Combined Counties Midweek League Cup
Team: Tucker, Rogers, Tucker, Tucker, Petrie, Carolan, Salah, Louvrier, Cohen, Fatri, Shephard
Subs: Medeiros, Addy, Berry, Nygaard-Parsons, Webster
There had been so much rainfall leading up to the match that I was less than 50/50 in favour of travelling. And it was still raining when I decided to set off, but thankfully it had stopped by the time I came out of Hatton Cross Underground Station.
Upon arrival at the Stadium, I have to say that the pitch looked in surprisingly good condition. I then headed for the Clubhouse and shortly after, a bundle of matchday programmes arrived.
The starting line-up soon followed, and I was surprised to see there were three players listed with the same surname. (And it turned out that only two of them were related).
Rangers took the lead after just three minutes when a cross from the right towards the near-post, entered the net via a CB Hounslow defender.
The home side went close to an equaliser when a lob directed towards the goal hit the crossbar, and the ball was then cleared to safety.
However, the R’s doubled their lead when Mai Louvrier fired the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box.
As Rangers looked to increase their lead further, Grace Shephard’s excellent strike was saved at the near-post.
Two changes were made which saw the introduction of Emilia Nygaard-Parsons and Frankie Webster.
A 25-yard lifted-attempt from the home side went for a corner. Half-time: 2-0.
With Heathrow Airport in such close proximity, every few minutes or so, aircraft flew very low overhead.
Following a fairly even opening to the second-half, CB (which incidentally stands for ‘Cedar Bank’) Hounslow pulled a goal back on the hour-mark.
An excellent run down the left-flank by Emilia Nygaard-Parsons led to an effort on goal going just wide of the target.
The home side were edging back into the game, but decisively, Mai Louvrier belted the ball into the back of the net from 25-yards.
Rangers went further ahead after Emilia Nygaard-Parsons got through on goal and the R’s substitute then finished with a powerful strike.
A fifth goal followed in the closing stages, courtesy of Assia Fatri.
Thanks to Karen Hampshire for the lift to Hillingdon Station.
Steve Russell