31st Jan SAINTS 1 Rovers 17
Rovers Corbet Cup squad have now hit over 100 goals this season as they continue their impresive form with another victory. The 17 goals included 3 players scoring a "Quad-trick's" - Robin (4), Stokes (4), Nightingale (4),
10th Jan - ROVERS 14 RANGERS 4
8 GOAL Nightingale roadshow dismantles Rangers at Port Soif report by Chris Lihou
A biting North Easterly wind sweeping across the pitch did nothing to dull Rovers football skills at Port Soif. Almost straight from the kick off Nightingale played a give and go with Robin and finished in style to notch the first of his eight goals in a virtuoso performance not seen since a young Pele burst onto the scene in the good old 50's.
Rangers equalised immediately after Le Tocq rocketed a back pass to keeper Arrol who watched the ball go for a corner. The ball was whipped in from the flag stick and Fazakerley stuck out a boot to beat his own keeper for an OG. From the kick off Nightingale picked the ball up in midfield and strode through the Rangers defence to make it 2-1. Minutes later he added his third latching onto a stray pass on the right and drilling his shot home past the despairing keeper.
Nightingale was popping up all over the park and following a break up field, Browning delivered a killer pass which Nightingale slotted past the on rushing keeper to net his fourth. By this time the whole team from Le Tocq and Howitt at the back to the midfield and strikers were playing sublime one touch football. This was gloriously illustrated by Netherton's cushion control on his instep, turn and pass setting up Browning to burst through and score in the bottom bin 5-1.
Nightingale then continued his odyssey scoring again to make it 6-1 following excellent work from Browning. With Cooney winning the midfield battles and Fazakerley and Netherton pulling the strings it wasn't long before Browning outpaced his markers to set up Nightingale for his hex trick (that's six for the uniniated) to make it 7-1. Howitt then played a long through ball which caught the Rangers defence napping which Nightingale latched onto (who else!!) scoring his seventh and Rovers eighth. Rangers then pegged one back to score their second before Nightingale rounded off his personal crusade to make it 9-2 going into the break.
Driving sleet greeted the players in the second half and Rangers came out strong testing keeper Drummy and the new look back line of Hunt and Hood. After repelling a resurgent Rangers, Robin cut inside beating two players, drew the keeper before unselfishly squaring for Whitmore to control and roll into the empty net 10-2. Whitmore scored his second making it 11-2 after some intelligent running down the left by Stokes set him up for a cool finish.
Rangers refused to give up and scored a well derserved third before good work from Philpott on the right released Robin who once again provided the ammunition for Browning to make it 12-3. Rangers came straight back and slammed in their fourth goal from close range giving Drummy no chance. Whitmore and Stokes then combined to shred the Rangers left flank Philpott surging in from the right to meet the cross ball to make it 13-4. Robin registered the team's 14th and his first of the match direct from a corner before the ref blew up for full time and spectators and players trudged off frozen to the bone but warmed by a thrillingly entertaining match.
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