Kirk Deighton Rangers Res 0 v 1 Leeds Modernians Res

KDRAFC Media
May 9, 2021
3 min read

In what was a scrappy game with very few chances for both sides, this match was decided by a first-half goal by the visitors.

Deighton's opening gambit came after a surging run by Brad Spencer down the left-wing. However, his cross was kicked away to safety by a covering defender.

The Modernians got hold of the game, and it took two well-timed sliding tackles from Rich Jenner to deny the white shirts a shot at Mitch Moore's goal.

James Woodward, who was becoming a thorn in Modernians side with his robust tackles, curled a pass into the visitor's area, but the pace was too much for Jack Holliday to control.

Woodward was heavily involved in driving Rangers forward, and it was his pass that found Jack Cheetham on the wing. Picking out Joe Turley, his header went just over the crossbar. Minutes later, from a corner, it was Woodward's header that cleared the crossbar.

Jack Holliday tries his luck against Leeds Modernians.

A good recovery from Cheetham saw him hold up the Leeds Modernians attacker before Jenner tidied up the danger.

Although both teams were frequently in each other's area, neither really threatened to score. Woodward forced a good save low down from the keeper, and Holliday shot straight at the custodian after a good pass from Turley.

Leeds Modernians wasted an opportunity to score when a free-kick appeared to strike their own player and deflect away from goal.

Moore had to be alert to dive to his left and push away another free-kick that had come through a crowd of players.

The only goal arrived in the 40th minute, and in all honesty, it was a strike worthy of winning any game. A good run down the right-wing ended with a pin-point cross being volleyed home past Moore from close range.

Half-Time: Rangers Reserves 0 v 1 Leeds Modernians Reserves

The second half started with the visitors winning a brace of corners, but Moore produced a good punch under pressure to clear the ball.

A mis-hit free-kick from Spencer fell kindly to Woodward, but a combination of keeper and defender blocked his shot.

With Sean Dawson having replaced Jack Loudoun at half-time, Manager Kris Macdonald reshuffled his pack again, bringing on Charlie Yates for Ross Park in the 51st minute.

The game had become a midfield battle that neither side was able to get a grip on, and in an attempt to alter this, Phil Turner replaced Holliday in the 60th minute.

A goalmouth scramble that Rangers somehow managed to survive had the strange effect of finally waking the home side up again.

With Kieran Arnett on the pitch to replace Spencer, the youngster was straight into the action, winning a throw that gave Yates a chance to stride into the area. Minutes later, Arnett and Yates combined to tee up Woodward, but the keeper plucked his shot out of the air.

Rich Jenner in action against Leeds Modernians

A curling corner by Arnett saw a mini-game of head tennis break out in the Modernians box. Despite trying hard, Ben Challenger couldn't find the back of the net.

With the game entering the final fifteen minutes, Mike Tasker replaced Turley, and he nearly managed to get his head onto another Arnett corner.

A flicked header by Arnett released Yates, and cutting across the edge of the area, he used a defender as a shield to bend his shot. However, the custodian dived to his left and grabbed the ball, with Woodward lurking to pounce on any spills.

Rangers had the ball in the back of the net on 81 minutes, but as Yates took Woodward's pass down and smashed home under the keeper, the referee had blown to signal the striker was offside.

Full-Time: Rangers Reserves 0 v 1 Leeds Modernians Reserves

Verdict: Not one of our better performances when all said and done. For large periods of the first 65 minutes, Leeds Modernians deserved to be on top. However, when we did start to play, the tide certainly turned and a draw would have been a just result. Another close offside decision has cost us, but we need to learn to convert the early chances we make and then we wouldn't have to go gung-ho in the final twenty-minutes!

Squad: Moore, Cheetham, Flynn, Jenner, Challenger, Holliday (Turner, 60), Woodward, Loudoun (Dawson, 46), Park (Yates, 51), Turley (Tasker, 75) Spencer (Arnett, 64)

All subs used.

Yellow Cards: Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves - None

Leeds Modernians - None

Red Cards: Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves - None

Leeds Modernians - None

Results: 8th May 2021

Brighouse Sports FC Res 4 v 5 Rothwell Juniors Res

East End Park Res 7 v 3 Pool AFC Res

Overthorpe Sports Club Res 0 v 3 Wyke Wanderers Res

Wetherby Athletic Res 0 v 2 Altofts Res

Bar Three Man of the Match: James Woodward