Coming From Behind 3 – 2 Eastcote Rangers

By Zarif Rasul
At the Middlesex Stadium

CFB survived a late Eastcote Rangers comeback to grab a dramatic 3-2 victory at the Middlesex Stadium on Thursday.

Ed Pike opened the scoring with a neat close-range header, before winger Daniel Caulfield doubled CFB’s advantage after springing Rangers’ offside trap and slotting past keeper Gary Wells.

Substitute Gary Edwards brought Rangers back on level terms, scoring his side’s first before setting up Jack’s superb volleyed equaliser.

But the lively Ross Berti snatched a dramatic win in the dying moments with a scrambled effort from close-range.

The victory concludes CFB’s pre-season preparations, but it will be Rangers who have the most to think about after this performance.

A disjointed opening period yielded few chances. After an even first ten minutes, the home side began to impose their authority, with striker Ed Pike testing Rangers keeper Gary Wells.

They took a deserved lead in the 33rd minute when Pike headed Ross Berti’s gloriously flighted-cross into the top right-hand corner.

The goal seemed to settle CFB’s nerves, as they subjected Rangers to wave after wave of sustained pressure.

And CFB were rewarded for their endeavours on the stroke of half-time, as Daniel Caulfield latched on to a superb through-ball from Scott Berti and coolly stroked the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.

The Behinders started the second half with typical gusto, with Sam Robbins and Scott Berti dominating in the middle of the park, and wingers Ross Berti and Dan Caulfield continually troubling the static Rangers backline.

And they were unlucky not to put the game beyond doubt in the 60th minute, when Pike’s scuffed effort hit the post following a goalmouth scramble.

The introduction of player-manager Gary Edwards drastically changed Rangers’ fortunes, and within minutes the midfielder reduced the deficit. The former Northwood man picked the ball up on the edge of CFB’s box and drilled a superb shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

This galvanised the away side, and they levelled the scores just seven minutes later. Edwards surged down the right-hand side before picking out Jack inside the box, and Eastcote’s number nine swivelled smartly before rifling a ferocious half-volley past the hapless CFB keeper.

Jack’s wonderstrike set up a tense finale, and CFB were unlucky not to regain their lead when Ross Berti’s drive was parried by Wells.

But CFB sealed the win deep into injury time and broke Rangers’ hearts when Ross Berti followed up a parried attempt by tapping in from six yards out.

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