Thurnby Rangers Football Club

Photos from our 3-3 draw against St Patrick’s!

🚨📢 Result v St Patricks AFC 📢🚨

📅 Wednesday 12th August
🛣️ Away
🏟️ The Emerald Centre
📍 450 GIPSY LANE - LE5 0TB
🏆 Senior League Prem
⚽️ KO @ 1830

Thurnby arrived at The Emerald Centre faced with 33°C heat and a pitch the size of 7 aside.

Two minutes in and it was clear why the pitch was tiny. A long throw all the way to the back post with the ball handled before crossing the line. The referee missed it. 1-0 Pats.

Thurnby responded. Nelson Matope went 1 v 1 with the keeper, only for a superb save resulting in a corner, where Callum Thomas delivered perfectly and Gabriel Ajose rose highest to level on 15. 1-1.

Pats continued with their long ball and long throw approach, but the gaffer instructed the lads to adapt and fight fire with fire. Long ball Thurnby we became.

The lads, playing Pats at their own game, creating chances and looking increasingly dangerous, though all square at half time.

The 2nd half was more of the same and Thurnby continued to unsettle the Pats defence, but against the run of play Pats regained the lead. A corner on 64 minutes, a foul not given and it was 2-1 Pats. Dismay but no time to sulk and Thurnby hit back immediately from kick off. A long punt upfield and substitute Luke Norton chased it down, hooked the ball looping goalwards from a tight angle and Tyler Scott on his 2nd debut for the club was on hand to tap home. 2-2. Game on.

Pats looked to be settling for a draw, but struck on the counter to make it 3-2.

The gaffer’s message at the next water break was emphatic: “You are not losing this game. There is still time!” And they didn’t…

Kolby Griffin; a striker playing at the back in a make-shift defence launched a long ball into Norton, who slipped Scott through. 1 v 1. Clinical. 3-3.

Thurnby pushed for the winner. Matt Daly 1 v 1 and was denied by another superb save, before a header destined for the top corner, only for the keeper to produce a spectacular fingertip save and turn it wide.

The final whistle came too soon. Thurnby unlucky to not take the 3 points but the lads demonstrated resilience and adaptability, and played Pats at their own game.

After my first run-out of the season and my debut trip to a Leicestershire Senior League fixture over at the brilliant Sileby Town FC, let’s take a look the current state of play in the division and what’s coming up 💥

Only two sides remain perfect after two games: Loughborough Students Men’s Football Club Development and leaders Cottesmore AFC, who face Thurnby Rangers Football Club and Friar Lane & Epworth FC this weekend respectively.

Thurnby, winless and fresh off of last season’s relegation scare, will be desperate to spark their campaign into life and build some momentum to avoid another skirmish with the drop. On their day, they’re no pushovers, and Cottesmore won’t be taking them lightly 🟢🔴

Loughborough Students Development continue their rapid rise - three straight titles, last year’s champions, and already two away wins without conceding under their belt. They look set on laying down another early marker 🟣⚪️

Midweek action brought further wins for Highfield Rangers FC and Aylestone Park Football Club Reserves, plus four draws from the eight games played.

Best of luck to all teams involved, this will certainly be a league to keep up to date on as the season progresses, with many twists and turns promised 🙌






⚽️

Tonight Thurnby Rangers make the short trip the Gipsy Lane to take on newly promoted St Patricks AFC.

Eager to bounce back from from a narrow but disappointing opening day defeat, the lads understand the assignment and will give everything to bring home the 3 points.

Come down, show your support and will the lads to victory!

📅 Wednesday 12th August
🛣️ Away
🏟️ The Emerald Centre
📍 450 GIPSY LANE - LE5 0TB
🏆 Senior League Prem
⚽ KO @ 1830

🚨📢 Result v Leicester Athletico FC 📢🚨

📅 Saturday 8th August
🏠 Home
🏟️ Thurnby Rangers Sports Ground
📍 Dakyn Road - LE5 2ED
🏆 Senior League Prem
⚽ KO @ 1500

Thurnby Rangers opened the new season with a narrow 2–1 defeat against Leicester Atletico at Dakyn Road, but there were plenty of positives to take from an encouraging performance.

Thurnby started brightly, dominating possession and regularly breaking through the Atletico lines. Despite the impressive build-up play, the hosts were unable to find the breakthrough before Atletico took the lead from the penalty spot after 25 minutes. An awful refereeing decision was later acknowledged by the referee stating in an incident moments later if the Thurnby player had gone to ground, he would have awarded a penalty. This sort of thing encourages simulation and artificial consistency.

The second half saw Thurnby come out with real intent, laying siege to the Atletico goal and creating numerous opportunities, with the woodwork, goalkeeper and visiting defence all keeping the hosts at bay.

Against the run of play Atletico doubled their advantage with around 20 minutes remaining, with more poor officiating. Athletico scored from a deep cross, however the Thurnby defender on hand was being held by an Athletico attacker, with preventing him from defending. Even the Athletico bench were bemused at how the goal was awarded.

Thurnby refused to give up. Reduced to 10 men following an injury with all substitutes already used, the hosts continued to push forward.

With five minutes remaining, Connor King pulled one back after an Olamide shot deflected into his path.

Thurnby pushed for an equaliser until the final whistle, with King agonisingly close to grabbing a second after beating the offside trap and the Athletico goalkeeper, only to see his effort narrowly miss.

Despite the result, there was plenty to be encouraged by, particularly the quality of the football and the character shown to keep fighting until the end against last seasons league contenders.

The focus now turns to Wednesday, when Thurnby travel to St Patrick’s looking to bounce back.

The start of the season is almost upon us!

Tomorrow, we start our campaign in the against last season’s league challengers Leicester Atletico FC at Dakyn Road. The lads are eager to get off to a good start and we will be leaving no stone unturned in our attempt to get the dub.

Come down, support the lads and create an atmosphere worthy of a season opener!

📅 Saturday 8th August
🏠 Home
🏟️ Thurnby Rangers Sports Ground
📍 Dakyn Road - LE5 2ED
🏆 Senior League Prem
⚽️ 1500 KO

Pre season comes to a end! Our final friendly yesterday against desboroughtownfc reserves was a great run out!

Good run out in our penultimate pre season friendly against CF Iannis.