Report: Barwick Vets 1 v 3 Rangers

KDRAFC Media
Sep 13, 2020
3 min read

John-Paul Williams gives Rangers an early lead.
An own-goal restores Rangers lead towards the end of the first half.
Danny Grannon scores in second-half to make it 3-1.

Setting the bar for the rest of our teams, the Veterans captured the Plate Cup with a 3-1 win over Premier Division side Barwick Veterans.

With the sun beating down on The Old Showground in Otley, the match started cautiously with most of the play contained in the middle of the pitch.

Barwick were caught offside, and as Deighton counter-attacked, a foul on John-Paul Williams allowed Dan Brearton to float in a free-kick which Williams caught sweetly on the volley to send the ball into the back of the net after six minutes.

The blue shirts of Barwick responded, and a pass from the right of Deighton's area fell to one of their players. Despite getting his shot away, the ball clipped a defender, and goalkeeper Mark Suttle was able to collect without issue.

Rangers were struggling to cope with the pressure from their counterparts and had to defend for large periods. However good organisation from Rob Stabler, saw Suttle, Mike Cooper, Richard Hope and Phil Dodsworth deal with what Barwick threw at them.

Match Photo — John-Paul Williams scores with a volley against Barwick Veterans.

The scores were level in the 21st minute following a controversial penalty. A coming together of players saw the referee initially stop play with a free-kick for Deighton, however after deliberating with the linesman, he reversed the decision and awarded a spot-kick which was converted.

Despite the even scores, neither team were able to take control of the game, and again it became a midfield battle.

Rangers regained the lead in the 33rd minute through an own goal when the unlucky Barwick centre-back could only head Brearton’s cross past his own keeper.

With Deighton starting to push forward more, Graham Cowgill headed just wide from a corner before Brearton's free-kick needed a good save to push it wide.

Half-Time: Barwick Veterans 1 v 2 Kirk Deighton Rangers Veterans

With fitness possibly starting to play a part, the second half was a much more open affair from the off, and it was Ryan McHale who had the opening opportunity, but his shot went over the crossbar.

Barwick pressed down the right, but were having trouble delivering the final ball and again stepping forward, Deighton's defence were able to intercept and clear.

Looking for the equaliser, Barwick raced into the area, and Suttle had to be brave at feet to collect. Waving away the calls for a penalty, the referee confirmed that the striker had tripped over the grounded keeper.

Chances were starting to fall for Rangers, and McHale's lob was plucked out of the air before Jonathan Gobbi was tackled just as he was set to shoot.

Rangers nearly increased their lead with a bizarre goal from Richard Hope. Receiving the ball back from his throw-in, he launched a long pass into the area that bounced over the keeper but hit the bar and was claimed by a rather relieved gloves-man.

Deighton had the ball in the back of the net after 62 minutes when Grannon slipped in Marcus Stapleton, beating the keeper with his shot, the striker wheeled away to celebrate only to see the linesman's flag up disallowing the goal.

It was 3-1 however in the 64th minute when Grannon broke Barwick's offside and controlled the pass over the top of the defence to flick it past the keeper from close range.

With Rangers now in control, Chris Plews had a chance to make it four, however, he placed his shot just wide of the far post.

Stapleton was only inches away from adding another to Rangers' total when he tried to connect to Grannon's fizzing cross, but the pace was just too much for him.

With the game coming to a close, it was Deighton who had to defend, but Stabler produced another superb tackle to clear the danger.

Full-Time: Barwick Veterans 1 v 3 Kirk Deighton Rangers Veterans

In Review: A fully deserved victory for the Veterans. They weathered Barwick's early pressure and showed, especially in the second half, that they can play some very attractive attacking football. The own goal was unlucky on Barwick, but Rangers took their chances and set the standard for our other teams with the first piece of silverware this season.

Report by KDRAFC Media

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