Samford Maintain Perfect Record With Tight Win Over Metro
Samford Rangers 2 (Harris 57’, Davidson 81’)
Logan Metro 1 (Dieu 26’)
HT 0-1
Played at Samford Parklands
Samford Rangers did it the hard way but went three points clear at the top of the table with a come from behind 2-1 win over Logan Metro in Capital League 4 at Samford Parklands on Saturday night. In a first half bereft of genuine goalscoring opportunities, Metro took the lead in the 26th minute via a spectacular strike from Kisindja Dieu who somehow managed to beat the keeper to a long through ball and lob it over his head with a back-flick. The game was won however in the second half, firstly by a towering back post header from Liam Harris which brought Rangers back to parity and secondly by Trent Davidson who took full advantage when his winger skipped around the outside of the keeper and put the ball on a platter eight yards from an open goal. A close contest was expected and came to fruition with both sides providing plenty of niggle as their contrasting styles ensured an interesting tactical match-up. It’s no secret that Samford love to play wide balls over the top for their speedy flankers whilst also using Dane Forsyth, playing as a lone striker, as an outlet with long balls from defence but it was of little use in the first stanza against a solid and reliable Logan backline. A standard 4-4-2 from the away side paid dividends, at least initially, but eventually proved to be their undoing as they started to lose possession in the congested midfield and were increasingly pushed further and further back into their own half. There was plenty of room for controversy as well, including a healthy shout for a penalty late in the game for Rangers and an even better one in the first half for the away side when Tommy Viphakone took a boot to the chest after beating his opponent with a brave header. Undoubtedly, the vocal home crowd played their part in the victory, particularly after an incident midway through the second half when Breeze Ligthart picked up a caution on the advice of the part-time assistant referee which looked initially to be worthy of dismissal but was the correction decision. This year, Capital League 4 is nothing like the training ground scorelines of 2016 and if today’s opponents are to be successful it will be built on their play behind the ball; both defenses are well-marshalled, first to the tackle and particularly strong in the air. Played was delayed for seven minutes on the half hour mark when the influential Nixon Flanigan was stretchered from the field with a suspected chipped ankle bone and Rangers proved their versatility by re-shaping effectively with no loss of momentum which ultimately was the catalyst for victory...they deserved it, but only just. Pat Castillo and the team at Compton Park will be kicking themselves for losing crucial back to back games by a single goal and the signs are there for a big second half to 2017, but they need to find a cutting edge in attack if they are to achieve promotion in a hotly contested field. With neither North Brisbane or Bethania taking to the field this weekend, Samford have three points under their belt which could literally be the difference between redeeming last season’s promotion disappointment and facing up to another season in the fifth tier. And, of course, they have the small matter of arguably the toughest of all Brisbane away games when they travel to Lions Stadium for their Canale Cup match sometime over the next few weeks which is sure to be a memorable occasion if they are accompanied by the noisy enthusiasm of their devoted supporters.
FBMedia Player Of The Match: Liam Harris (Samford Rangers)
The momentum swing when Harris converted a difficult chance was decisive enough to give him the edge in a game when anyone in either back four, and plenty of others, could easily have got the nod.
Team line-ups
Samford: James, Harris, McKee, Gray, Newnham, Riley, Flanigan, Donnelly-Fagan, Gleeson, D.Forsythe, Ligthart.
Subs: R.Forsythe, Crooks, Davidson, Hart, Green.
Logan Metro: Myint, Lopez, Gasamira, Shaka, Al Hilali, Dieu, Rubilar, Viphakone, Eremugo, Wani, Jabo.
Subs: Mesbah, Manayiro, Mokrani. REFEREE: John Nuell
