This is also on our website www.clubwebsite.co.uk/magna73rangers. This is an overview of our undeafted League campaign for the 2009/2010, we won the league by 18pts.
In July a few changes were made in the set up of Magna 73 Rangers, Skeems stepped down to make way for Jacko to take charge of team affairs, Jacko talks a good game and his appointment was the only real choice for Magna chairman Ady Bramley.
A number of players declared interest in playing for Magna, Chris Keeling returned and Tim Whatsize expressed interest as well but the team lacked a goalkeeper, Joe not really interested at this point.
Jacko’s first game was a 8-2 victory over FC Tumar but all was not well with a number of players voicing discontent including a dropped Bomma who was ousted in favour of Andy Burton.
Kev Skeems efforts to get players signed on was tough with none willing to commit full time especially Bomma. Jacko’s 2nd and final game in charge was against Sparta Parva in a 8-7 win, but in truth this was an awful game and the writing was on the wall for the big man.
Jacko then quit, the reasons were that we couldn't commit due to his knee rehabilitation but I hear his missis rules the roost in the Jacko household! Kev struggled to get the 12 registered players in time for the Alliance League deadline on 31st July.
Skeems then accepted the temporary role until Ady found a new manager with Richard Groocock his number one choice. Skeems oversaw 2 easy wins over a retarded Alliance & Leicester select XI but had to deal with the embarrA*Sment of cancelling on Western Athletic due to only 7 players being available and a 5-2 defeat at home to Sporting Wigston, a game in which we only had 11 with Big Kev up front, Wardy in goal, Bomma left mid.
To add to the already mounting problems Iain Gray left for Blaby & Whetstone and Josh Groocock left for Countesthorpe Royals whilst Rich Groocock declined the role as manager.
The first game against Trinity was coming up fast and Skeems’ had to accept the role of manager for another season, within days Phil Howard put pen to paper as did 5 other players on the opening day against Trinity. The most significant of these opening day signings were Dave Pierce at Centre half, Joe Wakeling in goal. Dean Saddler, Ashley Willan and Jimmy Markham also signed, the latter being persuaded by Bomma.
As we kicked off there was no inkling of how successful the season would end up, we were just happy to get a team out at this stage, the result was a 5-0 hammering of Trinity with goals from Bomma, Dean Saddler and a hat trick from Joe Brown, with Ryan Ogden suspended Browny had to go up top and his trick put us 3-0 up.
That opening day success was followed by a 3-2 home win over Shakespeare Inn, Bomma doing the most damage with 2 whilst Jimmy Markham chipped in with a goal. Adam Lane and Jon Gilbert signed on the day making us even stronger, week by week we were signing quality players and building the squad up to a level that was as it turned out was unbeatable! Gilly was the star of the show lasting all of 35 minutes on his one and only appearance of the season.
Next it was Welford at home and this was probably Bomma’s best performance of the season. Welford went 2-0 up but Bomma showed pure quality. Ryan Ogden was the target for Welford tackles (he has previous with the Welford lads) and this left Bomma free and he punished them, scoring a penalty after Ogden was brought down by the keeper, a free kick and a volley from the edge of the area which flew in off the post which is nominated for goal of the season. Dean Saddler scored the 4th taking his tally up to 2 from 3 games and we won the game 4-2, a great result especially having been 2-0 down and struggling.
Our 4th match of the season was yet another home game against AFC Hurricanes who at this stage were looking pretty dangerous with 3 wins from 4 games. This was a hard fought 3-0 win and Joey made some great saves to keep them to nill. Unusually neither Bomma nor Ryan scored in this game, Hurricanes were always dangerous and a big side, Kirk Holland bagged a brace in this game with Pete Quinn scoring the other, 3-0 was harsh on Hurricanes as if it wasn’t for Joe it could have been 3-3.
It was after this game that we believed the title was achievable and with 4 from 4 we had every right to believe but we were brought back down to earth in the following week away in the Sunday Intermediate Cup. We were drawn away in the sticks to Gilmorton FC from the Hinckley League, Joe followed up his MOM performance against Hurricanes with a horror show against Gilmorton. Skeems decided to give Gary Harding and James Lamming there first starts of the season relegating Kirk Holland and Jimmy Markham to the bench, what followed was a poor 5-2 defeat with only 2 Bomma pens replying for Magna.
It was vital we picked ourselves up for the game with Cleaning who were now in 2nd on a grey October morning. The game was fairly tight and Magna managed to go 2-0 up, ex Magna youth team player Luke Schofield replied for Cleansing and 2-1 was the half time score. The 2nd half though was a complete dominance by Magna and we ended up cruising to a rampant 9-1 victory! Bomma got 4 of these with Ryan Ogden getting his first 2 of the season in which he would score 30 goals, John Grady scored on his first appearance of the season with Kirk Holland and an own goal by the keeper. So 5 out of 5 and a gap was forming at the top but not a big gap, we had 5pts to 2nd placed Sparta Moshdock.
