Polonia Yorkshire 2 v 1 Rangers

KDRAFC Media
Jul 25, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Jul 26, 2021

A late deflected goal for Polonia Yorkshire gave them a 2-1 win, but our Second Team can be pleased with several aspects, especially during the second half.

The match started with some confusion when on arrival we learnt that it was to be the Polonia's first team that we would face, as their Reserves were playing Middleton Park.

Polonia produced the first attacking phase of play, but the long ball into their striker was dealt with by Harvey Ribbons and Mike McCartney.

Ribbons produced a dangerous cross from the right that needed a defender to knock it over his crossbar before Liam Dean pounced.

Rangers looked dangerous down the right as Ribbons, Dean and Kieran Arnett combined, but as Arnett slipped the ball into Dean's path, a covering defender just managed to intervene.

The number of free-kicks increased in Deighton's favour, and Josh Barden's pass fell into Dean's path. However, brave goalkeeping saw the Polonia custodian brave at his feet to smother the ball.

It took until the 22nd minute for the hosts to register the first shot on target, but as the free-kick arrowed towards goal, Mitch Moore watched it all the way and tipped it over. This action signalled a couple of changes as Arnett and Sean Dawson were replaced by Phil Turner and Sid Abbott.

Polonia enjoyed a good spell of possession, but despite creating several openings, the final shot was blocked or wide.

Rangers forced their way back into the game, but a lot of niggly fouls against Jake Little, Dan Flynn and Barden, in particular, stopped them from finding a rhythm. Barden floated several free-kicks into Polonia's area, but the keeper managed to clear them all, with help from the referee on several occasions.

Half-Time: Polonia Yorkshire 0 v 0 Kirk Deighton Rangers

A change in tactics and formation saw Rangers push from the whistle. Turner's return pass to Barden saw him wriggle free of his marker and fire in a shot that flashed wide of the post.

Polonia survived a huge penalty shout when a corner found McCartney, and his shot was blocked on route to goal by the raised arms of a defender. However, the referee deemed that the position was natural, and the game continued.

Abbott picked out Ribbons, who had to flick his shot past the onrushing keeper quickly but could only watch as his effort went wide.

Ribbons again came close to scoring on the 62nd minute when Dawson's cross was flicked to Ribbons by Abbott. However, his powerful shot went just wide of the keeper's near post.

Abbott produced a spectacular overhead kick minutes later, but he couldn't generate enough power, and the shot was collected by the keeper.

A break down the left-hand side nearly fashioned an opening for Polonia, but a superb tackle by McCartney stopped any cross into the area.

With their first shot on target in the second half, Polonia took the lead in the 70th minute. A ball across Deighton's area took several deflections before being fired home at the near post above Moore.

The match had to stop for a few minutes as Mike Tasker left the pitch with what looked like an ankle injury.

Combining well in the 81st minute, Jack Loudoun found Ribbons in the area. Battling for the ball, Ribbons managed to get a low shot away that flew past the keeper at the near post.

Parity only lasted for two minutes when a curling shot from outside the area deflected off a Rangers player and lifted over Arnett's dive, despite the youngster managing to get his fingertips to the ball.

Rangers had an opportunity to equalise in the final minute when Dean was fouled just as he shot. Bending his free-kick low around the wall, Chris Plews put his shot just wide of the post.

Full-Time: Polonia Yorkshire 2 - 1 Kirk Deighton Rangers