crowded six yard box - it took the wind out of the visitors sails.
Hope's onslaught continued in the descending fog that shrouded Sidegate Avenue, but Ransomes dug in deep and kept the back door firmly bolted as they restricted an increasingly frustrated visitors to attempts from distance that did little to threaten the score-line.
Perhaps Hope will linger on fine details, moments that might have gone differently - their start had promised something more classical. They would have fancied their chances following a focused beginning where they enjoyed a two goal opening ten minute salvo, but the remainder of the half laid bare their fault lines as Ransomes located an ignition point to force their way back into the game, and ultimately secure an impressive win.
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