Barker Old Boys took on Chatswood Rangers for their first run in the Premier League. It didn’t go as planned for them.
This afternoon was the first run for the new boys to the Premier League; Barker Old Boys (BOBs). Barker is young, fit, team with lots of individual skill. But the Premier League can be a cruel master punishing mistakes and exposing areas of need.
Chatswood Rangers have had a couple of seasons playing average football. They finished last year in the middle of the table, winning seven of their eighteen games, drawing six and losing five. In the off season, Chatswood have been working hard at their team skills. It’s not ‘set plays’ that they have been working on, it’s every play. Every time they touch the ball they looked coordinated and confident, constantly playing to the spaces, running away from the players marking them and creating opportunities all over the park.
The hard work in the off-season paid dividends and Chatswood scored after 2 mins beating the goalie and simple tap in to the goal to finish off. This goal opened the flood gates and they brought the ball down right wing off the restart, put in lovely cross for simple tap in. 2:0
When you see a striker do a bicycle-kick in the 18 yard box to put Chatswood three-up inside ten minutes, things were looking like they were going to be a ritual slaughter.
BOBs responded with some good passing play, but Rangers stole the ball bringing the goalie off his line for an easy goal and 4:0. Where is the match going to end?
However, play settled for a long period, with good play from both sides until a Rangers player was brought down in the BOBs 18 yard box for a penalty and Rangers fifth goal for the half.
Half time. 5:0.
The second half was flat. The fire had gone out of both sides. Chatswood had nothing to prove and BOBs had a mountain too high to climb.
Eventually, 36 minutes deep in to the second half Rangers pushed a sixth goal past BOBs after a scrap for ball in the 18 yard box and their work for the day was complete.
Two minutes later BOBs brought down a Rangers player just outside the BOBs box, but the free kick went high and left.
And that’s the way the score stayed until the end of the match. 6:0 to Rangers and a great start to their campaign.
BOBs were sent home with much to consider. As an observation, BOBs lack size up front and willingness to use their bodies in the tackles. They have some work to do, particularly as they will be up against Willoughby Dalleys next week.
A good game to watch and a great start to the season for Rangers who are at home the Lane Cove next week.