Sparta Moshdock were the visitors in the Arthur Moore cup the following week after Cleansing. For this one we had Browny available for the first time since the opening game but Bomma, Jimmy Markham and Browny were all late for kick off each blaming the other meaning we had to start with 10 and Gaz and Lams started when they were both due to be on the bench. Bomma was waved on after about 10 minutes but Browny and Jimmy had to be contented with the Bench until deep in the 2nd half. Despite this we went 1-0 up, Ryan winning his now customary Penalty with Bomma sticking it away. Moshdock however were too good and had raced into a 3-1 lead by the time Browny and Jimmy came on. The Introduction of these pair changed the game and we put Moshdock under pressure and despite Bomma’s effort at the near post we lost 3-2, it was this result that convinced us that Moshdock would be the team to beat in the division.
Another cup game and another home game followed but this time against div 5 Pheonix United, a new team to the Alliance League. We approached the game with a wrong attitude despite Skeems’ instructions not to and Phoenix were a tough side. There was controversy before a ball had been kicked when the now infamous "kitgate" scandal ensued. Jimmy was accused of losing kit and went of in the huff and subsequently left for Tumar, Jimmy's mum was said to be furious her son was treated in such a manner! In the game itself our quality shone through and we won 6-2 but the result was in doubt for long periods of this game but we always had a 2 goal advantage. Bomma, Ogden and Skeems’ wind A*Sisted strike gave us 3 goals whilst Chris Keeling scored 2 and was denied his hat trick when his goal bound effort was stolen by Pete Quinn. We were graced with the presence of Dennis Roe for this one and its worth noting that Bomma missed a penalty, blazing it over the bar.
It was back to the league the following week and a tough fixture at Shaky Park in Braunstone on a cold November morning. We were looking to make it 6 from 6 but Shakespeare are a hard physical side and at every opportunity went flying into tackles some fair some not quite so fair, we never got any rhythm going, we were not able to as tackle after tackle flew in. Shakespeare dominated and should have been well in front by the time we took the lead totally against the run of play, it was unsurprisingly a penalty after yet another tackle flew in fouling Ryan, after Bomma’s miss last week against Phoenix, Ogden stepped up and duly missed, his spot kick was saved but luckily he scored the rebound and we were 1-0 up. Shakespeare continued to dominate with Magna unable to match them physically and Daz Jepson got them there deserved equaliser when he fired in a free kick which fizzed low and hard into the net, Joe probably felt he could have done better but take nothing away from the lad who scored 2 against us earlier in the season. The 100% record was going and we would have taken the draw but out of nowhere Bomma raced through and was taken down by the keeper in the area and another penalty was awarded. Bomma stepped up and put us 2-1 ahead and we held on. Shakespeare should have beaten us but we kept the 100% record going and made it 6 wins from 6 games.
The following week was a bit more straight forward against bottom side Leicester Accies, a side struggling for confidence and suffering the after effects of a tough few years in the prem. We ran out comfortable 6-1 winners with Bomma, Ogden and Kirk Holland all netting a brace each. Accies pulled one back late on when Joe flapped at a corner but it was a routine victory, the only downside being a leg injury suffered to midfield maestro Chris Keeling who wouldn’t return until February.
7 from 7 was beyond our wildest dreams and to make it 8 from 8 we had to go to Horsewell Lane and play Sparta Moshdock a side who had beaten us in the cup and were 2nd 5pts behind us having won 5 in a row themselves. Also we were missing Bomma who was in Yarmouth, Deano taking his place. Lams started on the right wing in what was by far his best performance of the season. Moshdock came out at us with Aaron Preston in particular causing us a lot of problems squandering a couple of good opportunities when through on goal, he hit one over and one was well saved by Joe. Moshdock took the lead when a Lewis Cully free kick went through a crowd of bodies unsighting Joe and the keeper couldn’t react in time and Moshdock were 1-0 up. It was at this moment the game seemed to change in our favour. Lando got to grips with Aaron Preston and Steve Oliff won his personal battle with Ross Levin. Gradually we took control of the game, then Ryan won a penalty falling awkwardly on his shoulder, with Ryan off the field receiving treatment and Bomma in Yarmouth Pete Quinn stepped up a coolly slotted home the leveller. After that it was anybody's game, it was tight and tense Dave Pierce and Lando at the back were outstanding, Lams was taking on and beating players, the all conquering Steve O in midfield and then the winner, what a winner Pete calmly from 25 yards out curled one in the top corner, possibly the best goal of the season given the moment. Moshdock then pilled bodies forward in a role reversal of the cup game but were unable to break us down and the victory was confirmed, by far and away the best result of the season as it effectively ended Moshdocks challenge, 8 from 8 and 8pts clear.
