Match of the week: Thornton C U-16 2 Blackpool Rngrs U-16 6
Six-goal spree for Hogan hotshots
thornton cleveleys Under-16s will be delighted to see the back of Blackpool Rangers this season following a third defeat at their hands.
Having done a league double over Sunday’s hosts, Rangers knocked them out of the Hogan Cup at the first round stage in emphatic style, scoring three goals to Thornton’s one in each half.
However, from Thornton’s point of view this was a massive improvement on the 10-1 defeat in the teams’ last league encounter, prompting manager James Smith to say: “I’m really quite proud of my team.”
Indeed, Thornton gave a very good account of themselves in the early stages, pulling level after the visitors had taken an early lead.
It was Grant Dell who opened the scoring after 10 minutes with the first of three polished first-half finishes by his side.
But the home side were rewarded for their positive response, equalising with an accurate side-foot finish from Jack Powell.
However, two goals before half-time put Rangers in control and, Thornton manager Smith admitted, the home side’s heads began to drop.
It was Mark France, a recent signing from Wyre Juniors, who restored Rangers’ lead in only his second game for the club. France’s former club are Rangers’ next opponents
And it was Tom Barkhuizen who made it 3-1 at the break with a sweet shot.
Rangers’ fourth was possibly the pick of the bunch, with scorer Dell turning provider.
He followed a fine run down the right with a pinpoint cross to the far post for Adam Sumner to cap a man-of-the-match display by firing the ball into the roof of the net.
The visitors were now in total command and it soon became 6-1 as both Barkhuizen and Dell netted a second, the latter earning his reward for a hard-working display down the right flank.
Although the game was lost, Thornton summoned up enough Spirit to take the game to Rangers in the closing quarter. Their reward was a consolation goal, drilled into the roof of the net by Mitchell Martin.
That goal could not take the shine off the victory for Rangers, who bounced back in ideal style from their 7-2 defeat by league leaders Clifton Rangers in their last match before Christmas.
And manager Shaun Taylor is confident of mounting a title challenge in the second half of the season as well as continuing their cup run.
He said: “We have only lost twice in the league (the other defeat was to Poulton in the opening game) and had offdays on both occasions.”
Centre-half Lee Carter was the Thornton man of the match but was run close by the excellent Nick Webster in centre midfield.
And manager Smith saw reasons to be cheerful going into the second half of the league campaign.
He said: “I think we’ll be all right this season. We have some winnable games to come, starting on Sunday against YMCA who we have already beaten this season.
“If we win that one we will have beaten our points total for last season, so we are definitely improving.”
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