Atherstone Rangers Lightning

Atherstone Rangers Lightning An Under 7s football team ready to take the world by storm. A lightning storm

28/05/2026

A great display from the Lightning yesterday. A good 4 hours of energy, lit up the area good and proper. Atmosphere was full of electricity.

02/05/2026

The Lightning sacked off training this week for a friendly with our club mates the Strikers. RMD was glorious in the evening sun, showcasing the best my bleached mullet had to offer.

It was a record crowd too, with at one count 78 people watching the game, which is bigger than most Man City home crowds.

The game itself, as has always been the case, was a really tight affair. We played 4x15 minute quarters to give everyone lots of playing time, and served up a goal fest.

Strikers won the first quarter, and without Baxter's reflexes and Callum's resolute defending, it could have been many more.

The second quarter saw Lightning step it up. A great opening goal, with passes from Farren and Charlie, and then Denzel setting up Frankie to fire in. Soon after the exceptional referee awarded Frankie a penalty which he expertly dispatched. This, only after the disappointing referee awarded the Strikers a pen for a Frankie handball, though Baxter showed off his heroics again. Frankie secured a first half hat-trick, running on from an exceptional Baxter goal kick, past one defender and drilling it into the bottom corner.

Controversy followed after the referee tried to disallow a wonderful Strikers goal from Ben, claiming there was an offside. Ben's disappointed reaction to this made up decision led to a red card, another ill-timed joke. But hey-ho, sorry Ben. It was an amazing finish!

Half-time came, and we were able to give Alfie his footballing debut; a trainer for the last couple of months, he settled into the game well. Ezra made himself busy, winning the ball back repeatedly, and Callum played exceptionally well in defence. Duke started to boss the game down the right, as he has seemed to have done for the last 3 months.

After an equaliser, the goal or the match / season happened. Ezra with not one, not two, but three tackles, a lay off to Alfie, who rolled it back to his school mate Oscar, who unleashed a 45 yarder (maybe 20) that arrowed into the top corner. Absolutely incredible goal!

Frankie added another great finish from a super Charlie assist, before the lesser spotted Baxter, replaced in goal by Duke who was equally inspired with some super saves, playing in midfield now, set up Denzel for a deserved goal.

Frankie reached 100 goal contributions for the Lightning (82 goals, 18 assists) in this game, with Baxter making his 50th appearance in goal. Oscar marked his 50th match with a goal, and Denzel with a goal and assist reached 70 goal contributions (57 goals, 13 assists).

What a bunch of lads.

SPOTM went to Frankie, 4 goals, general combativeness and all round strong play.

MPOTM went to Callum, who read the game really well and made a number of excellent interceptions.

Next weekend, the Lightning visit Coton Green for their tournament, and play CHESS at home in a NBMFL fixture.

16/04/2026

In our new feature, in an attempt to reach out to our global audience, there will be an in-game interview for expert analysis from the players themselves.

Denzel was first up.

On Sunday, the Lightning returned to the scene of our first ever league game, at the Windmill, to face Nuneaton Borough ...
16/04/2026

On Sunday, the Lightning returned to the scene of our first ever league game, at the Windmill, to face Nuneaton Borough Blues.

Times have changed in those 19 months. The pitch is looking great now, there wasn't a monsoon, we no longer have Freddie. We did, like on that first day, lose Farren to a pre-game injury. A ball to the face in the warm-up nearly knocked his mullet off. Not even a Lindt chocolate bunny could console him.

The boys were without Frankie, living it up in Skeggy for the weekend, so we had to work hard as a team. Our plans were further complicated with Callum breaking his ankle. It was self-diagnosed to be fair, but whose to argue with the fella. This reduced his minutes of availability for us too.

The game itself was a great one - two evenly matched teams enjoying the morning sunshine. Lightning opened up the scoring early on. Charlie, becoming more influential as the weeks go on, with some great skills and shot which was saved well by the impressive Boro keeper, but Denzel arrived for his 28th goal of an impressive season which included a broken foot which kept him out for a week! Some time later, there was an equaliser, but I didn't see it. I was looking for chocolate - so if I didn't see it, did it really count? Baxter went close with an extraordinary goal kick. Our number 1 played superbly all game, handling the ball really well on a tricky pitch.

With the loss of Callum to a now dislocated ankle, as he climbed up the rocky bank to throw stones with Ezra, the Lightning set about trying to keep their 8 game unbeaten run going in the league.

