CP blurb

Welcome!
To the unofficial, official, home of Central Park Rangers Football (nee Soccer) Club.
Since 1998 our proud little club has been making Sunday that little bit more holy for those fortunate enough to have worn the blue and white stripes of Rangers Football Club. Sometimes we also make footballing headlines - most of their sordid details can be read about here, loosely remembered and largely embellished, naturally...
The Rangers of Central Park have really put Malvern on the sporting map whilst carving out an impressive legacy in their short footballing history - Pele, Dostoyevsky, Baryshnikov, Madame Curie, Basquiat and Pavarotti - they're all just names of famous people bandied around by poodle-rooters, and completely irrelevant to this dribble, but i digress.....

Household names are probably more our jig, not to be outdone though, Central Park FC too have been famed by many things over the years. Let's see now, from the Twitter dubbed "pub team from stadium of shite" to the unimaginative "cheating b*stards!". I guess we've all gotta be something to someone right? As the years tick over though, some of these 'superlatives' have given way to much more accepting terms including, but not limited to, the 'Elephants Graveyard', 'last chance saloon' and of course, 'ageing elite' (ouch - harsh!).

Call us what you will, but one thing we'll always be, is keen for a kick about down at old Central Park....Bless.

GO RANGERS!

Monday, 2 June 2014

Round 4, Masters Vs Middle Park
Won 4 - 3

A beautiful afternoon, 20 degrees and a slight breeze - perfect football weather.

Looking to break our duck against Middle Park our four Sunday morning subs had reduced to two by kick off with Stevie J and John K dropping out. In addition, Wayne was running late so Phil grabbed the flag and the rest if us took to the field.

A good start was essential and we got it. Barely a minute in Gerry found space down the left, crossed the ball and Lars headed it home.

The new formation was going well but the Middle Park speedsters were keeping us on our toes. Just when we seemed to have weathered the storm a corner clearance fell kindly on the edge of the box and they tucked it away into the top corner.

We regrouped, Wayne joined Rani, Dave  and Paul in the middle and we got back on top. Lars and Gerry kept probing up front and a great pass split the defence and Lars got his second, 2-1 up

At the back Shay, Dave and Shane were rock solid and with Aaron and Phil having run themselves into the ground we brought Gerry back to sweep and sweep he did. In goal Neil made sure he cleaned up everything they threw at him. Half time 2-1 up

Middle Park came at us from the kick off knowing they needed to get back into the game.

We defended a series of free kicks but finally a long range shot just snuck in the top left corner.

With a firm control of midfield we were really stretched and we soon found ourselves 3-2 down with 20 minutes to go.

We regrouped, tidied up midfield and everyone lifted. We started winning headers, closing down their midfield, winning the 50/50 tackles and started creating chances

As Middle Park went the long ball we started to build through the middle. Gerry ran into space, found Lars again and he tucked it away for his hattrick. All tied up with 5 to go

From then on it was end to end. Lars and Neil both had shots over the bar, Wayne drilled one wide and Rani went close too.

At the other end Big Dave and Shay were winning all the headers, Gerry made some last ditch blocks. 100% all over the pitch. In goal Dave was right behind everything

With only a couple of minutes to go Gerry sent a long bomb forward as we repelled another attack. Neil chased and as the keeper and defender both left it for each other Neil stole in and tucked it away into the bottom corner. 4-3

Brilliant win and our first ever over Middle Park - the after game beers were golden

Back to the Fortress next Sunday with a home game against new boys Caulfield

Go Central Park

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