No deja vu for Bels as Rangers are hammered

Bels 7, Rangers 1

BELS did not make the same mistake twice when they faced Rangers again in the C&W Priaulx League. A fortnight ago at St Andrew's, Bels threw away a three-goal advantage and eventually drew

4-4.

And it was Groundhog Day at the Track last night when the champions took another early three-goal lead but this time they went on to absolutely crush Rangers.

The red-and-blacks were never in it and left their coach Mac Gallienne downhearted to say the least.

'To be fair, we're a poor side being coached by a poor coach,' he said.

The match started with Rhys Gower diving at the feet of Rangers striker Shane Billien to pull off a top save.

It was the first game back from injury for the Bels keeper and there were some worried looks on the Bels bench as he required some attention.

But after shaking off a limp, he was soon fit again.

That proved to be Rangers' only meaningful attack of the game until their solitary goal in the 84th minute.

Neil Clegg got Bels' opener within the first 10 minutes when he tucked away a rebound off the post from a Marc McGrath strike.

Five minutes later he got his second when he got on the end of a long ball from Chris King to put the ball smartly past Rangers shot stopper Chris Parrott.

Bels' next goal was a cracker from Charles Pinsard who unleashed piledriver from the middle of the half that skimmed the right post as it went in.

Pinsard had a great game in the centre of midfield, which allowed Joby Bourgaize to play on the right wing. He also was a revelation in his new role to give food for thought for island boss Steve Ogier.

On 30min., Clegg notched his hat-trick when he put away another McGrath rebound.

It was chance after chance for the home side and as McGrath was getting more frustrated with himself for not converting his good work into goals, he found the back of the net after he beat three Rangers defenders.

Going into half-time 5-0 down, Gallienne made wholesale changes, swapping three of his players.

'The only reason we made three is because we couldn't make 11,' said his assistant Matt Marquis.

One of the substitutes was Mark Elliott. The former Vale Rec defender is back in the game after a couple seasons away to play hockey and rugby.

The changes seemed to work for Gallienne as Bels' goals dried up, but they still could not threaten their opponents' goal.

The temporary deadlock was broken at a corner on 70 minutes when Bels defender Sam Cochrane managed to get the ball across the line with his shoulder.

Minutes later McGrath got his second, a tap in after substitute Daragh Duffy had skipped past a number of outstretched Rangers' legs.

The red-and-blacks' consolation goal towards the end came about in slightly controversial circumstances, when linesman Pete Davison waved for an offside, but referee Colin Wherry allowed play to carry on, citing that the ball had come off a Bels player.

Shane Billien put the ball over Gower into the goal while Bels were half waiting for the whistle to be blown.

Bels coach Micky Ogier would certainly have kicked up more of a fuss had his team not been six goals ahead.