Shane Billien opened the scoring with a stunning overhead kick. (0658021)
Rangers 13, Geomarine Rovers 1
SHANE BILLIEN may have scored the goal of the season.
The Rangers striker’s goal started off his side’s utter destruction of Geomarine Rovers, who are in effect the Port Soif club’s under-21 side, in the first round of the FA Cup at St Andrew’s on Saturday.
It came about just after 10 minutes when the 23-year-old’s first-time overhead thumped Jon Veron’s cross into the box from out wide.
The build-up play between Veron and Dale Garland had been just as impressive. But Billien admitted that it was the type of goal that he would not be able to repeat if he gave it a million more goes.
‘Definitely – it was just a reaction,’ he said. ‘I smacked it and it went in. It was a good game. We slacked off in the first half and let them get their goal, but in the second half we played well.’
Rovers equalised 15 minutes after Billien’s wonder goal after Ollie Dowding had brought down Valdis Mesamis from behind.
It actually looked quite inconspicuous and the Rangers players were aghast when referee Danny Le Sauvage pointed to the spot, but it was the right decision.
Robbie Le Corre, Rovers’ best player on the day, put away the penalty with no problems.
However, this proceeded to open the floodgates as Rangers began to find the back of the net with ease.
Veron ended up with a hat-trick, Billien added another to his opening goal and Garland and Iain Lowe got one each as well.
But it was Ross Allen who was the star as he went away with five goals and became an early favourite for the golden boot award.
He was responsible for the remaining goal when Rovers’ defender Stevie Hyde turned Allen’s low cross into the area into his own goal.
Allen also produced a remarkable piece of skill in the second half when he danced past a number of Rovers’ tackles with some sensational trickery.
You would pay good money to see that quality of football and it was the best skill I’ve seen in covering four seasons of the local game.
Billien believes the form that Rangers were in at the weekend could see them lift the trophy.
‘We can go far and all the way to the final,’ he said.
‘If we play like that – guaranteed.’
Article posted on 1st December, 2008 - 2.29pm
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