The best performance of the season was arguably followed the worst away to White Lion.
It was a much changed side to the one that won at Horsewell Lane with Lando and Steve O unavailable. Bomma came back into the side. A 2-2 draw ended our 100% record and we had to rely on a lot of luck. After going 1-0 down an own goal tied the scores, White Lion then went 2-1 up and we were lucky when Ryan Ogden found the net with 5 minutes left to go away from Kilworth with a point.
This was followed by yet another lackluster display away at Leicester Accies. Despite a 2-0 win in which Bomma’s deflected effort which went down as an own goal and a Pete Quinn goal gave us a 2-0 win. The performance left a lot to be desired but a win is a win. With Lando and Dave at the back we were in no danger of conceding any goals but Accies did threaten at times and were much improved from the side that we beat 6-1 earlier in the campaign.
Before the match our next fixture at Welford Iain Gray re-signed for us from Blaby & Whetstone who had crumbled and folded in the Prem, he had to slot in at Centre Half despite being only half fit because for the one and only time in the season we were down to the bare 11. This didnt stop us from going in at half time 4-2 up. Bomma had scored an awesome free kick (his 2nd against Welford), with Pete Quinn and Kirk Holland (2) the scorers. The Welford goals were awful, Joe let in a howler that actually put Welford 1-0 up and then Dave made his only mistake of the season when he was dispossed on the edge of the area and the lad went through and scored.
The 2nd half was all one way traffic, wave after wave of Welford pressure, we couldn’t get out of our own half, Joe’s kicking was abysmal and was partly to blame but the midfield was to open and the forwards were not tracking back. Welford deservedly made it 4-4 but amazingly and typical of our season we went back in front with just 3 or 4 minutes left but then the referee gave Welford a penalty deep into stoppage time, it was never a penalty and an absolute joke, the game finished 5-5 but we should have won this game especially being 4-2 up and then 5-4 up with just seconds left but that’s football. At least some positives were taken with the MOM going to 16 year old James Pearce at left back, one for the future!
Due to the weather and the Christmas celebrations we didn’t play for another month, our first game back was the Billy Walton cup match against Division 2 side Fleckney Athletic. Richard Conway was signed on before this game and slotted into centre half which was quickly becoming a problem position. Big Dave has been almost an ever present but seems to have a different centre half partner every week which is something we need to sort out if we are to compete in the prem. The pitch had only just thawed out from the snow and was very soggy and waterlogged in places but the game went ahead and it turned out to be a very rusty Magna that turned out. Despite being far from our best we powered to a 4-2 success. Ryan was the one player who really played well and he scored 2 goals for his efforts, Grady and Bomma scoring the other 2. A comfortable passage then although Fleckney scored 2 goals which were disappointing, there 2nd from Kelvin Phillips was from the half way line.
To the following week then at AFC Hurricanes in Narborough, the harsh winter was taking its toll and the pitch was awful, sludgy, bumpy and waterlogged in places. In a hard fought 2-1 win in which Dave Pierce and Bomma scored it was the midfield pair of recent signings Richard Conway and Iain Gray that stood out especially with the conditions being what they were. It was a workmanlike performance in which every player did there job well if not spectacularly, this was becoming the norm especially away from home, we were grinding out results and doing just enough and still unbeaten although at this stage the threat was coming from Glen Parva & Welford with Moshdock dropping of the pace.
Bomma had been poor in this game and was dragged by Jukes for Deano, to try and get his forward motivated Skeems' promised Bomma and brand new pair of yellow nike Mercurials worth £95 if he reached 40 goals for the season, did he do it?
White Lion were next on valentines day, Skeems was forced to ref this as Chris Kay was poached last minute by the County FA and we were left with no ref, mainly Kev’s fault though as he rang the wrong ref to confirm the game - retard!
White Lion scored 2 but Magna won 6-2 thanks to a hat trick from Ryan Ogden, 2 from Bomma and Kirk Holland. Chris Keeling made a welcome return from injury but was forced into Centre half with Matt Hilliard. Iain Gray put in another MOM display even though Ogden scored a trick.
Our regular Goalkeeper Joe Wakeling had been sent off for fighting for our Saturday side so was suspended for the whole of March so we needed a keeper. Dave said that his brother Stephen Pierce aka Stacks was available so Skeems' signed his man.
Stacks’ debut came against Premier Division big boys Premier Sports Travel who were next up after another 3 week delay due to the weather, Magna were confident and had a strong squad of 16 for the big game. Past Magna teams have been hit for six’s and seven’s by Prem Sports but not this one. The score at Half time was 0-0 and fairly even stevens although Prem Sports showed touches of quality.
Magna made the breakthrough early in the 2nd half when Matt Hilliard headed in from a corner, we now believed, before was hope but it was now belief.
