Crouch End Rangers

Published: 5 March, 2015
by STEVE BARNETT

GOALKEEPER Timo Hilhorst was the hero for Crouch End Rangers as they won only the second piece of silverware in the club’s history at the weekend.

Their win came in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against The Hurricanes in the Camden Sunday League Senior Cup final. 

The shot-stopper made a hat-trick of fantastic saves during the shoot-out as Rangers secured the trophy with a nail-biting 6-5 victory at Hackney Marshes. 

An earlier penalty and a moment of magic had put Rangers on the road to what looked like a much calmer win.

Wally Downes gave them the lead midway through the first half when he tucked away a penalty with aplomb after Kieran Elliot was felled in the box.

Simon Collings then produced the moment-of-the-match as he scored a 25-yard volley to push his side further in front. 

But The Hurricanes rallied in the second half and, with the wind behind them, managed to force extra time with two goals of their own. Then, after a goalless extra 30 minutes the two sides were forced to settle the final from the spot – and that’s when hero Hilhorst took centre stage. 

Both sides missed two of their initial five penalties but were both successful with their next two sudden-death spot kicks. 

Hilhorst then produced a tremendous finger-tip save from The Hurricanes’ eighth penalty-taker to leave Fraser Hopper with the chance to win it for Rangers – which he gleefully accepted as he smashed the ball home.