Power Rangers.

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Intro

Today’s is the final game in Division Two of the Mid-Somerset League. Odd Down AFC Development are top, but just one point ahead of Meadow Rangers. A draw won’t be enough for Rangers due to Odd Down’s superior goal difference, so they’ll have no choice but to come out all guns blazing looking for the win today. This league of just 8 teams has been dominated by the two aforementioned teams who are 13 and 15 points ahead of today’s visitors in 3rd place.

Meadow Rangers got off to a great start; winning 3 (away) games in a row, before a surprising 2-2 draw at Farrington Gurney – the team who will finish 6th this season. And their only loss would be in their home clash with Odd Down Development. Rangers got their revenge in April, beating the Bath-based side 3-0 in the reverse fixture.

Frome Town United absorbed Mells & Vobster FC at the beginning of this season, although the firsts and reserves still play their home games at Mells Recreation Ground. The Reserve team lost their opening 3 matches before going on a run of 3 consecutive league wins. Ultimately the top 2 teams were too strong and left the chasing pack in their collective wake.

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The Ground

Norton Hill Recreation Ground lies on the old Fosse Way – a Roman Road which stretched from Exeter to Lincoln. The less evocative name the road is also known by is the A367. Despite its proximity to the main road, the ground is a pleasant place to watch a football match with plenty of greenery to distract from the traffic. There’s a clubhouse at one end and a children’s playground at the other, as well as plenty of benches from which the action can be taken in.

The Jerry Colbourne Ground – home to Westfield FC – lies roughly half a kilometre away. Westfield’s A Team compete in the same league as Meadow Rangers. I visited in November 2022 for the first team’s match against Minehead AFC.

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The Match

It took just 3 minutes for former Western League Premier attacking player Will Gould to have the ball in the back of the net for Meadow Rangers. Fortunately for the visitors the goal was ruled out as Gould appeared to be just offside. Jake Ingham was the next to threaten for Rangers – he was put through on goal but couldn’t make good enough contact to really test the Frome keeper. Gould gave the goalkeeper a sterner test on 14 minutes as he let fly with a vicious shot that the goalkeeper dealt with well. 7 minutes later came the best chance of the game so far – Ingham holding the ball up well and laying it on a plate for Aaron Whittock who side-footed just wide. Soon after, Frome had their first real chance of the game as their number 10 sent a decent shot just wide from 20 yards. The deadlock was broken on 26 minutes and unsurprisingly it was the impressive Will Gould who did the damage for the hosts, as he fired an unstoppable shot past the keeper. Just past the half-hour Gould nearly had another but he couldn’t beat the goalie with his first-time shot. A minute later, and very much against the run of play, the away side drew level. The Rangers keeper seemed to come for the ball but didn’t get it, allowing the Frome player to steal in and score in the empty net. Parity was short-lived, however, as the visiting keeper made a decent save, but Gould was there to smash home the rebound and restore the hosts’ lead. Whittock extended the home team’s lead on 38 minutes – Ingham’s shot from distance bounced awkwardly in front of the Frome keeper who couldn’t hold it, and Whittock was there to gobble up the chance.

It took Meadow Rangers just 4 minutes to extend their lead further. A corner from Gould was met with perfection by Wes Dredge, whose bullet header was unstoppable. It looked for all the world that Rangers had the game – and therefore the league title – wrapped up. However, Will Gould got himself in the sin bin just a minute after their Rangers’ fourth goal. And just another minute later Frome got another goal. Number 10 dispatching a free kick past the home goalkeeper. On 56 minutes the visitors got themselves to within a single goal of ruining Meadow Rangers’ day – number 10 again doing the damage, this time with a superb long range effort that went in off the post. The hosts survived the remaining time spent a man short, and with a quarter of an hour remaining Gould almost scored another with a snap shot that was comfortably saved. 6 minutes later the Frome keeper made an excellent save, tipping the ball over the bar from a Gould volley. This was a sign of things to come, however, and a minute later Rangers’ number 17 was brought down in the area and Will Gould made no mistake with the penalty kick. This time the hosts held on and saw the game out without any more major drama.

The league title went to Meadow Rangers and, judging by their Twitter feed, they enjoyed their night.

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The Photos

The full gallery of match photos is also available HERE