It didn’t take long for Prem Sports to equalise however but when Bomma raced through one on one and slotted it home to make it 2-1 there was delirium on the sides. However we ended deflated was Prem Sports quality shone through, a couple of mistakes that would normally go unpunished were seized and capitalised and Prem Sports went through 3-2. It was a proud effort and proof that maybe we can compete in the prem next season if we cut out those errors that gifted Prem Sports the win.
The following week we travelled to Lutterworth to play Frolesworth who have improved a lot since last season. Bomma and Ogden scored 2 each as Magna won 4-1. It was now 12 wins from 14 League games.
It was at this point Cleansing were starting to challenge all be it quite a few points adrift but we knew that any slip up could let Cleansing in, Skeems’ was always confident but me less so!
It was Frolesworths turn to visit The meadows 1 week later and on our home patch we are a lot more comfortable, we scored 8 with Ogden scoring a trick, Bomma a brace, Chris Keeling, Pete Quinn and Matt Hilliard scored for the 2nd home game running. Frolesworth to there credit scored a couple of good efforts which gave Stacks no chance.
The Glen Parva game at Dorset Avenue was the game Skeems’ set out as the decisive one - win here and the title was ours, lose and doubt would set in. The result was never in danger, once again Lando marked the danger man out Lukasz Tabaka and there was only one winner. Bomma produced a superb display scoring 4 goals whilst Ogden scored the other, we destroyed Parva, probably after Moshdock away the best performance of the season, the title was surely ours. Bomma was now edging closer to the 40 goal mark, his 4 goals at Parva taking him to 32 for the season.
A week later Parva were again the opponents on a rain sodden pitch, it was a horrible playing surface. Skeems’ started but came off for Browny who was back from Uni for this game but Browny himself was subbed after an awful display. Heading into the 90th minute and losing 3-2 the unbeaten league record appeared to be over, step up Steve Oliff who drilled one on the half volley across goal about 16 yards out, Skeems and Jukes’ were celebrating Ferguson and Kidd style as we had escaped with a 3-3 draw and the unbeaten record intact. Pete Quinn and Ogden had scored the other 2 but Steve O’s strike will be remembered for a long time to come.
Trinity was next on a hard and bumpy pitch at Lutterworth. We created several chances against a poor side but just couldn’t put them away. Bomma finally put us 1-0 ahead from the spot after Lams was fouled but then proceed to miss a second penalty, the keeper to be fair made a good save and played well during the game. Ogden scored a hat trick, Bomma did eventually get a 2nd putting him on 34 goals and Skeems’ scored when he went up front for the final 10 minutes and celebrated like it was the cup final winning goal! That goal made it 6-0.
Other results meant that victory over Sparta Moshdock at home would crown us champions. Moshdock were a shadow of the side that had pushed us so hard at the beginning of the season and had dropped of the pace quite badly. On a warm sunny morning and with nerves jangling we got the victory we needed thanks to a Ryan Ogden goal, 1-0 the result, some heroic defending needed and Skeems’ led from the front and by example, the Cava (not champagne) flowed and it was a full day of celebration in Blaby, Leicester City Centre was quiet so the N*Ght ended prematurely.
The final three games of the season were about keeping the unbeaten season going and to finish the season as undefeated champions. The three games were against Horse back to back and then Cleansing Services.
Horse away in Beaumont Leys on a crap pitch on a Friday Evening not exactly the best and with a make shift side especially the back 4 we set about the game. Horse are very weak at the back and we scored 5 goals without ever hitting form, Horse replied with 2 goals but had dominated the 2nd half and with a bit more quality would probably had got something out of the game, we were always capable of stepping up another level though. Our scorers were Ogden with 2, Bomma, Kirk Holland and Pete Quinn.
5 days later and Horse came to our ground and we stuffed them 9-1, Bomma’s 5 including a penalty taking up to 40 goals for the season and with it a brand new pair of yellow nike mercurials worth £95 Ogden scored the other 4 taking him up to 29 for the season. Horse replied through a Tuxford penalty but the game was over when we were 4-0 up after about 20 minutes.
So just one game to go and it was away at Cleansing who were 2nd, 15pts behind us. All we needed to do was avoid defeat and when Ryan put us 1-0 up with a header from a James Pearce cross to take his tally to 30, we were well on course. Cleansing were missing quite a few players and fooled around, having a laugh basically pissing about, we dropped badly to there level and it was awful to watch but as soon as Cleansing equalised we stepped it up and within 5 minutes we scored the winner thanks to a Bomma tap in via a Deano cross.
Then we properly celebrated, having an all dayer before heading into town to celebrate a quite magnificent season.
BRING ON ADVANCE!!
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Wed 05 May 2010, 1:29 pm
someone was up watching the election then!