Farren had a big role to play in the 2nd half as our only recognised defender. His mullet gleaming in the spring light. Charlie's was also looking classy. Denzel, I feel needs to bring more game if he wants to defend his best hair title..... unless the mullet gang do something ridiculous and shave it all off subsequently *cough* Charlie *cough*

Oscar, playing on the left in the first half, had a stint up front in the 2nd. Duke, ever the powerhouse broke through a powered a wonderful shot towards goal. Pretty sure the keeper would have had no chance. But Oscar did his duty, blocked the shot, realised he was on Duke's side, turned and buried his second goal. A really super finish, and another assist registered for Duke. He is the only Lightning player with 20+ assists so far in his career (currently on 21), and has been quite superb in the last 2 months especially. Ezra got the bit between his teeth in the last 10 minutes of the game, with a great press to hustle their defence, and his effort led to a misplaced pass which Denzel seized upon to get goal 29 for the season and 56 overall for the Lightning.

There was some excellent passing from the lads, some brave defending, and overall, great shape and teamwork. A wonderful result and performance.

As Ezra won SPOTM in our last game, and I didn't want to choose two players for awards, Ezra nominated Duke for SPOTM. Which was an excellent choice.

MPOTM, chosen by Ben, who I must say whose hair was shinier than Ryan's typically is, opted for Oscar. Described as his best ever performance - a goal, some great defending, and his now trademark bullet passing. Super work!

The Lightning welcomed our clubmates, the Strikers, to RMD on a glorious Sunday morning. Arriving early to offer assista...
23/03/2026

The Lightning welcomed our clubmates, the Strikers, to RMD on a glorious Sunday morning. Arriving early to offer assistance with cleaning the clubhouse, which the committee had all under control, Farren played a starring role in helping me set the pitch up, whilst Ezra went through a 90 minute warm up before the game.

In our resplendant blue away kits, our full squad were hoping to maintain an unbeaten 2026 league run against a team we have been win less against in three attempts.

The first 10 minutes were pretty tight; Baxter had little to do, though the chances we created through Duke and Denzel were not hitting the target. Farren was composed on the ball, hair looking wonderful. No wonder Aggie is stalking him.

When switching the team after 10 minutes, the game opened up. Ezra became a menace upfront, and created a number of opportunities. Frankie was on fire, and a few good saves prevented him from scoring. Callum was alert and Charlie neat on the ball.

And then, at 9.14am, a momentous occasion. Ezra, intercepting a goal kick, got his shot away from outside the box which nestled into the bottom right hand corner. His first Lightning goal - met with shock, delight, and an Mbappe arm fold. Absolutely loved all the boys celebrations, Denzel even hugged me. Absolutely the reason why grassroots football is so special, and a moment I'll treasure.

Of course, we conceded straight away, with another legend, Klay who I have watched grow up over the last four years, score the equaliser with a great goal from his wand of a left foot.

The second half really was the Duke show, a boy possessed! A corner from him was diverted in, before a great shot was parried by the keeper, and as it inched towards crossing the line, Denzel did what all good forwards should do and poke it home. Charlie was on it in the second half with his battling, and Callum did a great job with his positioning as the Strikers put us under lots of pressure. Anything that did evade the defence, Baxter made some wonderful saves and dealt with tricky crosses so well all game. A big shout out to Oscar, whose second half showing was superb too, with great tackles, control and passing.

After a heavy fall for Frankie, Duke had to return, and with that, scored from a kick in, and also the last kick of the game!

So a wonderful morning, a historical day. Spurs lost 3-0, too.

Supporters Player of the Match was awarded to Ezra. Perhaps in recognition of the goal, but his first half display really did deserve the POTM recognition.

The managers POTM was awarded to Duke. 2 goals, 2 assists, excellent work rate, playing on either side of the pitch at times. And pleasingly, he got better as the game went on.

Ok, let's start with today. A trip to Nuneaton Academy, aka Alderman Smith, aka the enemy to take on Vision Vikings. Our...
15/03/2026

Ok, let's start with today. A trip to Nuneaton Academy, aka Alderman Smith, aka the enemy to take on Vision Vikings. Our 4 previous games against them had seen 3 postponements and a one goal cup victory, so we were in for a close game.

Oscar returned following illness, so we had all 9 boys available. The half time team talk was full of superlatives, Baxter was ace in goal, Callem then Farren were near perfect in defence, Frankie started like a house on fire, and Oscar produced his greatest assist. Down the right Charlie and Duke were epic, and Ezzie and Denzel both did amazingly.

The best half we had ever played.

Frankie's opening goal was a super strike, intercepting a kick in before burying a thunderbolt. It was followed by a 4 pass move, Frankie producing an amazing pass to find Charlie who was composed to lift it over the keeper. Oscar's dream kick in to Denzel, drilled across the pitch for Denz to control, turn and shoot superbly to bag his 50th Lightning goal! Absolutely brilliant.

Farren became the provider with a wonderful lofted pass for Denzel to run through and squeeze past the keeper, and before half time Denzel scored a screamer of a volley. Baxter, whose distribution is getting stronger by the week delivered a great goal kick that beat the defence and after one bounce, Denzel unleashed his fury. A hatrick and goal 52 for the Lightning.

