Rangers (ST) 2 v 2 Bradley FC

KDRAFC Media
Nov 12, 2022
4 min read

Despite getting through to the next round of the County Challenge Trophy, Deighton's Second Team know they should have put Skipton Second Division side Bradley FC to the sword during the ninety minutes without the need for penalties. However, it needed the dreaded lottery of spot kicks to separate the two sides, and in all fairness, Bradley FC deserved a lot more from their display.

The game was just over a minute old when Deighton took the lead. A pass through the middle saw James Flynn tackled from behind inside the area, and the referee pointed to the spot. Stepping up, Captain Dan Flynn fired the spot kick past the keeper and into the net.

With the start of the game continuing at a breakneck speed, Bradley FC soon had a chance. Switching the play from the left flank to the right, their winger cut in and fired in a low shot that Kieran Arnett smothered at the base of his post.

It was all even in the 11th minute when a misplaced pass by Aiden Wilder was intercepted by the visitors. Progressing down Deighton's left side, they crossed into the area where Mike McCartney missed his clearance, and the ball fell kindly to the lurking Bradley FC player, who hit a stunning shot that Arnett couldn't force over or wide, despite getting a hand to it.

The goal finally calmed Rangers down, but they still looked disjointed as Bradley played around them. Trying to get some impetus, Jack Hancock had a couple of now obligatory dodgy offside calls. However, on his third attempt to beat Bradley's defence, there was no whistle, and he tried to score from outside the area, but his lob went wide of the post.

Aidan Dubery was being a nuisance, and his movement led one of the defenders out of position. McCartney set Hancock free with a through pass, and he rounded the keeper but watched as his shot rebounded off the post and into the grounded keeper's gloves!

The visitors took up the attack again and forced a corner which was headed goalward only to be acrobatically tipped over the crossbar by Arnett.

Bradley FC took the lead in the 31st minute when Deighton switched off at a throw-in. A deep cross found an unmarked player who poked home the rebound after Arnett had saved his original header.

Momentum swung back into Deighton's favour, and a Brad Spencer free-kick nearly brought the equaliser, but a combination of keeper and defenders kept it out.

With Rangers pressing hard, Hancock saw his goal-bound shot deflect off a defender. Then beating the keeper to the ball, his shot hit the outside of the post and bounced clear. Moments after this, Max Bladen (who had replaced the injured Dubery) saw his shot from the edge of the area go just wide of the goal.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 1 v 2 Bradley FC

Rangers continued the second half where they had left the first one, and a determined run by McCartney saw him burst into the area. Flicking his shot goalwards, he put too much power on it, and his effort sailed over.

A missed interception allowed Hancock in, but the keeper did enough, and his shot went just wide of the goal leaving the youngster howling in frustration.

With Hancock's frustration felt by the rest of the team, the game became a scrappy affair, with several flashpoints boiling over that the referee did well to control.

With some football breaking out again, Hancock finally got his goal when he connected with Spencer's corner and scored in the 75th minute.

With the game entering the final ten minutes, Bradley FC nearly snatched the lead when a reverse pass found their striker in the area. Bearing down on Deighton's goal, his shot was saved by the legs of Arnett, who had stood tall and forced the striker to shoot early.

There was still time for each side to have another chance. Bladen's shot went over after a good pass by Spencer, and Bradley blasted a free-kick high of Arnett's goal after a foul just outside the area.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 2 v 3 Pool AFC Reserves

Having decided to shoot towards the clubhouse end, Bradley successfully scored their first penalty before Hancock coolly converted to level proceedings.

A nervous run-up led to Arnett guessing the right side, but he didn't have to save it as the shot rolled wide. Mike McCartney made no mistake with his kick to hand Deighton a 2-1 advantage.

A shot down the middle made it 2-2, but Spencer showed no nerves to bury his penalty, making it 3-2.

Arnett was close to saving Bradley's fourth penalty, but the pace narrowly beat him to his right. Taking a deep breath, Dan Flynn reproduced his penalty of the first half to make it 4-3 to Rangers.

Going down the middle again, Arnett, who had dived to his left, managed to stick out a hand and get something on the shot. However, he couldn't push it back out again, and the backspin on the ball as it landed saw it bounce into the net.

The game rested on the shoulders of second-half substitute Lenny King, and if he felt any nerves, he never showed it as he slammed his spot-kick home to spark celebrations from the home contingent.

Kirk Deighton Rangers win 5-4 on penalties.

Squad (click to expand)

Kieran Arnett

Phil Turner (Man Of The Match)

Aiden Wilder

Dan Flynn (Captain, Goal 1st min penalty)

Ben Barraclough

Aidan Dubery

Jordan Walsh

Mike McCartney

James Flynn

Jack Hancock (Goal - 75th min)