The second half was not as flamboyant, but equally effective. After conceding to a penalty, Charlie played a wonderful pass to Duke who buried his chance. Denzel scored 4 in a game for the first time, powering through having won the ball before firing into the bottom corner.

A great morning for the Lightning, finally ending our 4G pitch hoodoo where we usually fall apart.

Happy mothers day to all the Lightning ladies!

Supporters player of the match was given to Charlie for his all action display, and Denzel won my award for his finishing, though it could have been any of the boys. Special shoutout to the lads, 5 different assists from different players is awesome.


15/03/2026

Ooooo, finally been able to get on the page. Taken me 4 weeks of trying!

There is a lot to catch up on.

9am at home, turned into 10am, as it became apparent we were double booked by the league. Bedworth Utd were brilliant ac...
01/02/2026

9am at home, turned into 10am, as it became apparent we were double booked by the league. Bedworth Utd were brilliant accepting the change in kick off, so the Lightning got a game today!

Cal fell to a mystery illness pre-game, and at times today, we really missed his presence in defence.

For once, we made a fast start. A great Duke corner was met by Frankie, with Denzel tapping in. And within a minute Frankie again turned privider, with a great dribble and drilled cross that Denz was able to convert. 2 goals in 2 minutes became a hat trick in 4, with an amazing ball out by Farren giving him his first ever league assist as Denz got his third with a left footed bullet.

Not to be out done, Frankie got a scorcher to put us in a commanding position.

Bedworth created a number of chances and did score a number of goals themselves throughout the game.

In the second half Frankie fed off an incredible Farren pass to score a wonderful strike, shortly after he had got a second having been released by Duke, now in goal. That was Duke's 30th goal involvement for the Lightning! And with his hat trick, Frankie got his 75th goal!

The game continued at a pace, and Charlie and Baxter both created opportunites, the latter for Ezra who was millimeters away from his first goal but for the heroics of the keeper.

But we did have some further joy, with Ezra playing across the box for Oscar to win the race with Farren to slide in and score his fitst ever goal. Absolutely why we do this, for the sheer look of delight on his face.

A wonderful team effort, some excellent passing against a good opposition. The rain stayed away and the pitch held up.

Parents player went to Oscar; another great performance and finally a goal to savour for himself!

Coaches player went to Denzel. A great hat trick, and three very different goals. The hard work at the start set us up well for the game.

Special shout out to Frankie who is flying again, and to Baxter who got a stint out on the pitch and played really well!

The Police Cup, a mainstay of Nuneaton and Bedworth grassroots football. The source of heartbreak for younger me in the ...
25/01/2026

The Police Cup, a mainstay of Nuneaton and Bedworth grassroots football. The source of heartbreak for younger me in the early 90s.

Alas, it has been an inspiration to the Lightning last year, and now this. The semi final was reached in 2025, and having got a bye in round 1, we faced off against Vision Vikings today in Round 2.

We have had 3 previous games cancelled vs the Vikings in the last 18 months, so it was good to finally play them. As expected, it was a really even contest played at RMD.

All nine boys were available for the game, giving us plenty of options. And everyone made a significant contribution to the game. Pre-game team talk was centred on the boys communicating positively, and working hard for one another. And they certainly did that.

Falling behind early, the boys responded well. Baxter clearing a corner set Denzel free to roll the defender and bury a wonderful shot. And from then on, Frankie rewound the clock to his epic best. 4 goals from him followed. The first a thunderbolt, the second winning it and scoring straight from the subsequent kick off. Charlie and Ezra set up the other two goals with wonderful passes, Frankie's mazy run to complete his hat trick was simply divine.

But inbetween all that, Vikings scored more, and threatened loads.

Baxter made some unreal saves, and probably had his best game for handling, despite the conditions. Callum's block tackling was done devastatingly well, whilst Farren was very cultured and decisive on the ball. Down the left, Frankie had his wheels on and played well, but just as vitally, Oscar carried on from last week and was also unreal. His slide tackle to prevent a goal and going 2-0 down was Anakin levels of force. On the right, Duke started and dribbled well, defended superbly, and was a constant threat, with Charlie bagging another assist and generally being great. Denzel and Ezra both got in on the act with goal involvements.

It really was a team performance that they could be proud of. It sets up a quarter final vs the Strikers at some point soon.

Supporters POTM went to Frankie, who deservedly had his goals and general play rewarded and recognised today.

And from me, I couldn't decide between Baxter's face save, Oscar's challenge, Callum's power runs, Farren's passing, Duke's dynamism, Charlie's drag backs, Ezra's assist or Denzel's goal as the winning contribution, so I gave it to the team.

Grove Farm away next week, as we look to keep the unbeaten run going

25/01/2026

Game ON.

Pitch is heavy, but playable.

The wind is cold, the rain is wet.

Lightning v Vikings. 9am. RMD

Police Cup Rnd 2

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